Bachmann heavy 4-8-2

[KenK]

Anybody know if these can do 18 inch radius? Bachmann says the GS-4
daylight needs 22 inch, but I know from experience it can do 18 inch, so I'd
rather "ask the man who owns one" as the Packard ads used to say.[:)]

[Anonymous]

MR Oct 2003 , Minimum radius 22".

[Anonymous]

My experience with the light 4-8-2 is that it doesn't like 18 inch radius one little bit! Neither does my Athern Genesis 2-8-2 or my LL Proto 2000 E8. And, even if a large engine will make it around such a sharp curve, it will look like horse manure, and it will require a lot of trackside clearance or else the pilot or cab is likely to take out trees, telephone poles, hit trackside buildings etc. [banghead][V][8]

OTOH, my Rivarossi Heisler, my Spectrum Shay, and my Spectrum Climax look and run great on 18".
[:D]
I consider my Genesis F3 to be marginal on 18" radius. I haven't tried my Stewart VO-1000 or my BLI SW7 on 18", but they should be OK.
[^]
The moral of this story is that, if you want 18" radius, then you are limited to small locomotives and short cars, even if the manufacturers would have you believe otherwise. If you want to run longer equipment, then you need 24" radius or larger. I am planning a layout that will be 8 feet by 12 feet, with the operating pit in the middle and a duck-under or lift-out section for access, and plan to use 30" radius on the mainline. Ian Rice has a couple of layouts of that type in his book, _Small, Smart, and Practical Track Plans_. Check it out.

[C):-)]

[Anonymous]

There's just a few three axles and a few steamers such as the Spectrum 2-6-6-2 because of the double truck design will handle 18" See MR June 2004

[bobwrght]

Hi Ken

I have 2 Bachmann Heavy 4-8-2,s. One is standard tender and other is Vandy tender. Both would look better on wider curve but i only have room for 18in. I run them all the time at various speed and have had no problems. You have to use the last hole in the bar between engine and tender and make sure the wires are also not twisted up. The wheels stay on the track and they don't slow in curve. I have flat level Power-Lock track that locks together firm and stays put.

I also run Bli's GG-1,M1B,RSD-15 and Hudson. My Bachmann Niagara and P2K SD60m as well. The Athearn SD40-2 slows a little on the curve. Almost forgot the P2K E6A/B set works.
I have installed a long shank Kadee coupler on the lead freight car to allow for swing and that has worked fine.

I know the widest curve possible is best ,but some of us just don't have the room. Eventually i will run into the engine that say's 22in and it won't handle 18in, but so far i have been lucky.

Bob

[selector]

Bob, contrary to your experience, mine is that my BLI Hudson did not like 18" radii to such an extent that I had to go with 22" on my layout. I was surprised, because I had come to rely on the quality of the BLI locos and their claims for performance.

Strange.

Anyway, I have spend several months here, and I know that the largest radii that you can possibly afford, both in terms of space and cost, are the ones you should have to ensure better looks and performance. Not a hard and fast rule, but pretty darned close.

[KenK]

I've already referred to the back issues, thank you.

Let me worry about how it looks and what it hits, thank you.

Bobwright, you know how to answer a question, thank you.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by locomotive3

MR Oct 2003 , Minimum radius 22".

Oops, I forgot . At one time I owned one but dumped it.

[mechanic]

Originally posted by selector

Bob, contrary to your experience, mine is that my BLI Hudson did not like 18" radii to such an extent that I had to go with 22" on my layout. I was surprised, because I had come to rely on the quality of the BLI locos and their claims for performance.

Strange.

That is strange.
I run a IHC Hudson on my layout thru #4 turnouts and 18" radii without any problems at all.
Eric

"Friends don't let friends use Bachmann E-Z track switches"

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