Too big of a steam locomotive?

[Track fiddler]

Good morning JDawg

My Son Jeremy's nickname is JDogg.

 

Too Big?  Don't know?  I never thought like that before now.  Goes without saying the gauge of the wheel spread is the same on a big loco as a small one.  I have a challenger 4-6-6-4 for a 51"x 87" layout. 

Respectfully speaking.  For me to think that locomotive is too big for my layout, would be like me thinking I have too much money or I'm getting too much air! 

 

Hope that helps.

Don't worry,  Just have fun

 

 

 

TF

[NorthBrit]

Just a thought  ---

 

Although the name of the layout escapes me,  a few years back (here in the UK), there was a model on the Exhibition Circuit  of a Steam Locomotive Depot.

A lovely layout with all kinds of locomotives on it.  Locomotives being coaled up,  turning on the turntable,  being cleaned etc. etc..  

Then when ready for their next turn of duty, off they went off stage.   

No carriages, no trucks  -  just locomotives.   Large locomotives,  medium sized and small ones   all with jobs to do.  Not one looking out of place;  a reason to be there

 

David

 

[richhotrain]

JDawg

I am considering a BLI heavy pacific (4-6-2) for my second layout. The layout is small (3' 4" * 6'), and the locomotive would only be pulling 4 to 5 cars plus caboose. I am concerned that this locomotive would dwarf the layout. 

Interesting concern. A 4-6-2 is not all that big. The problem is one of perception given that your layout is small at 3'4" x 6'. If you are committed to using a steam locomotive on your layout, you will need to consider the number of driver wheels. 

If you look closely at Kevin's photo, the overall length of that 4-6-2 is 6.75". The six driver wheel configuration is about 2.5" long. So, each driver wheel is about 0.08333" inches in diameter. A 4 driver wheel configuration would reduce the overall length of the engine by nearly one inch.

There is a list of wheel configurations in Wikipedia to choose from if you could settle for a 4 driver wheel configuration including the 4-4-2 Atlantic. Just a suggestion.

Rich

[gmpullman]

Here's the Broadway heavy Pacific:

ERIE_2925 by Edmund, on Flickr

   — compared to a 40' xm box car:

ERIE_2925-xm by Edmund, on Flickr

   and roughly the length to the tender drawbar:

ERIE_2925-l by Edmund, on Flickr

I've had three Pacifics and four Mikes plus a couple 2-8-0s from Broadway. A few had decoder glitches but BLI took care of any issues. They're good runners and pullers and the detail is adequate. I'm working on adding an Elesco FWH and a few other details to thiis Erie K-5.

Hope that helps, Ed

["JaBear"]

Ok, the Broadway Limited web site states that the minimum radius curve is 18 inches.

 

I stand to be corrected, because tenders were sometimes changed but it would appear that an as built USRA Heavy Pacific 4-6-2 locomotive and tender was 83” 4” in length, so an HO scale one should be just under 1 foot in length.

 

Now your bio says, “Younger guy modelling in ho scale”, so, while it may look LARGE, and possibly slightlyridiculous on your current layout, who knows what the future will bring?

 

What I’m saying is if you want one, Buy It NOW!!! I say this because when Bachmann Spectrum Steam locomotives were new and available, I couldn’t convince myself that they were within my budget, I have since regretted that decision!

 

Cheers, the Bear.

[SeeYou190]

JDawg

Anyone happen to know the approximate length of the locomotive?

I just happen to have my SOUTHERN PS-4 Pacific (almost the same as a USRA Heavy Pacific) in a display case. The locomotive is 7 inches long. Not quite a 50 foot boxcar.

Please ignore the dust. My house is in a remodel right now.

-Kevin

[JDawg]

Anyone happen to know the approximate length of the locomotive? can't seem to find that info. Bit over 50ft without tender sound right?

[Pruitt]

If you decide the Pacific is too large, you might want to look at a smaller Consolidation (2-8-0) or a ten-wheeler (4-6-0). A Mogul (2-6-0) may be too early for your era, but any of those three types (except perhaps the larger Consolidations) were smaller than a Pacific and might look better to your eye.

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

JDawg

     I am considering a BLI heavy pacific (4-6-2) for my second layout. The layout is small (3' 4" * 6'), and the locomotive would only be pulling 4 to 5 cars plus caboose. I am concerned that this locomotive would dwarf the layout. Just wondering if anyone thinks the same. If you have one of these locos, could you post a pic next to a boxcar (specify length) for some reference. Thanks all.

 

Well, the pulling 4-5 cars part would be very prototypical for a Pacific. While they could pull more, often they were used on passenger trains of that size - so that those trains could be fast.

A Pacific will run on smaller curves in most cases, just like our conversation about Consolidations...... that part will be fine.

So, like John said, if that's what you like and want, I would go for it - and I would work on figuring out some more space for the layout....

Sheldon

[JDawg]

G Paine

The first thing to think about is what is the miminum radius curve on the layout and will that large loco run reliably around the curve. Big locomotives are nice, but it can be frustrating if ther keep derailing on too tight a curve

 

 

The curve radius won't be an issue. LHS ran the loco through 18 inch curves with no problem. Thanks for the tip though.

[JDawg]

I know what you mean John. I really do like the locomotive. However, I really dislike the look of overly large engine pulling too few cars. Like a SD80 MAC pulling 4 cars looks sort of dumb in my opinion. I just don't want that look is all. I do appreciate the input however.

[G Paine]

The first thing to think about is what is the miminum radius curve on the layout and will that large loco run reliably around the curve. Big locomotives are nice, but it can be frustrating if ther keep derailing on too tight a curve

[PRR8259]

If you like a particular engine and it will technically negotiate your layout track geometry, then why does it really matter if it's too big or not?

Most layouts cannot adequately represent the wide open spaces of Wyoming, or the massive 160 car ore trains of Minnesota, or the long coal drags of C&O, N&W, or others, yet that does not stop others of us from having the monster articulateds on our layouts.  

Will you eventually have more space?  What are your ultimate model train goals?  

Depending upon one's future goals, a pacific might be just fine?

I built the layout that I have to showcase the trains, so that I can essentially railfan my own trains (that in most cases are gone in real life, but can live on in model form).  To me that's all that really matters.  I can run engines or rolling stock that I'll never see run again in real life, and I can enjoy them.

Respectfully submitted--

John

[JDawg]

JDawg

     I am considering a BLI heavy pacific (4-6-2) for my second layout. The layout is small (3' 4" * 6'), and the locomotive would only be pulling 4 to 5 cars plus caboose. I am concerned that this locomotive would dwarf the layout. Just wondering if anyone thinks the same. If you have one of these locos, could you post a pic next to a boxcar (specify length) for some reference. Thanks all.

 

 

If this loco doesn't work, what might?

[JDawg]

     I am considering a BLI heavy pacific (4-6-2) for my second layout. The layout is small (3' 4" * 6'), and the locomotive would only be pulling 4 to 5 cars plus caboose. I am concerned that this locomotive would dwarf the layout. Just wondering if anyone thinks the same. If you have one of these locos, could you post a pic next to a boxcar (specify length) for some reference. Thanks all.