And I’m looking for answers in Steam, Diesel, Electric etc.
The smallest standard-gauge diesel would probably be an industrial design. I have pictures of a GE 35-tonner but I have no doubt that Plymouth, Brookville or some other specialized builder came up with something smaller.
Didn’t EMD make a very small four wheel switcher?
Smallest designs for both steam and diesel are probably four wheeled industrial locomotives. For electrics, I suspect it is one of the classes of four wheeled Swiss switchers.
For steam I can not imagine any thing smaller (lighter) than the Tom Thumb. The B&O’s grasshoppers were not much heavier.
Mac McCulloch
Yes. It was the model 40, 11 units were built in the early 40’s. They had 2 150 hp Detroit Diesel engines and a full size switcher cab.
I would guess today its those trackmobiles (?) that run on both rail or rubber tires.
Would a Fairmont speeder qualify as a “locomotive”?
Tom
Mack trucks built a very small 4 wheel diesel, I think smaller than that EMD job. Black River & Western used to have it in their collection, probably still do. There were plenty of tiny gas mechanical 4 wheelers built and as PNWRMNM pointed out, early steam locomotives were tiny!
Does this count?
Do you count the small electric “pushers” (some battery powered) as a locomotive?
If not, what is your working definition?
Duplicate content deleted
Chuck
The smallest modern steam locomotive was a ‘miniaturized’ Porter 0-4-0T built for the Bullard Machine Company, their #2. When I saw it at Steamtown (Reading) some years ago it was parked right in front of the Big Boy…
Chuck
yup EMD Model 40. http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/emd_model40.jpg
My definition would be that it must be able to move RR cars to be a locomotive. So in my definition a speeder is not a locomotive.
There is a company in Derby, England, that is developing a low-cost lightweight modern streetcar, and on the way has developed a very successful “Railway Shop Cat.” It looks like a flat slab (and one or two people can stand on it, but don’t), has four wheels not much bigger than rollerskate wheels, and is controlled from a wireless computer tablet. It is battery powered. It can slowly move a large 100-foot long light railcar or even two coupled if necessary. I think the name is something like DDSystems or something like that. They use the wheel-motor permanent magnet concept, rivaling Magnet Motor in Germany, who power many of Europe’s low-floor battery, hybred, and trolleybuses.
A track mobile is NOT a locomotive, neither is a speeder, both are considered track cars same as MofW equipment. for it to be locomotive it has to comply with FRA rules for locomotives the CFR49 part#229. now check this out for ballsy little locomotive. http://members.shaw.ca/tractivepower/index.html?page_id=110
how about this puppy : http://members.shaw.ca/tractivepower/index.html?page_id=110
I offer up for consideration the “Flying Bufferbeam,” a 1936 0-4-0T standard gauge steamer weighing only eleven (long/metric) tons:
http://www.brc-stockbook.co.uk/1900.htm
http://ukrailways1970tilltoday.me.uk/Buckinghamshire_Railway_Centre_8.html
WOW THE WINNER?