I want to run steam on my layout but there is a spot on the mainline that have a 15 inch radius. I know that this is a problem with steam. Does anybody know of any engine or type of engine that will navigate 15 inch curves besides and 0-4-0 Dockside or a 0-6-0?
Any loco with a short rigid wheelbase will be able to negotiate a 15" radius curve, so that should leave you with 2-6-0´s and, if your are lucky, 2-8-0´s. Whether those locos will be able to pull a train through a curve that tight, is a different story. There is a fair chance that the train will derail, the derailment caused by the body mounted couplers.
A radius that "tight" will really limit most equipment. Even if the loco handles the turn, many pieces of rolling stock pulled around that turn could be pulled off the rails. I would try to modify the turn to at least 18" if at all possible. Another option, if this is not practical, is to use flextrack and allow it to "spiral' into the turn. Even if a portion tend to get close to that 15", the equipment will flow better w/ less stress/ pull on the couplers. You still will have limitations on long wheelbase and 6 axle.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
another option is to remove the flanges on the inner drivers
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
Just remember, the smaller the drivers, the better it will handle the curve. You have the shay, climax, tank engines, and possibly the Mantua logger (2-6-6-2).
I suspect you are going to be limited to 0-4-0T or 0-6-0T 'tank' engines. Engines with 'tenders' may not make it around those curves, especially with a train in tow. The problem is that many of the above models are not of the best quality, ir may have electrical pick up issues(especially on the unpowered frogs of many turnouts). If you really want 'steam' maybe a geared engine line a Shay or Heisler would work.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Unless you have a centre 'blind' driver on something like a shunting 0-6-0 or a smaller drivered 2-6-0, I would not expect you to have a lot of fun trying to coax a steamer around such curves in HO scale. Certainly a Pacific Class 4-6-2 is going to be so long and have drivers so large that you are almost certain to find disappointment. In fact, I'd bet on it. A 2-8-0 is out of the question, and that goes without saying for any other 6+-coupled engine.
I do know of a 2-8-2 in Woss, on Vancouver Island, that has both central sets of drivers blind, and I only learned of it when I walked rearward of the engine and encountered the terrifyingly sharp turnout it had negotiated to get to its static rest. I had to walk back and actually look at the two middle axles and only then saw that they were both blind.
-Crandell
Rooster70I want to run steam on my layout but there is a spot on the mainline that have a 15 inch radius. I know that this is a problem with steam. Does anybody know of any engine or type of engine that will navigate 15 inch curves besides and 0-4-0 Dockside or a 0-6-0?
A "modern" 4-4-0 will work as well but,keep your cars at 40' and you should do fine.
As mention elsewhere a 15" will work and I will add only if you think small.
I've used them before without issues.
A tip..Be sure your couplers can swing freely side to side any stiffness will cause grief.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
The Mantua 2-6-6-2T 'logger' (it actually hauled gilsonite) will laugh at 15 inch radius. Mine runs on 400mm (<14 inch) radius and has been down to 300mm on a test spiral before becoming actively unhappy.
OTOH, the 4-4-0 isn't likely to be a happy camper. Granted the rigid wheelbase is short, but the front end geometry isn't good. A 2-6-0 or 2-6-2 would be a better choice.
'Way back when, I had an Akane USRA 2-6-6-2 that looked seriously ugly on a 450mm radius curve - but rolled around it without a hiccup. Other than the Uintah articulated, my tight-radius roster consists of an 0-4-0T, an assortment of 0-6-0Ts and TTT 42, an ex-Imperial Government Railways 0-8-0T with roller skate wheel drivers. On the 4% climb to the collieries doubleheading is the norm, and three locos with five cars between them has been known to happen.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
As John Armsgtrong, the Dean of layout designers, pointed out in his books, the real problem is at the point where a fixed tight radius curve meets with a tangent, and that using an easement curve allows equipment to go through a tighter radius curve than if no easement curve had been used.
Dave Nelson
tomikawaTT I had an Akane USRA 2-6-6-2 that looked seriously ugly on a 450mm radius curve - but rolled around it without a hiccup
I have an Akane cab forward that has 0 issues on 18"r curves, with no easements. Other than wiping out anything within an inch of the rails on the outside of the curve, it doesn't miss a lick.
The MDC/Athearn "Old Timer" 2-8-0 goes around 15" radius curves quite easily. It can also pull a train thru the curves with no problems as long as the cars are no longer than 40', although that engines looks best pulling their 36' cars.
Carey
Keep it between the Rails
Alabama Central Homepage
Nara member #128
NMRA &SER Life member
I use to have tight radii, and have nothing against a layout that fits the prototype. However watching a large steamer on a tight turn frustrated me, which resulted in that part of the layout being dismantled.
I guess what I'm say if you have any ideas of grandeur or are being frustrated then it's better to bite the bullet and rebuild. I lamented far to long and wasted time before the decision. I just wish I made the decision a long time ago.
As for the question there are some nice engines out there such as the new 4-4-0 and the 0-6-0.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959
If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007