Hello all. Since I first got into model railroading I’ve always prefered smaller steam locomotives from 4-8-4 Northerns on down. At first I thought this might be because I’ve always had small layouts, but then after building a larger layout a few years ago where I now have plenty of room to run a Challenger or alike I still find that I continue to only buy smaller locos. To me there’s nothing cooler than a 2-8-0 Consolidation pulling a short freight or a 2-8-2 Mikado or 4-6-4 Hudson. Is there anyone else out there that’s into the smaller locos ?.
I have several small steamers. My smallest is a Fleischmann DB 0-4-0. Next up the list is a Lima 0-4-0 similar to the Life-Like Docksider. Then there’s a 70’s era metal Bachmann 0-6-0. A Pemco 2-6-0 Mogul. A Bachmann 4-6-2 K4 and a Tyco 2-8-0 Consolidation.
I, as well, enjoy my small steamers. My roster at this time is a Bachmann Spectrum 4-4-0 “Modern” (unlettered at this time), a Bachmann Spectrum PRR K-4 4-6-2, Bachmann Spectrum 0-6-0, Bachmann NYC 2-6-0 Mogul (Bachmann is the King of small steam), and a BLI 2-8-2 PRR Mikado.
I really enjoy my two Trix Mikes and my Proto 2000 0-8-0 switcher. Given that my layout has mostly R22" curves, the Mikes and switchers give it a good look.
I’m not trying to be contentious, but…a 4-8-4 isn’t exactly a “small” steamer. For their intended purposes, generally, they were meant to be large and fast. They replaced Heavy Pacifics, Mountains, Heavy Mikados, and Hudsons. Those were medium-sized as a rule, except for the Mountains, but even so, many of those medium engines were rather large and powerful brutes in their own rights. Yes, compared to a 2-6-6-6, or a 4-8-8-4, or a 4-4-6-4, the Northern class was smaller and had less tractive effort. But if you have ever stood beside the Northern at Kingman, AZ, as an example, as I and my aged Dad have, we both couldn’t help but remark on its enormity.
Anyway, to the topic - I only have one small steamer at present, the Heritage 0-6-0. It’s a fine little gem that looks great in my yard or shoving a cut of hoppers up a grade. I haven’t tested it on the smallest radius possible, but I’m sure it would be very happy on a real #4 turnout, maybe even a tad tighter, and on radii near 15".
I hear you. Four Mantua Mikes, an IHC Mike, a Mantua Pacific, Rivarossi Pacific, Bachmann Consolidation, Spectrum Shay and two Rivarossi 0-8-0’s… and one Athearn Genesis Challenger. (I almost forgot the Bachmann SP GS4, sent to me by Bachmann to replace a SF Northern with no word to me about it!) So I guess I lean towards the “smaller” steam locos! Though I am watching for another SF Northern, as well as a Y6b… not exactly “small”…
Same here. Although I have a fleet(5) 2-10-0 I1sa locos that do the bulk of the freight hauling they do negotiate some tight turns that my M1b 4-8-2 with its larger drivers can not. A few B6sb and B28 0-6-0, a 2-8-0, 2-6-0, and a few 4-6-2 K4s and K5s. These seem to be my bread and butter locos. The larger T1 4-4-4-4, J1 2-10-4, and HH1s 2-8-8-2 mainly sit around the round house. I do like the coast to coast tenders though. Some are larger than the engine pulling it. Looking forward to the H10s 2-8-0 BLI is coming out with. Even though it has the lines west hooded tender. Every Pennsy steam modeler needs a few of them and I believe it will sell out quickly.
My grandson and I have a host of steamers. Not all of them ‘small’ by my definition, but since the author of the thread classifies a Northern as a small steamer, who am I to argue.
The grandson has a bunch of small steamers, most all of them from Bachmann: a couple of 0-4-0s, a 4-4-0, a couple of 0-6-0s, a 2-6-2, and a three truck Shay. There is a Bachmann 4-6-2, and a IHC 4-6-4 In addition he has a Bachmann SP 4-8-4, N&W 4-8-4 and an Athearn 4-6-6-4 Challenger.
My steamer roster isn’t as extensive. I have a Bachmann 4-8-4 Niagara, a BLI 2-8-2 Mike, and a BLI Hudson.
Christmas will extend my roster with a BLI 4-8-4 Niagara and the grandson’s will increase with a BLI 4-4-4-4 T-1.
First, I would never consider a 4-8-4 or 4-6-4 to be small locomotives. Northerns and Hudsons are beasts. But I do agree with the basic premis. While the big locos were always the most glamorous a great public relations tools, the bulk of the railroads work was done with smaller locos. I think overall the Mikado, Consolidated, and Pacifics would probably win the prize for most common hard working locos on a railroad.
Hello selector. It’s been a long time. Just for the record I didn’t mean to actually call the Northern types small, what I guess I really meant to say was that I only model from Northerns on down to Consolidations and all in between.
Absolutely with you there. 2-8-0s and smaller steam. Same thing for diesel, I much prefer switchers and small first generation road switchers (rs-1, GP7) type locomotives. I was in N scale for several years running long trains with 2-3 SD40-2s up front, but switched back to HO. There’s just something about a small locomotive pulling 4-6 cars through the backside of nowhere that is more real than the fastest streamliner. Could be partly why narrow gauge is so popular as a sub genre.
Even if I had more space, instead of a larger railroad, I’d probably like to move up to O scale and do even more justice to that lonesome local doing the daily work.
I guess I’m lucky because I have a couple of places to run locomotives, my personal layout where 4-4-0s and Consolidations and light Mikado’s rule and the club’s large modular layout. On those large radii curves I usually run a Class A NW 2-6-6-4. There it can do it’s thing without taking out nearby utilty poles, autos and tunnel portals… [:D]
But… my favorite locos for ops sessions are 4 axle diesels. OH the INDIGNITY of it all!! [;)]
For my own personal definition, a 2-8-0 is about the limit of what I would call small. I’m starting to get a small fleet of little steamers for my modern railroad (yes, I know it’s not prototypical BUT)
I’ve most recently had a lot of fun with this one, it loves tight confines and can pull 10-12 cars easily!
