Decapod on 18" radius?

[Anonymous]

Subject just about says it all. I've become interested in a Spectrum Decapod and was wondering if it would operate on an 18" radius and also general consensus as to the engine itself. Good? Bad? Indifferent? Thanks in advance for opinons and info.

Karl

[Don Gibson]

Any Decapod that runs on 18'' r has to have a lot of 'slop' built in.or How many blind drivers?

BRASS won't. Spectrum might.

Good engine, but (opinion) Decapod's shouldn't be subjected to 'TOY' curves.They were originally mainline engines for smaller roads, or helper's.

[Isambard]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

Any Decapod that runs on 18'' r has to have a lot of 'slop' built in.or How many blind drivers?

BRASS won't. Spectrum might.

Good engine, but (opinion) Decapod's shouldn't be subjected to 'TOY' curves.They were originally mainline engines for smaller roads, or helper's.

Spectrum Russian Decapods do have blind centre drivers, so probably would take 18 inch curve. I now have three Russians on the Grizzly Northern. They run well and are nicely detailed. Two Russians double heading a freight on 24 inch and greater curves are a nice sight.
[:)]

[selector]

I've only had experience with a BLI 4-6-4 and a 0-6-0 from P2K Heritage. Latter is a no-brainer for 18' radius, but, despite claims by BLI that the Hudson was okay with 18", I could not, under any circumstances, get it to take those curves. I switched to 22", and presto: no more problem with better looking configuration, to boot.

Strongly recommend, Karlp635, that you break a money jar open and spring for some 22" curves, and if you asked, I'd say go even bigger yet for your Deck. Bet dollars to donuts you won't be sorry. Keep your 18" radius limited to your switcher/yard.

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys for the info. Looks like I'll have to break open that "money jar" and purchase some 22" curves. Reason being, I just (and I mean just) bought a Decapod on eBay and now fear I can't run it on the 18" I currently have. Not really a problem as I haven't even built the benchwork yet. As far as brass not running on the 18" curves, I definitely don't have to worry about that! Thanks again.

Karl

[Anonymous]

Thee Spectrum Russian Decapods is a very small engine, it is smaller than most 2-8-0 of the period and should not have any problem with 18" curves. And yes it has blind drivers just as the phototype did so don't worry about the blind drivers. The one thing it does not have are the phototype's wide wheel treads that shook the crews teeth out every time they went across a turn out or a crossing. If you can handle wider curves good but this engine will work and actually look good on 18" curves.

[selector]

Good to know, Michaell. I had always concluded that more than three drivers a side, understanding that their diameters influenced the outcome, placed a serious constraint on the radius of curvature that the drivers could stand. Even 53" drivers, if there were five a side, should impose severe limits for an engine.

What was the driver diameter on the decapod? They do look smallish in photos.

[selector]

Oops. Meant to close my last with a recommendation to Karlp635 that he heed my suggestion to go with 22" radii. Reason? We all add locos as we get a hankering for 'em, and some, like my 4-6-4, cross their arms and refuse to negotiate 18" curves. So, you'll find yourself ripping out track to run your 4-8-4 Northern when you decide that one of them will grace your layout.

Just my thoughts.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by selector

Oops. Meant to close my last with a recommendation to Karlp635 that he heed my suggestion to go with 22" radii. Reason? We all add locos as we get a hankering for 'em, and some, like my 4-6-4, cross their arms and refuse to negotiate 18" curves. So, you'll find yourself ripping out track to run your 4-8-4 Northern when you decide that one of them will grace your layout.

Just my thoughts.

You are absolutely right and I should have gone with the 22" from the beginning for this very reason. I would have been greatly upset to have to tear out track and basically destroy part of the layout because I wasn't far-sighted enough. Excellent suggestion and thanks to all for the help. I am after all, still a newbie.

[Don Gibson]

22" for mainline and 18" for yards.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

22" for mainline and 18" for yards.

Understood. I'll keep the 18" sections I have just for that purpose. Thanks.

Karl

[Jetrock]

The Russian Decapod is an interesting beastie--they were built for the light, low-quality rail of the Russian Trans-Siberian Railway, which used lightweight 40-pound rail. Thus, a small locomotive with lots of wheels (for lower ground pressure) was needed--thus the Decapod. After the Russian Revolution, the U.S. was left with 200 or so that had not yet been shipped. They were sold to smaller railroads, and had their gauge converted from Russian-standard 5' gauge to American standard gauge.

[MidlandPacific]

QUOTE: What was the driver diameter on the decapod? They do look smallish in photos.

The Russian decapods had 52" drivers. Interestingly enough, Baldwin built a second batch of them during WWII for shipment to the Russians. There are a couple still running in the former Soviet Union. They were known as "Class E" (or, if you prefer, YE).

[Mark300]

QUOTE: Originally posted by karlp635

Subject just about says it all. I've become interested in a Spectrum Decapod and was wondering if it would operate on an 18" radius and also general consensus as to the engine itself. Good? Bad? Indifferent? Thanks in advance for opinons and info.

Karl

I have a Spectrum Decapod (with Western Maryland livery); It runs well on 18"R. Pulls about 14 to 16 cars (on level track) and with DCC, it runs very very well; as well as my 2-8-0's. The tender is small so sound could get problematic.

It doesn't run express train fast...it wasn't designed to either....it pulls or pushes freight, coal etc. It's a great engine for local freights with lots of set-outs. It's a decent yard engine or for pulling cars to a coal or stone tipple. I've even MU'd it and tried a some double heading.....Nice.

BTW; if I have to use 18"R curves, I put sections of 22"R or larger to either side as sort of an easement if I can't do an outright 'easement curve' in flex track.

I notice that some of the decopods have solid pilot wheels and some have spoked pilot wheels.....The WM version that I have does have spoked wheels which are consistent with that road's 'Class I-1' prototype.

I have some photos & prints of Russion Dec's pushing and pulling mixed freight around ***berland MD, crossing a bridge in Harrisburg PA with a long freight, out in the countryside near Hanover & Gettysburg PA. I understand they were used in the Elkins WV region during the 20's (over the steep Blackwater canyon) and were clunky but utilitarian locomotives in a Wynian's sort of way (Keep'n that weight on the drivers).

Good Luck

HTH.....& Happy Railroading

Mark

[Anonymous]

My short answer would be no. The long answer is that I run a Bachmann Spectrum K4 4-6-2 and have 18" Radius curves on some of my layout. It has trouble in the tight areas with only 6 driver wheels. I can't see a Decapod making it through that tight a curve, IMHO [V]

Trevor

[selector]

I have heard, and it does make sense, that you can ease a loco into a tighter radius by starting with a longer one, as suggested above. Never tired it, but you could buy a couple of pieces of 22" and see if you can use the 18-inchers after all when they are bracketed.

Good tip...I think.

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TrevorG

My short answer would be no. The long answer is that I run a Bachmann Spectrum K4 4-6-2 and have 18" Radius curves on some of my layout. It has trouble in the tight areas with only 6 driver wheels. I can't see a Decapod making it through that tight a curve, IMHO [V]

Trevor

Trevor;

The K4 is much much larger than a Russian Decapod. The little 2-10-0 will do 18" radius with no problems.

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

They were originally mainline engines for smaller roads, or helper's.

Don;

Please study up on Decapods in general, and "Russian Decapods" in general.

The PRR, and ATSF (well known as large railroads) and others used Decapods as mainline steam engines. In the Pennsy's case until diesels came along. Also on the PRR, the I1 2-10-0 came along after the L1 2-8-2. The I1 had over 90,000 lbs of tractive effort. WM had some 2-10-0's of similar performance.

The "Russian Decapods" were tiny engines, less than half the tractive effort of the PRR I1. And even less tractive effort than the PRR H9 2-8-0.

The "Russians" were embargo after Lenin took over in the USSR, and sold off to railroads in the USA. Most went to railroads with lightly built branchlines.