Will the 2-10-2 run on 18" curves?
How much does the 4-6-4 pull?
Also how about slow speed running?
How quiet is it?
Thanks[:)]
- No.
- I don’t have one of the 4-6-4s, so I can’t answer that question.
- The 2-10-2 with a SoundTraxx Tsunami decoder runs smoothly and quietly. Slow speed running is a little jerky but will hopefully straighten out with more break-in time.
- All IHC steam engines have can motors and are very quiet.
My IHC 2-10-2 runs on 18" but has occasional fits. Even with the blind center drivers, I think it tends to bind on the curve and seemingly causes the pilot to derail. On 22" it seems fine. Of course, none of the problems can be my track work…I think.
Because one of my curves will be 18" (not mainline,tho) I guess I won’t be getting the 2-10-2.
Now, how much does the 4-6-4 pull?
Dingoix
If you are running 18"r corves, you best stick to Short wheel-base engines.
WHAT RUNS - and what doesn’t - can be conjecture based. From what stays on the track - to what will couple and uncouple - and how much ‘play’ (read slop) has been designed into it.
2-10-2’s need 22" and larger.
What are your personal standards?
My minumum mainline curve will end up being about 20-21 but the rest will be at least 22. However, departing from the yard, trains will have to go around an 18 to get to the main. My Spectrum 2-8-0 ran ok on 18", if the track was perfect. I don’t have to run anything with 10 drivers, I just wanted to know if I could. I won’t be running much steam as I model 1968 (well, CGW had NO steam then but I’m going to run a few). mainly steam will be for excursions (aka. 4-6-4 and 4-6-2) but will be used for freight as well.
Back to the original question- how much does the IHC 4-6-4 pull?
Also, how much might the 4-6-2 pull?
Thanks a bunch.
Hudsons are still rather large wheelbase locomotives depending upon how heavy they are. I’ve been told IHC’s 4-6-4 is a very heavy version of the engine that is not based upon a specific prototype, but still looks right. I believe it has traction tires so it should have some pull to it. How long a train do you want to pull?
What might actually be really interesting on your line, if it’s prototypical, is doubleheading two smaller locomotives (maybe light Mikados or heavy Moguls,) It’s really interesting operation as it took two engine crews (remember you can’t MU steam) and made for some awsome visuals. The smaller engines would look much more natural on the smaller curves, be cheaper to buy and still have both great pulling power between them and be quite dramatic looking.
Cheers!
~METRO
THE PROTOYPE generally was limited to 12 cars on flat terrain: Hudson River / Chicago - KC & Chi. - St Paul. They replaced the 'Pacific’s - if you want to model the prototype.
don, I assume you mean 12 passenger cars? I’d be happy if the hudson could pull 10 passenger cars up my slight (0.25-0.5%) grade. I’d like it to pull at least 15 free rolling freight cars,too. Maybe I will e-mail IHC and see if the hudson has traction tires.
Now, what about pull power on the Pacific? I have been told they can’t pull 7 passenger cars up a 2.5% grade, which does not surprise me. I’d be happy If the 4-6-2 could pull 6-7 passenger cars on my grade and maybe 12 freight cars.
Are my expectations for pull power about right or am I asking too much?
My nephew had an older IHC Pacific, and though he didn’t have much in the way of grades on his layout, it seemed to be able to pull about 7 passenger or 12 freight cars with ease. As to the Hudson, it’s a kinda-sorta-Santa Fe prototype (like the 2-10-2) and it should be good for about 10 passenger or 15 freight cars on level track. I don’t have either IHC loco, but I do have one of their 4-8-2’s, and it’s a pretty surprising puller–I’ve been able to take about 15 freight cars up my 2-2.4% grades on the Yuba River Sub without having to tack on a helper. Not bad in my book. And a nice, smooth runner to boot.
Tom
4-6-4’s WERE passenger engines.and built for speed over traction.
.
All other tihngs being equal, the 6 (driving wheel) IHC models should all pull the same. These are toy repicas, with similar motors and gears where price determines sucess for the less inclined . Hows that? I didn’t say less informed, or ‘beginners’ market, did I?
i’d suggest that running more prototypical 2-6- 2 with 60’ cars and will will run better on a 18"r. 4X8. So will 2-8-0’s.
If they run better, you’ll have more, not less, fun.
True, 4-6-4s were built for speed, not traction.
The IHCs might not pull the same because the hudson has to be heavier as it’s longer than the Pacific. But that extra weight might not be on the drivers, but rather, on the rear truck. I DO know a real hudson had the same tractive effort as a Pacific, even though it was heavier, the extra weight was on the rear truck, not the drivers.
Dingoix:
The point I have been trying to make is:
REGARDLESS of how many cars the prototype pulled, a toy model has different criteria.
TRACK: 18"r curves are way , way sharper, and #4 and #6 TURNOUTS: would derail any prototpe.
GRADES even approaching 2% (100" divided by 2") required helpers.Most model layouts need 4" for clearance
MODELS are mostly built for show and pretend. Costs are reduced by less pulling pwr.
Heavier models require stronger motors. Stronger motors cost more. Traction on the cheap, is rubber tires. They wear out - rot - cause problems.
… and here you are talking IHC equipment.
I simply want to pull a prototypical number of cars even though I’m running on much sharper curves than the prototpe ever would.
The only reason I posted this thread is because I’ve heard IHCs don’t pull too well, but now I know a Pacific would pull a decent number of cars. (the prototype didnt pull that much, anyway)
Ok, I laid my sharpest mainline curve, it’s about 21" Will the 2-10-2 run on that??
A 2-10-2 is a BIG rigid frame freight locomotive and it may run on the track but it’s going to look better, have less binding and run better on at least a 24" radius.
For heavy freight try a Mikado, that should do better on a 21" radius.
Cheers!
~METRO
As I stated before, my IHC 2-10-2 runs fine on 22” and doesn’t really look bad, granted the bigger the radius the better it would look. I also said it “runs” on 18” with occasional fits, so interpret that as it doesn’t run on 18”. But I’d be willing to bet that it would run OK on 21”, especially if you’re easing into the curve. Maybe you know someone who has one and can try it on your layout. Otherwise it’s a bit of a leap of faith.
Dingoix;
A Spectrum 2-6-6-2 will run on your very tight curves better than a IHC or Spectrum 2-10-2. And most likely it will pull better than either 2-10-2. Trainworld currently has them starting at less than $150-
I will have to check out Spectrum 2-6-6-2s. That actually might work as CGW had some 2-6-6-2s. Bachmann is pretty “iffy” to me, but maybe I will give it another shot.