Locomotive for ultra small radius?

[OldEastRR]

He said he wanted "whimsical".

[glakedylan]

For those that care, the hood on this model is waaaaaaaaaaaaay too wide.
Mark

again from spookshow.net


"the hood is about one scale foot too wide (as compared to the prototype) .... when you're griping about a discrepency (sic) of .075" ... may have strayed into nitpick country"


his words not mine, but far from "waaaaaaaaaaaay" too wide.
 


sincerely
Gary

[scolba]

Oh wow, thanks for all the replies guys!! Ill def look into the off the shelf models that you mentioned, but I am already leaning towards the 44-tonner. I'm kind of a sucker for those. For this purpose the incorrect width doesn't bother me.

[scolba]

My personal favorite.

The TP70.  All developed right here on The Railwire.

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=42126.0

Thats really cool! Ill tuck that away for a future project. I just bumped creating an IC GP11 to the top of the list so will need to focus on that one first.

[scolba]

These locos have surprisingly large minimum radii. Their trucks don't swivel very much.

When you say "whimsical," are you set on a US prototype, or does it matter? Because there are loads of options from Japan that will negotiate super-tight radii.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bandai-937018-B-Train-Shorty-Nankai-Electric-Railway-Star-Wars-N-scale/202998588605

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bandai-902429-B-Train-Shorty-Tokyu-Railway-Series-5080-2-Cars-Set-N-scale/353118168224

https://www.ebay.com/itm/B-Train-Shorty-DD51-form-diesel-locomotive-and-freight-update-color-plastic/293723293094

etc...

I probably am leaning towards a US prototype, but a foreign diesel freight wouldn't be out of the question. Ill take a look further at that last guy there, appreciate it!

[peteski]

How about some small N scale steam?  Bachmann or Atlas (MicroAce) 4-4-0, or Atlas (MicroAce?) 2-6-0?  Those are tiny models of early steam locos.

[u18b]

Ok Ok .. OK.

If the requirements are:

Whimsical
able to negotiate TIGHT curves.
willingness to make something  (are you?)

Then.....

you need a FLEA  (Fast Little Eccentric Alco).



Here it is in roadrailer service.




Thread on Railwire:  https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=42087.0

[scolba]

How about some small N scale steam?  Bachmann or Atlas (MicroAce) 4-4-0, or Atlas (MicroAce?) 2-6-0?  Those are tiny models of early steam locos.

No problems with steam...looking into A dockside, too, but I assumed the wheel base of both 4-4-0's and 6 axle steam would be too long for the radius. Still looking, though.

[scolba]

Ok Ok .. OK.

If the requirements are:

Whimsical
able to negotiate TIGHT curves.
willingness to make something  (are you?)

Then.....

you need a FLEA  (Fast Little Eccentric Alco).


Here it is in roadrailer service.

Oh my gosh. Thats amazing. Not really what I'm looking for for this, but thats friggin amazing.

[Mark5]

While that's definitely true.  I doubt the OP is really all that concerned with that for his use mentioned in the thread.
Additionally, it's better to have one that's available, wide or not, isn't it?

The post was for those that care. I think I missed the whimsical part though.  Luckily it is still somewhat available, even though Bachmann deleted it (along with the 70 tonner and Alco S4) from the their catalog.

[Mark5]

again from spookshow.net


"the hood is about one scale foot too wide (as compared to the prototype) .... when you're griping about a discrepency (sic) of .075" ... may have strayed into nitpick country"


his words not mine, but far from "waaaaaaaaaaaay" too wide.
 


sincerely
Gary

Yeah, just look at end view of the model and compare it to the end view of a real one. I love Mark's site but it isn't the "bible". 

Mark

[peteski]

No problems with steam...looking into A dockside, too, but I assumed the wheel base of both 4-4-0's and 6 axle steam would be too long for the radius. Still looking, though.

The smallest Kato Unitrack I have is 7" radius. I set up a circle and my Bachmann 4-4-0 had no problem with that radius.  It still had some play when I twisted it on the track. 

[wm3798]

Here's your guy.


Everyone knows that there are laws against running diesels on a Christmas Garden.  You need a bit of side rod action.

This is the ancient Atlas/Rivarossi 0-4-0 shifter.  It's got good tender pick up, and a cast metal boiler that makes it surprisingly robust.
They make regular appearances on the after market and usually can be had for around $50.
You might need a shot of contact cleaner and some gear lube to bring it back to life, but it will handle the tiniest of curves.
Looks good hauling short freight cars or old time passenger cars.
Highly recommended!
Lee

[wazzou]

Yeah, just look at end view of the model and compare it to the end view of a real one. I love Mark's site but it isn't the "bible". 

Mark

I have no source for the width of the prototype hood.
This made me go take a closer look at my model.
I can report that the hood is only slightly wider at the bottom, nearest the frame and tapers narrower at the top.
If I recall, that is true to the prototype.
I measured the narrowest part of the hood at the top and it was 5'9"
Again, how that compares to the real thing, I have no idea but it doesn't look bad.

The more dissatisfying thing to me was the flat nature of the roof which I've corrected, similarly to @Chris333 had done his.
Secondly, the really small windows don't look great.
I haven't made any attempt to correct that yet but I will.

[Mark5]

I have no source for the width of the prototype hood.
This made me go take a closer look at my model.
I can report that the hood is only slightly wider at the bottom, nearest the frame and tapers narrower at the top.
If I recall, that is true to the prototype.
I measured the narrowest part of the hood at the top and it was 5'9"
Again, how that compares to the real thing, I have no idea but it doesn't look bad.

We all make compromises (model railroading is full of em), here is a decent photo (O&W 105) showing the hood:

http://cs.trains.com/trn/hotspots/m/north_east_pennsylvania1/2291335.aspx

Mark