Legacy Light Mikado Minimum Curve?

It doesn't make much sense, I have the 6-11255 Chesapeake & Ohio LEGACY Scale 2-8-2 Mikado #1062, and it's exactly the same length as the Light Mikado you reference.  Nothing sure jumps out for me that would require the larger curves, mine runs on O42 tubular track.

Reading this forum over several years it seems like there are a lot of variables involved in determining minimum curve.  It seems all O gauge products, probably even high end items, have made compromises to run on tighter curves.  Draw bar length, step placement, roof overhang, number and placement of driver flanges, to name a few.  Probably the only way to find out what the real minimum curve is for a specific item is to buy it and try it.  Or, someone on the forum already has it and can test for you.

I have the B&O Light Mikado that was released a year or two ago...it runs great on 0-42 curves. Actually it is running on those right now. I think it will even do 0-31 but don't quote me on that. 

I would stick to O54 unless someone here confirms they actually have the same engine and run it themselves on O42 curves. 

My guess as to why the catalogue in 2017 lists O54 and not O42/O54 is because Lionel doesn't make track with O42 curves and by 2017 they were no longer testing their products on other track systems in order to not take away potential business from their Fastrack line.   Again, I'm just guessing here.   Usually, in this situation it's because of the size of the tender.  One version will have a larger tender or one with more wheels which can't handle the smaller diameter curves, but from the catalogue pics it looks like the same sized tender. 

One thing I found confusing is there is obviously a misprint in the length of the engines.   The heavy version is listed at 30" long while the light version is listed at 20.75" long. 

Hopefully, someone here has this engine and the ability to test it on O42 curves.  

-Greg

 EDIT:  I see as I was typing my post others posted they have the same engine.

It should do 042. The only determining factor is drawbar length so unless this particular engine has a very short drawbar then it will do 042. The K-Line version which the Lionel one is based on will do 031. Sometimes the coupler mount design (example the 2 truck shays) will determine minimum diameter but I doubt this one is any different.

Pete

The Light Mikado and Heavy Mikado should be the same length unless one has a long haul tender, something I haven't ever seen.  The light and heavy Mikado locomotives are the same length.  Obviously, it's "heavier" as the name implies.  

United States Railroad Administration 2-8-2 "Mikado" Locomotives in the USA

My Lionel light Mikado would not negotiate the O54 Atlas turnouts on my old layout.  I was NOT happy as it became a very expensive shelf queen.  

I have a Legacy Heavy Mikado that mainly sits on a spur on my small layout. I have FasTrack with O36 curves and O48 switches.

Only once or twice a year do I actually run my Mikado around the loop, it does do so without an obvious problem. But I must say I do only run it slowly on the loop.

Lionel's light and heavy Mikados use the same frame. The only difference is the shell. 

Pete

Seems to suggest they'd do the same curves.

My Legacy Light Mike runs on my Atlas 045 (and around my Atlas 054 switches) just fine.  

Thank you guys for the information, you all have been extremely helpful! Thanks again!

Bryce

Norton posted:

Lionel's light and heavy Mikados use the same frame. The only difference is the shell. 

Pete

A while back I had a similar question, but in regards to the Heavy Mikado.  Someone had both and yes, the only difference was the shell.  If you look back far enough, Lionel once listed O36 for the Mikados as the min curve.  The Mikados in general have seen many different ratings, depending on if you looked at the box, the catalog, or the website.  The three have not always been in unison for the Mikados.  I have the 1st run Legacy Heavy Mikado, and it has a lot of runtime on O36 FasTrack, and I mean a lot.  That included O36 switches going to parallel spurs, so a very tight S curve.  I had no problems with it doing it, as long as I was going slow into that spur.  As for the O36 loop, I ran that at normal track speeds and never had her come off.  My layout is now O45 min Atlas track, and I still have not had any issues with her on any part she has run on.  I like the Lionel scale Mikados for that reason, one of the few 'big' steam that can still do tight curves.