Locomotive for ultra small radius?

[Mark5]

Gary,

That was my fault - I apologize. I didn't intend to ruffle anyone's feathers  (as I admitted earlier in the thread, I missed the "whimsical" part).

Then we got into classic RW thread drift ...

Mark

[bbunge]

The Bachmann Peter Witt street car will take very tight radi just fine if you want to explore an America prototype street car.

Bob

[thomasjmdavis]

Greetings folks. I am starting to look ahead to the holiday season and am interested in putting up a small, whimsical seasonal table top loop (and siding) onto a narrow piece of furniture we have, top dimensions are 60x14. All my N stuff is aimed at prototypically accurate, with the exception of the usaac nose art stuff from mt, so I am going to be on the hunt for extra engine and cars that can traverse a ludicrously small radius, that would only be used for this.

So I was wondering if you fellas know of any power units I could start with? I am thinking of using Kato track, starting at 7.2" radius, then into 5.9" radius. Probably looking at something 4 axle eh?

Appreciate any advice.

Getting back to the OP, and the question of small radius locomotives for a "holiday season....whimsical" train- what is the minimum radius for Thomas the Tank Engine?  I have one of these on pre-order from Japan (shipping now delayed to mid-October, but will hopefully see it before Christmas).  In my own case, it will run on a loop of Atlas 11" rad snap track, so I don't anticipate any issues.  But can this engine meet the OP's criteria for radius?  Or N scale Percy, which is an 0-4-0 ?

[scolba]

Exactly per my previous post... great minds. 😉

yeah i think you guys might be on the right track.  I do modern diesel with modules, so this would be a good time to integrate a little steam.  I sure wish that the Atlas Shay would traverse this radius! That would be my top choice...spookshow says it does 9.75 with no problem, so it would seem reasonable that it could do a bit tighter, but would likely be pushing it going all the way down to 6. 

Ill give a look to the pushrod actions you guys are referencing though. 

[scolba]

You didn't specify N or Z 

https://zscalehobo.com/marklin/81705.html

Quite right....originally I actually wanted to get Z.  But then I decided I should focus and maybe be able to re-use SOME of the rolling stock I already have....the shorter cars. 

[scolba]

The Bachmann Peter Witt street car will take very tight radi just fine if you want to explore an America prototype street car.

Bob

Thanks Bob.  I am looking more for a freight looking operation, but appreciate the thought!

[scolba]

Getting back to the OP, and the question of small radius locomotives for a "holiday season....whimsical" train- what is the minimum radius for Thomas the Tank Engine?  I have one of these on pre-order from Japan (shipping now delayed to mid-October, but will hopefully see it before Christmas).  In my own case, it will run on a loop of Atlas 11" rad snap track, so I don't anticipate any issues.  But can this engine meet the OP's criteria for radius?  Or N scale Percy, which is an 0-4-0 ?

That's a reasonable direction, and I appreciate the thought, however I should probably be more clear about my definition of whimsy, at least in this context.    I won't be counting rivets, and will have seasonal (Halloween and Christmas) freight loads that may be slightly out of scale.  But I would still like the power to at least vaguely look like the real thing. 

All, thanks for all the input!  As I scour the interwebs for a 0-4-0 or 44T, I will still be open to other options.  Not really married to any one thing yet. 

[cjm413]

Quite right....originally I actually wanted to get Z.  But then I decided I should focus and maybe be able to re-use SOME of the rolling stock I already have....the shorter cars. 

Nn3 may be an option to keep in mind to reuse some N scale rolling stock

EBT operated standard gauge cars by "retrucking" them.   Off the top of my head, CN did the same on their 3'6" narrow gauge lines in Newfoundland

https://www.totalracing.com/ebt/stdgauge.htm

[thomasjmdavis]

That's a reasonable direction, and I appreciate the thought, however I should probably be more clear about my definition of whimsy, at least in this context.    I won't be counting rivets, and will have seasonal (Halloween and Christmas) freight loads that may be slightly out of scale.  But I would still like the power to at least vaguely look like the real thing. 

All, thanks for all the input!  As I scour the interwebs for a 0-4-0 or 44T, I will still be open to other options.  Not really married to any one thing yet. 

Well, if not that whimsical, then I would also give a vote to the old Rivarossi 0-4-0 with tender.  I had one for years- gave it up when I went to code 55.

[CRL]

Well, if not that whimsical, then I would also give a vote to the old Rivarossi 0-4-0 with tender.  I had one for years- gave it up when I went to code 55.

It runs just fine on Peco code 55. 😉

[u18b]

The Atlas/Rivarosi 0-4-0 is a great loco when you get more juice to it.

I have two that I reworked.

One, I kept the stock tender and added Bachmann or Kato trucks with needle bearings and all wheel pickup.  The hardest part was reworking the drawbar for two poles polarity instead on one.

On the other one, I just replaced the tender with a shorty Bachmann tender.  I even put a decoder in it.

The loco can run really great when it gets more electricity.

[scolba]

is it possible to convert the 0-4-0 to dcc?  exercise in futility?

I realize i didn't put that as a requirement, but it would be nice for some of the wireless options for this location.

[peteski]

I'm going to repeat that Bachmann 4-4-0 American is very festive and whimsical looking, has 8-wheel (tender) pickup, and it is verified to run comfortably on 7" radius circle.  Plus those are quite inexpensive.  IMO, perfect for a simple "under the tree" or similar type of display.

[scolba]

Somehow in the other posts, I completely forgot about our previous exchanges, because i found myself going...hmmm...i wonder if the 4-4-0 would work, because it looks perfect.  lol.  doh!

In your initial post you mentioned MicroAce.  I am not familiar with that reference.  What is that?

[u18b]

In your initial post you mentioned MicroAce.  I am not familiar with that reference.  What is that?

I forgot about those.

A Micro Ace C type would work in deisel or electric.  3 axles, short rigid base.  Runs pretty well.  I used to own one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Micro-Ace-DD12-C-Type-A9255-Diesel-Locomotive-N-Scale/274308620757?hash=item3fde1161d5:g:pOsAAOSwUF1eb4FL