I want to get my frist live steamer. My frist question is i have lionel o guage track do they make steamer that can run on this size? Next question is so many manufactures which to chose? I saw the ruby and dora from on place. Then i saw the ones from round house. i also found mss loco. I dont think i forgot any of them any ideas on my issues
They have made live steam in many gauges/scales.
Anything under 45mm gauge is pretty tough and can be much more finicky to run, and more expensive due to fewer models.
By far, the most available is in 1:32 scale and 45mm gauge. Next is probably something like 1:20.3 narrow gauge on 45mm track.
A good place to ask questions is on mylargescale.com and on largescalecentral.com, they have active live steam forums.
Greg
Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.
Click here for Greg's web site
There is live steam in O gauge that will run on tubular track, But only in UK looking models from Bassett Lowke, made from the 1920's up thru the mid 1960s. They offered 3 primary models, 2 of which will go around tighter track work, down to 031 in some cases. The Enterprise 4-4-0 and Super Enterprise 4-6-0 will handle tighter radius track. The more scale looking Stainer and Gresley Mogul 2-6-0 needs wider radius. The vintage ones will run on tubular track and I was able to get mine around 042 but just barely. The reissue Moguls done by Corgi/Bassett Lowke have more fine scale flanges and need 072 or larger proper profile O gauge rail such as Atlas O or Gargraves. All of these are externaly fired "pot" boilers. Fired using alcohol with either a wick style burner or the more common vaporizing burner. So the paint work on the boiler tends to get burn off on the older models. I have seen a few of the models that came stateside revamped to look more USA with cowcatchers/pilots instead of buffers, a different tender instead of the 3 axle UK style ect. Ebay is the best source, both USA and UK ebay. If it doesn't list USA as a shipping location, always ask nicely. Many will ship to the USA if asked. I have both a Corgi reissue Mogul that I converted to butane gas firing(you cannot do this with the original older models) and a well run Super Enterprise 4-6-0. Mike
my LNER Super Enterprise dating from the early 1930s. Still runs very well.
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
And here is a video of my Corgi/Basset Lowke Ex LMS BR Mogul with gas firing conversion done by me using Bix brand parts. Note to everybody. Do not attempt this with an original Mogul or Enterprise/Super Enterprise. Those have a rolled brass boiler with a soft soldered seam along the bottom right in the burner flame. This is OK with an alcohol fire. But not with a much hotter butane gas burner. The Corgi reissue has a tubular brass boiler so a gas burner on a LOW setting does just fine. But one can still overfire and do quick damage if not careful. I am experienced with both gas and alcohol fired models in G scale, so no worries in O scale. With the alcohol fired engines, one keeps a damp hand towel in a bucket, if a model decides to go full pyro from an alcohol vapor fire in the cab, you just drape the wet towel over the model and it puts everything out instantly. Saving the model, its paint job and if running indoors, possbily your layout/house. And to think these were sold to children to run back in the early part of the last century! Mike
As built, the Bassett Lowke Stainer Mogul will not run on tighter radius tubular track, needing 072 or 096 for the crimson red version. But all is not lost, with some minor mods in the form of a an extended drawbar tab on the engine that will swivel at the engine side and smaller diameter pilot wheels(in the process of doing that now) she will run right around 031 tubelar track as seen in the attached video. She ran for 30min pulling all 6 of my ACE trains coal wagons with loads and a vintage BL brake van(caboose). I have seen older moguls that were "Americanized" with a cowcatcher/pilot instead of buffers, a differnet USA style tender, headlight and other details to make it look less British. I also converted mine to run with a butane gas burner instead of the alcohol, both for smell reasons, and greater fire risk with liquid alcohol when running indoors. Gas is neater and in the event of a derailment, you just turn off the gas valve. Need more steam, turn up the gas, need to run slower(there really isnt a throttle), add more cars or turn the gas down. Running her as an 0-6-0 at the moment whilst I source smaller pilot wheels and fabricate a new pilot truck frame from brass sheet. I could modfy the original one, but I want to keep it for running on bigger curves at a friends house. Enjoy!
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