I’m looking for help/advice. I have an outdoor set up with two seperate lines. On one of my lines I am running a Bachmann 10 wheeler and it works great, but isn’t much of a Loco. I’ve thought about having Barry’s Big Trains reworking it but not sure that’s the best thing. The problem is I have one 5’-0" diameter half circle it needs to navigate. I would really like to run a Aristo-Craft Pacific 4-6-2 or Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 but have been getting feedback that they won’t handle the small radius/diameter. My next best hope would be a LGB SP Mogul 2-6-0 Loco. Has anyone ever run this set up on this small of a diameter. Also any advice on something similar in Steam that would work???
When you say “similar in steam”, if you are referring to live steam, an Accucraft Ruby will do R1 radius. I have a the same problem with restrictions due to a small radius loop, which would be very labor intensive for me to covert to R2. If you have an option, I’d suggest doing away with the R1. I have an Aristo Craft U25-B that will negotiate the R1’s traveling West, but not East. But even traveling West, can not pull more than a few cars. GP30, GP7, 2 truck Shay, and Climax do the R1 with no problem. I can’t even think of running a 2-8-0.
Good Luck,
Stack
The radius you’ve got is going to limit you to something like a Shay, Climax, 0-4-0 or perhaps an 0-6-0. Any steam engine with a larger wheelbase than that probably can’t make it around that curve. I have Bachmann 2-6-0 and 2-8-0 engines and can tell you that they require a larger radius than you have.
All of the LGB locos are designed to handle R1 curves, except possibly their most recent, large diesels.
Thanks that helps with my decision for going with the LGB Mogul. Bill Keller