I recently watched a video by Darth Santa Fe where he repaired a brass D&RGW 4-6-6-4 locomotive.
With no modifications, just careful assembly and adjustments, it ran through 22 inch radius curves on his layout. Amazing.
This makes me want a brass articulated locomotive even more… maybe one will run on my layout.
Does anyone know if a Key N&W Class A 2-6-6-4 is just as capable?
-Screen shot from DSF video
-Kevin
Im currently working on my brass 2-10-10-2 to go thru 22"
the back is locked obviously , i plan to get back on the project after finishing up cleaning up from IAN .I know i was close to getting it to " slide" thru before the hurricane interrupted everything .
On well laid track my Key GS5 can do 28" curves. It has 85" diameter drivers while many articulates are less than 70". I think it is possible that you can get one to run between 22-28" curves.
Unrelated but I really like the coasting drives on the key models; they run very smooth.
I would think that it is possible. Minimum radius curves is based more on the rigid wheelbase length. 2-6-6-4 could theoretically be made to run like two 2-6-2s. That being said, it would depend a lot on how the Key engine is constructed. You might need to take a grinder to certain details to allow each set of drivers to swivel more.
A 4-8-8-4 or 2-10-10-2…not so much. I’ve yet to see a brass 4-8-4 or 2-10-2 run reliably on 22" curves.
Charles
Any brass or whatever loco can be modified to take sharp curves by either reducing the width of frame, blinding at least two driver sets, or sometimes allowing pony truck to swing better by either using a smaller wheel set, or grinding cylinder saddle. The question is why? A large loco on a tight curve is the anthesis of what most of us shoot for…realism. If you want to model with a 22" radius, it would be best to restrcit the size of power to what looks good on smaller radius curves.
Hello, and thank you for input from one of my heroes.
I need to have a 22 inch radius curve due to space limitations and the need to turn the train around.
The 22 inch radius curve is hidden in a tunnel, all visible curves will be 36 inch radius on the mainlines.
I only have one large locomotive, but I really want to add N&W 2-6-6-4 and 2-8-8-2 at some point. I want the 2-6-6-4 much more of the two.
Those are the three articulated locomotives I want. I already have the EM-1 2-8-8-4.
-Kevin