best small locomotives for 027

The K-line Porters and Plymouths are some of my favorite O-27 capable engines. I'm just stating this to keep this thread going. 

If you really mean small, as mentioned above the Williams 44 ton would be perfect.

RMT has closed except for orders, parts will be a problem soon.

My favorite all time 0-27 engine is the Lionel 6-18606 NYC.  These are good pullers and puffers and keep on working.  Give them an oiling and little red n tackey grease they are bullet proof.  The only downside is no whistle in tender.  Just switch the tender outsides and you are good to go.

How small ??  My Lionel  #41 and  #622 are good runners and there are a bunch of small steamers. I have been running a #224E lately(have 2)  and both are strong and smooth.

j white posted:

 

... When I designed my layout, I tried to make it so that none of my switches used the curved leg as the main line. As a result, almost all of my running of the above engines is through the straight portion of the switches. My last layout wasn't planned like that and derailments were more common ...

J White

That is definitely a good idea, although I haven't strictly adhered to it on my O27 layout for the sake of saving space. Some of my switches needed adjustments for reliable operation. Correct wheel gauge and flange profiles are also factors for locos and trains whizzing through O27 curves and switches.

I favor smaller locos for O27, mainly the common 2-4-2 types. My #333 Marx 4-6-2 does OK on O27 but it would prefer O31 or O34. My 4-axle diesels track well on O27. I would avoid 8-coupled steamers for sure, and anything else with a longer rigid wheelbase, unless you strictly avoid mainline passage through the curved leg of O27 switches, and provide easements for all O27 curves.

I don't believe anyone mentioned prewar as an option...all of my steam switchers work well on 027.

Not sure how I missed this post...

Tom

Hello,

Will a 726 run on an 027 curve? 

Thanks.

The Postwar Berkshires such as the 726 were designed for standard O track, not O-27. I have found they will navigate O-27 curves, but the eccentrics have a tendency to collide with switch machines on the 1122 style switches.

It is not designed to. Minimal is O31.

Appreciate the comments.

Thanks.

I would respectfully suggest that you re-evaluate your exclusion to the postwar GP-9. I ran one on 027 track and switches for several years and never had any trouble at all with stalling or too many derailments. They do overhang on curves somewhat, but this engine is a solid performer. It is also a pretty decent puller .

I agree on the PW GP-9 engines, as TNCENTRR stated.   I have several and never any problem on the prior 027 track layouts I had.  The earlier 50s, late 40s NW2 switchers also run great on 027 sized rails and 031 curves.  I have ran 622s, 623s, 6220s and 623s with no difficulty, and they can really pull a good consist.  My favorite PW steamers are the 2035s.  They have a different boiler than others and are some of the best pullers for the semi-sized engines.  As for 027 sized track, it works great on O gauge sized layouts as light rail for sidings and classification yards.  A great way to put to use the "lay-around" 027 track one may have in boxes.  Have read, and saw pics of, a large layout utilizing only 027 size track, albiet with 072 curves.  Yes, it looked very good and lower rail profile, along with extra ties, works just as well as any other.  Also, 027 track interfaces with Atlas switches quite well, probably Gargraves switches also.  Yes, interface pins for the different rail profiles are available.

Jesse   TCA  12-68275 

The K Line A5 switcher would probably run quite nicely on 027 curves.  The switcher comes in conventional and TMCC.  The TMCC version has electrocouplers making switching operations easy.  Both versions can be found on Ebay.

I think getting rid of O27 equipment by the main yrain importers is a major mistake.  People mignt be able to have a small layout in 27, nut could not on 31.

I heard that the couplers on the K-Line switcher were kind of stiff and tended to strong-arm trailing freight cars off the rails on O27 curves.  I don't own one, just hearsay.   I do know that the RailKing USRA 0-6-0 (which is actually a scale model, BTW) works very well on O27 and is a super-smooth slow speed runner!  Where were these locos 20 years ago when my brother and I had our O27 layout!?

I have a powered—wired in series to slow down—and dummy Williams GP9, the shells of which are from PW molds, and agree that they are good choices for O27. That said, they do not look good with the Marx-mold K-Line boxcars, but does anything really? ;-)

My other locomotives that I run on my O27 layout are: K-Line MP15—also wired in series—Lionel Hudson Jr., Lionel Mikado LionChief Plus, Lionel 0–6–0 Docksider, two RMT Buddy RDCs. I use K-Line low-profile O27 switches, but none of these will have any clearance issues with the Lionel O27 switches. IMnotsoHO, all of these look good on running on O27.

The Lionel 0–6–0 Docksider is a great small locomotive, a strong puller with good smoke production. However, it does frequently stall out on my switches, so I usually run it locked into forward, which solves the problem. I would think that the Lionchief (+?) Docksiders would not have the stalling issue, because the issue is a brief interruption in power causes the reverse unit to cycle into neutral.

I would recommend the PW Alcos. They can blow through back to back serpentine 027 switches. Smooth strong runners with cast frames. I nstalled a motor in the dummy unit of most of my Alco sets and the result is a real strong puller 

Roger

Hi @Matt_GNo27, what's the SKU number / year of your LionChief Plus Mikado?  Another forum member tried two of them, and he claimed they both balked on his O31 curves.  He ended up trading them in.  If they changed the tolerances on the running gear between production runs, I would like to know which are compatible with the tighter curves.  Thanks!

Ted S posted:

Hi @Matt_GNo27, what's the SKU number / year of your LionChief Plus Mikado?  At least one other person on the Forum tried two of them, and he claimed they both balked on his O31 curves.  He ended up trading them in.  If they changed the tolerances on the running gear between production runs, I would like to know which are compatible with the tighter curves.  Thanks!

Ted,

It is the 6-81296, which is the Great Northern Mikado introduced in 2014. I have had no issues with it balking at O27 curves. The only issue that I had with derailing was on a single K-Line low-profile switch, which I easily remedied.

The locomotive would perceive a small dip where the frog met the outside rail, when the loco would enter via the turned out position. A sliver of double-sided, foam tape with the one of the sticky sides left covered placed on the side of the frog where it contacted the outside rail when in the turned out position did the trick.

—Matt

2055