Hello everyone!
I’m posting on here today to ask a question about a new train(s) that I’m looking at purchasing. I’ll post the links here so you can see the ones I’m talking about.
The first one is a Bachmann 4-8-4 Northern Santa Fe engine:
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Bachmann-HO-50803-4-8-4-Northern-Santa-Fe-3783-p/bac-50803.htm
The second one is the Bachmann 4-8-4 Southern Pacific Daylight:
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Bachmann-HO-GS4-4-8-4-Loco-SP-Railfan-Daylight-DCC-p/bac-50201.htm
I’m really leaning towards the Santa Fe right now because it goes with the color scheme of my current passenger cars. But here’s the real question I have: Will these engines run on 22" radius curves? I’ve read several different reviews that said that neither one of them can run on 22" curves and that they require around 22"-28" curves.
I really want both of these engines at some point, and I plan on buying one of them soon if I see good replies on here. If anyone has some advice on this, please let me know. Thanks!
Both engines are decent in-scale representations of their prototype locomotives, so their drivers will be close to the correct scale diameter and spaced accordingly. However, the manufacturers couldn’t create a market for them if they only ran on 30" curves, so they make them with lots of sideplay to appeal to a much wider market with smaller curves on their layouts. Their BLI counterparts are good on 22" radius curves, although it is tight, and inconsistent trackwork, especially undulating track and the odd arc somewhat less than a true 22" radius will result in more derailments. So, I would suspect that these engines will be fine on accurately and carefully planted 22" radius curves.
If that flies in the face of anecdotal evidence here and on other forums, or if the manufacturer says to run them on wider curves, you are most likely looking for heartache. Get wider curves.
Crandell
Edit (added) modeltrainstuff’s listing for this engine has good reviews and they claim the engine is good for 22" curves. So, have fun, but check them curves!
Both engines were reviewed in the January 1980 Model Railroader “trade topics” page 52. [Having written that – it is quite possible that the models offered today are modified or changed from those original productions, which were imported from Hong Kong – so what they wrote about the 1980 versions may no longer be accurate.]
Anyway. The review mostly praised the general scale accuracy of both models, with a few quibbles, although the Box-pok drivers on the Santa Fe made it best represent a 2900 series not the 3776 series. It pointed out though that the prototypes had 80 inch drivers and the model had 76" drivers to accomodate oversized flanges. The alternative would have been to lengthen the frame which of course would probably also increase the minimum radius.
According to the reviews the minimum radius of both engines was 18" – be aware that that is for the engine running alone, not trying to couple onto full length passenger cars etc. The review says that at 18" radius the overhang was extreme and “they look ridiculous. For best appearance they should be run on 24” radius or larger curves."
If 22" radius is your maximum, these engines are likely to run but might make your layout look toylike. A 4-6-2 might be a better choice for a steam locomotive. The old Mantua Pacific should run nicely on those curves. Perhaps the Bachmann Pennsy K4 would as well.
Dave Nelson
They may run around 22" radius curves, but you’ll have a hard time keeping scale-length passenger cars coupled to it, plus it’ll look very unrealistic.
I have a 4-8-4 Berkshire by bachmann. It runs really well on my 22" curves. I really don’t want to go smaller than a 4-8-4, so do you guys have any suggestions on other engines if the two I listed aren’t sure fire working engines on 22" curves?
Bachmann says they will work on 18" curves, so I am certain they will be much happier on 22" and work fine.
Any other brand (other than the old AHM/Rivarossi/IHC) of 4-8-4 is going to require larger radius curves. I don’t know if Model Power ever made that large of a loco.