First Passenger Train on the NWR! MTH Duchess of Atholl

Resurrecting an old thread here - but what radius fastrack curve are you running?

I am thinking of getting one of these trains, but may max curve is 048 - wondering if it will run on such a tight curve (I know it is rated for 054)

Very nice Adam!!  It is a great looking engine and train!

mikeowen17 posted:

Resurrecting an old thread here - but what radius fastrack curve are you running?

I am thinking of getting one of these trains, but may max curve is 048 - wondering if it will run on such a tight curve (I know it is rated for 054)

It is on O60 curves. It would not fit on the O48 the drive wheels are too big.

Wonderful set! First time I've seen this MTH gem in motion. Thanks!

I know they're a slightly bigger scale than 048, but it seems to fit well with your buildings! I too am very attracted to those British engines! Absolutely beautiful! You must be thrilled!! Thanks for sharing!!

I've always loved studying British Railways. Mostly because of the original Thomas the Tank Engine stories which is actually called "The Railway Series." The author Rev. Wilbert V. Awdry based everything he wrote off of real life. Each character had a full technical history and was based off a real life locomotive class.

Little known fact that one member of the Duchess class traveled around the USA once and I know there is a picture of it passing through Toledo, OH. Flying Scotsman was also famous for staying the USA for several years.

I am British (live in the US now) - hence why I would have loved to get one of these engines, since these types of trains are what I think of when I think 'steam train' - shame it won't run on the curves I have! 

Ah I see. Time to get some bigger curves! These engines and cars can still be found online yet.

It's interesting to note that the prototypes were 4-cylinder machines (4 - 16.5" x 28") for smoother torque and better balancing at speed. The exhaust sound would have been different, faster. In 1937 class leader #6220 (later BR #46220) briefly held the speed record for steam at 114mph.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LMS_Coronation_Class

I programmed the locomotive's Proto-chuff rate to 8 chuffs per revolution to reflect that they had 4 cylinders. Multiple cylinders were common in Britain. The Flying Scotsman A3 class and Mallard A4 class all had 3 cylinders.

CNJ 3676 posted:

Bob

Now that's a nice pic showing the size differences and the tighter British loading gauge. I wonder if 1:43 against 1:48 scales wouldn't make much difference on a layout. It would be nice to see the models side by side.

TrainWizard5972 posted:

I programmed the locomotive's Proto-chuff rate to 8 chuffs per revolution to reflect that they had 4 cylinders. Multiple cylinders were common in Britain. The Flying Scotsman A3 class and Mallard A4 class all had 3 cylinders.

With 8 chuffs per rev, is it just a steady noise at speed with no "chop" ?

If you watch the video it is set to 8 chuffs. Its just a rapid sort of chattering sound.