Help - Newbie needs guidance on tight radius Christmas layout

24" radius in 2 rail - 2-8-0?  Probably not unless the center 2 drivers are blinded.  Even then unless the drivers are blocked up, they might drop below the railhead...

     My curves are a hair broader than yours at 28". I don't have any steamers but

   have thought if I ever get the chance that an Atlantic might work. The only thing

   I would suggest is to switch to a diesel locomotive. An F unit should work. I have 

   a GP9 that does fine. If you really want steam you could go back a little farther

   in time with 4-4-0 type. Finding some of this stuff in 2 rail before Christmas 

   might be a challenge though.  Best of luck.

        Geoff

You might want to consider doing a loop of Atlas 2-rail 36" radius. I know you're talking about a 6-foot circle, but you'll have fewer issues overall. Freight cars (40-foot) realistically need about 27" radius (O-54) but operate better at 36" radius. A rough way to estimate the radius you need is to measure the bolster-to-bolster distance on a freight car and multiply that by three for your [bare] minimum radius requirement.

@Geoff,  thanks, I am actually looking for a diesel, any suggestions?  The diesel is for the Holiday freight train and I would like to stick with a Steamer for the Polar Express.  This small layout is for the family at the holidays and if I can get in to 2-rail O like my traction equipment, I will be in good shape.

@Matt, thanks, I may have to do that.  I was told that I should double check with MTH and see if the center 2 drivers on that engine are blind and if they are they might work on something tighter than 31" but, probably not 24".  I will measure the bolsters, that is a really good tip.

Thanks,

Chris

   Chris,

       I think Matt's advice is really good especially since you don't have a lot

   of time before Christmas. You would also be able to use the engine you 

   just bought.  That would also allow you to use many diesels. Just about any

   4 axle engine would work I would think. I couldn't speak to how 6 axle

   engines would work having never owned one myself. To be honest I'm not

   sure if the equipment I have would work on 24" curves or not. The coupler

   swing is pretty much maxed out on the 50' cars. If the curves were any

   sharper I'd be lifting the inside wheels or worse.  One thing I've noticed

   that helps is switching to Kadee coupers as they have a little more play

   than the OEM Atlas or Weaver couplers.

         Geoff 

I used to put up a 2 rail Christmas layout.  I used the old Atlas 24" radius track.  But I used an F3 diesel ABA set with body mounted couplers.  Most of the time they didn't work.  My passenger cars (18" cars) had truck mounted couplers and they worked fine.  I found that if I used just the F3 A unit and the passenger cars it work fine.

However, if you can expand to 36" radius you will be better off.  You may be able to use a Pacific type engine (with only 3 drivers rather than 4) it should work fine.  I have a 2 rail Pacific (3 drivers with flanges) that I ran on 3 rail 072 (36" radius) track with no problems.

Let us know what happens.

Rick

A hi-rail mth steam locomotive with "Proto 3/2" configuration will negotiate 36" radius Atlas 2-rail track. The hi-rail flanges are cut a little smaller and don't hit the tie "spikes". I used to run my hi-rail ATSF Hudson on 2-rail track at demos. The scale-wheeled MTH steam have flanges on all drivers, but the aforementioned ATSF Hudsons will do 36" radius (I have a scale-wheeled Blue Goose and it does just fine on 36" radius). A larger 8-driver steam locomotive won't be able to pull it off, but the odd exception is the Big Boy. Mike Pitogo tried it on a whim and the locomotive goes through 36" radius because of the smaller drivers, shorter driver wheelbase and the articulation of the frame. The Mikado's might also work, but I don't have any reports from owners about that.

Pretty sure that they are not since I had Joe F. convert one of mine to that condition.

I'll cast my vote with Martin. I don't recall any consolidations with blind drivers. Cheers!

Simon

PS: There was an 0-8-0 (C-1 I think) that had the 2, 3 drivers blind.