Hi, Just joined this hobby. I got some HO engines and rolling stock from my sister, she says she doesn't like to play with toys. I have two questions right now. Frist, What does the numbers after the engine name mean? example 4-8-4, 2-4-0, ect. Second question, I was given what appears to be an old Mantua engine with the number 2 on the side and Kennebago on the trailer(?). the light on the trailer lights up when the train backs up. I googled it and looked on Tyco's site but no luck, Does anyone help?
Thanks for the help, John
The numbers after then name which you were describing are the wheel configurations of steam locomotives. using your example. a 4-8-4 has 4 pilot wheels, 8 driver wheels and 4 trailing wheels. Articulated locomotives (two sets of driving wheels) have designations like 2-8-8-2 which has 2 leading wheels, two sets of 8 driving wheels, and 2 trailing wheels.
Also as the describe the trailer behind the engine is called a tender. it houses the fuel and water needed for a steam engine.
Mantua is its own brand. i believe it is now owned by model power but an not certain about this
Hope this helps.
Colorado Front Range Railroad: http://www.coloradofrontrangerr.com/
Welcome! The system of characterizing steam locomotives is known as the Whyte system. In order, the numbers refer to the number of pilot wheels, the number of drivers, and the number of trailing truck wheels, if that loco has any. So, for a simple six-coupled switcher, its Whyte designation would be 0-6-0...no pilot or trailing truck axles. As a slow speed yard switcher or short line shunter, it would not neet additional wheels to guide it or to support its heavy firebox, as a larger mainline engine would often have. A Consolidation is designated as 2-8-0, which means that it has two wheels under the pilot, eight coupled wheels (larger ones directly under the boiler that are linked via side rods), and no wheels under the firebox.
Does that help?
Welcome to the hobby John.
The numbers after a steam engine indicate its wheel arrangement; a 4-6-0 for example (common in the late 1800s and early 1900s) has a four wheel unpowered pilot truck up front which guides the engine into curves and supports the smokebox and cylinders, then comes 6 powered "driving" wheels, but there are no unpowered wheels at the rear to support the firebox and cab.
The numbering system called the Whyte system and there was a good thread on here a few days ago about it. There were other systems but the Whyte system was by far the most common.
Tyco have been out of the train business for decades, you won't find a Tyco website. Several of the Tyco mouldngs were bought by other companies (Mantua I think was one - but they too went out of the train business a couple of years ago). Without having the benefit of seeing them I'd guess your models would be made in the 60s or 70s, and you'd be quite surprised how models have come on in terms of running quality, accuracy and deatil since then.
Once again, welcome to the hobby, lets hope you enjoy it.
Welcome to the hobby and welcome to the forum.
There is a wealth of information here and it's free. You will find that most here are dieing to help you in the hobby. Never be scared to ask a question even if you think it's dumb. Just remember we were all dumb about the hobby at one time.
One thing that will help you succede in the hobby is reading. Read anything and everything you can get your hands on.
Find a good LHS in your area and get to know them.
Plan what you want to do with your hobby. Do you have the room for a small layout, a big layout, or no room at all? Some people will tell you to start out small and grow. I started out with 135 sq ft two years ago and now I am starting to grow.
The people on these forums will guide you every step of the way.
Hang in there.
Neal
Cube root of 3 i, huh? Well, it's "imaginative," anyway...
Can you post a picture of your mystery engine? You need a photo-hosting site (photobucket or the like; I use www.railimages.com) and then you can embed the photo in your post with [img]<photo_url>[/img]. You don't use the italics for img, but that way I can tell it like it is, not like it would otherwise be interpreted by the forums lexical parser.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.