Is anyone running the Blueline 4-8-4 Atsf on 18in radius?. I know it's better to have 22in but i have no room. I have the N&W J and M1a and they both run fine on 18in at all speeds. Thinking of getting the 4-8-4.
Thanks
Bob
Go to the Factory Direct Trains web site and read their description of the locomotive -- it should indicate what the minimum radius is -- and then add 4 inches to be sure of smooth operation; i.e., if they say 18 inch minimum, that means on perfectly level and smooth trackwork, but it's not going to like doing so and will look ridiculous on such a tight radius.
I don't know if the Blueline has been modified from the original first-run BLI version of this loco, but I have one and it does NOT like a couple of #5 tuirnouts in my railyard, so I'd be leery of anything less than a 22 to 24" radius for operation (I've got 34", so no problem). But there's a lot of rigid driver wheelbase on that loco. That, plus non-sprung drivers will give you a lot of problems, I'm thinking.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
The following specifications is copied from the BLI SF specification sheet, but I have learned to read most of the data with a grain of salt. They say it will run on the 18" radius. I don't think my original first run 3751 will run on less than 22" as Tom has already indicated, but according to the BLI web site, you should be able to run the Blueline. It could be they have added more side play in the drivers and this will allow the shorter radius.
The bottom line is interesting since it reads, specifications on the page subject to change.
Good luck with the 18" radius curves, but note, the J and the M1a have much smaller drivers and less wheelbase overall than the SF Northern, which has 80" drivers.
**Specifications on this page subject to change