Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

HO 55-57" drivered 8 coupled steam desired

4104 views
7 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 7, 2003 6:15 AM
Why the major manufacturers have failed to build a loco with this size drivers is beyond me... This configuration was very typical motive power for most of the railroads of the Appalachian regions -- the C&O's 2-8-0's, the N&W's 4-8-0's, the VGN's "Mikes", all operated to the very end of steam...

It might be worth mentioning this in Bachmann's online forum at their website. I'd especially love to see an MB produced. My earliest childhood memory is of blowing the whistle on a VGN MB when I was 18-months old! ;)




  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 7, 2003 6:15 AM
Why the major manufacturers have failed to build a loco with this size drivers is beyond me... This configuration was very typical motive power for most of the railroads of the Appalachian regions -- the C&O's 2-8-0's, the N&W's 4-8-0's, the VGN's "Mikes", all operated to the very end of steam...

It might be worth mentioning this in Bachmann's online forum at their website. I'd especially love to see an MB produced. My earliest childhood memory is of blowing the whistle on a VGN MB when I was 18-months old! ;)




  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: US
  • 18 posts
Posted by JimYoung on Wednesday, August 6, 2003 6:57 PM
A VGN MB or MC might be nice, or maybe a L&N J-1 or J-2. But I doubt Athearn, Bachman or Life Like will touch that.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: US
  • 18 posts
Posted by JimYoung on Wednesday, August 6, 2003 6:57 PM
A VGN MB or MC might be nice, or maybe a L&N J-1 or J-2. But I doubt Athearn, Bachman or Life Like will touch that.
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: San Jose, California
  • 3,154 posts
Posted by nfmisso on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 2:50 PM
The Riv IHB 0-8-0 has the same drivers as thier Y6b .... too small, about 52", but the flanges are huge to make up for it. More recent ones with smaller flanges are around 54".
Nigel N&W in HO scale, 1950 - 1955 (..and some a bit newer too) Now in San Jose, California
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: San Jose, California
  • 3,154 posts
Posted by nfmisso on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 2:50 PM
The Riv IHB 0-8-0 has the same drivers as thier Y6b .... too small, about 52", but the flanges are huge to make up for it. More recent ones with smaller flanges are around 54".
Nigel N&W in HO scale, 1950 - 1955 (..and some a bit newer too) Now in San Jose, California
  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 7,486 posts
Posted by ndbprr on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 8:37 AM
Ho big are the drivers on the Rivarossi 0-8-0? Years ago there were several articles on how to kitba***his engine into several others by Vic Roseman - most of his work was New Haven as I recall but he made several conversions with it. For a N&W engine you would have to do extensive boiler modification or replace it with something else.
  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 7,486 posts
Posted by ndbprr on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 8:37 AM
Ho big are the drivers on the Rivarossi 0-8-0? Years ago there were several articles on how to kitba***his engine into several others by Vic Roseman - most of his work was New Haven as I recall but he made several conversions with it. For a N&W engine you would have to do extensive boiler modification or replace it with something else.
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: San Jose, California
  • 3,154 posts
Posted by nfmisso on Friday, July 11, 2003 8:11 AM
Hi Dave;

Most type were built pre-WWI, and many lasted to the end of steam. Harriman 2-8-0's lasted to the end of steam on the UP, SP and others, as Andy mentions above. All of Virginian 2-8-2 had this size drivers. AT&SF had steam locomotives with this size driver to the end.

Current models with this size range drivers, that I am aware of are: Spectrum low driver 4-6-0, Life Like Proto 2000 Heritage 2-8-8-2, and the new Bowser PRR B-6 0-6-0 <http://www.bowser-trains.com/holocos/B-6/B6.htm>. The Bachmann Chinese 2-10-0 has disc drivers of this size, the only US application that I am aware are Virginian's rebuilt 2-8-2's.
Nigel N&W in HO scale, 1950 - 1955 (..and some a bit newer too) Now in San Jose, California
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: San Jose, California
  • 3,154 posts
Posted by nfmisso on Friday, July 11, 2003 8:11 AM
Hi Dave;

Most type were built pre-WWI, and many lasted to the end of steam. Harriman 2-8-0's lasted to the end of steam on the UP, SP and others, as Andy mentions above. All of Virginian 2-8-2 had this size drivers. AT&SF had steam locomotives with this size driver to the end.

Current models with this size range drivers, that I am aware of are: Spectrum low driver 4-6-0, Life Like Proto 2000 Heritage 2-8-8-2, and the new Bowser PRR B-6 0-6-0 <http://www.bowser-trains.com/holocos/B-6/B6.htm>. The Bachmann Chinese 2-10-0 has disc drivers of this size, the only US application that I am aware are Virginian's rebuilt 2-8-2's.
Nigel N&W in HO scale, 1950 - 1955 (..and some a bit newer too) Now in San Jose, California
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,300 posts
Posted by Sperandeo on Thursday, July 10, 2003 8:59 AM
Nigel has a good point. The 57" driver, especially, was probably the most commonly used size on 2-8-0s. The Bowser 2-8-0s have 61" or 63" wheels, and the MDC 2-8-0s have either 50"or 63" wheels. The only 57"-driver models in HO scale have been brass imports. A model of the Harriman Common Standard 2-8-0, such as the Union Pacific engine in the "MODEL RAILROADER Cyclopedia – Vol. 1: Steam Locomotives,' drawing 23, would be useful for modelers of many prototypes.

So long,

Andy

Andy Sperandeo MODEL RAILROADER Magazine

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,300 posts
Posted by Sperandeo on Thursday, July 10, 2003 8:59 AM
Nigel has a good point. The 57" driver, especially, was probably the most commonly used size on 2-8-0s. The Bowser 2-8-0s have 61" or 63" wheels, and the MDC 2-8-0s have either 50"or 63" wheels. The only 57"-driver models in HO scale have been brass imports. A model of the Harriman Common Standard 2-8-0, such as the Union Pacific engine in the "MODEL RAILROADER Cyclopedia – Vol. 1: Steam Locomotives,' drawing 23, would be useful for modelers of many prototypes.

So long,

Andy

Andy Sperandeo MODEL RAILROADER Magazine

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
  • 11,439 posts
Posted by dknelson on Wednesday, July 9, 2003 8:21 AM
That is a pretty small driver so we are talking about older power perhaps of the first world war era or before. Don't ignore the Bowser/Varney and MDC metal kits.
Dave Nelson
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
  • 11,439 posts
Posted by dknelson on Wednesday, July 9, 2003 8:21 AM
That is a pretty small driver so we are talking about older power perhaps of the first world war era or before. Don't ignore the Bowser/Varney and MDC metal kits.
Dave Nelson
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: San Jose, California
  • 3,154 posts
HO 55-57" drivered 8 coupled steam desired
Posted by nfmisso on Tuesday, July 8, 2003 10:50 AM
This posting is to express the desire that one of the "volume" manufacturers produce an 8-coupled (2-8-0, 2-8-2, 4-8-0) with 55" to 57" drivers.

I specifically want N&W class M and M2 4-8-0, but would be happy with a mechanism.

Thank you
Nigel N&W in HO scale, 1950 - 1955 (..and some a bit newer too) Now in San Jose, California
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: San Jose, California
  • 3,154 posts
HO 55-57" drivered 8 coupled steam desired
Posted by nfmisso on Tuesday, July 8, 2003 10:50 AM
This posting is to express the desire that one of the "volume" manufacturers produce an 8-coupled (2-8-0, 2-8-2, 4-8-0) with 55" to 57" drivers.

I specifically want N&W class M and M2 4-8-0, but would be happy with a mechanism.

Thank you
Nigel N&W in HO scale, 1950 - 1955 (..and some a bit newer too) Now in San Jose, California

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!