PRR S-1 6-4-4-6

I just check the book Pennsy Power, and there is a photo (page 228) of the S1 under construction.  In it you can see that all four drivers have flanges.

Stuart

All wheels flanged, Joe.

Thanks guys,  I missed that photo in Pennsy Power.  I looked there first!  Now the question remains will the model with all flanged drivers, even with extra lateral motion, be able to negotiate a 60" radius.  Anyone have a 2 rail Sunset model of this loco?

I only want to do this conversion once!

84" tire blanks are roughed out and I would like to convert this model in July.

Thanks again,

Joe Foehrkolb

Would suspect 1/2 of a high speed, passenger locomotive's 8 drivers being un-flanged would be a rather dangerous condition!

Perhaps you are right.  Certainly travelling at speeds around 100 mph, it would be wise to have as many drivers flanged as possible.

But it is my understanding that originally the dual service PRR M-1 locomotives were built with blind 2nd and 3rd drivers, as were the I-1s decapods (not fast locos) with blind 2,3 & 4th drivers.  These locos eventually had flanges installed on all drivers.

If the real S-1 had blind drivers I would have not had to make a decision regarding machining the driver tires on this model.  Ed Rappe indicates his Sunset S-1 with all drivers flanged goes around his 60 radius curves that are carefully laid.  I will discuss this with the model's owner and he can decide what he wants.  I know he has indicated to me in the past that he believed he has some tight spots in his curves.

It is not in my plans to machine these drivers twice.

Joe Foehrkolb

I have the Williams T1 with flanges.  Best I could do is test it on 64" for you, but all drivers have lots of lateral slop, so unless I stuck a tail beam in there, it should do ok on 64".  Let me know if you haven't already decided and need a test.  The T1 is sort of behind glass at the moment.