Minimum radius for Sunset E7

This is information about the E7 from the Sunset/3rd Rail website:

054: 3 Rail Track

56" Radius: 2 Rail Track

Hi Chris - many thanks for that! I had seen this but wondered if anyone had any practical experience of running on tighter curves - I think manufacturers sometimes play it cautiously to cover themselves!

I can't speak to tight curves as I have not run mine through anything tighter than the 56" radius

I can tell you careful handling near the steps is important that they don't get bent inwards towards the trucks, and cause a short on tighter turns.

I run mine on 52 inch radius pulling full length cars with no problems.    I do have a 48 inch curve on the branch that I will try to test it on.     My full length cars are GGD cars.

OK Guys, you put me under a lot of pressure!

I just went down and ran an E7 with a GGD pullman on my branch grade with a nominal 48 inch radius curve.

Both the engine and pullman have Kadees mounted in standard boxes.    I put a new "long shank" Kadee on the front of the E7 because the standard (medium shank) air hose/pin hit the pilot when backing.   Also the air hoses on cars coupled to the front of the E7 tended to go under or hit the pilot.

The E7 had no problems with the curve.  It ran smoothly.   I think there must be a slight kink about the middle of the curve because the pullman tilted and jerked at one spot.   But it ran smoothly everywhere else.   I could run the unit with the car coupled to the front or the back and they both ran and stayed on the track.  

I hope this helps.

MANY thanks guys for the posts and special thanks to prrjim for taking the time to try this out - that was very kind of you.

I'm hoping that we will see an E6 at some time in the future (and an E8/9) - something makes me think we may be in luck one day!

I just wish Sunset would produce a range of F units - I am sure a lot of people are put off getting into O because of the lack of motive power. There must surely be some roads (ATSF, NYC, Pennsy, SP, UP) that would ALWAYS sell and entice new people into this market. European manufacturers are catching on to this idea and realising no stock = no market! I have almost given up with Atlas and their delayed shipments!

What motive power is lacking in O scale?  If you are only counting certain manufacturers you are correct Atlas only makes what Atlas makes and Sunset only makes what Sunset makes.  But between all the manufacturers and importers the only thing that hasn't been made are individual versions of steam locomotives.

OBTW, P&D F9s are the old Atlas Roco F9s.  And there are only two different shells I have ever seen being called all those F3 and F7 versions.  I've never even seen a P&D F7 that is actually an F7.

The P&D kits are not the old Atlas Shell.   P&D first had tooling made for a B unit to go with the old Atlas and it was a big hit and much better detailed.   The customers bugged him to do an A unit and he did one.

The tooling is made with a number of parts as inserts.   The roof panels for the dynamic brakes are all optional - vents as on F3s, fans as on F7s and F9s.   the rear panel can have the steam generator or one with out.   alll the side gratings are separate parts and  you get what goes on the version you want.   Or you get some optional ones.    the hardest thing to do is the small number boards.   the castings for large ones are inserts.   But the hole must be filled and sanded to install small ones.   I did it for my F3s.    The pilots are optional.   there are 2 or 3 to choose from.   all the lift rings and hand rails and fans are separate parts.   The MU hoses and aiar hoses for the ends are separate.    I think the front nose door is also separate so you can do the lower double headlight. 

Actually I don't think he did the F9 becuase that requires the front porthole to be moved.   the F2,F3 and F7 have the front porthole in the same location.

The model specs were defined by Mal Harvey a local very good modeler and retired engineer.    He also designed the brass trucks that come with the F units.    They are definitely F3s, F2s and F7s.     Check out what is available on the P&D Hobbies website.