Thinking about buying a scale steam engine that calls for o54 will it run on o48. Already have smaller steam engine.
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I would stay with whatever the instructions say. You may luck out with 048 but it’s a gamble.
Manufacturers spec out a minimum curve for a reason - to remove the guesswork in answering your exact question.
If you can't accept the manufacturers specification, do your own testing:
- you likely won't be as thorough as the manufacturer (Hint: it's more complex than just simply fitting it on a curve - you need to take into account complex track configurations, switch machine clearance, concentric curve clearances and so much more)
- you may find that your setup doesn't have a configuration the manufacturer tested and failed at specific curve size and therefore deemed by you to run on a tighter curve than the manufacturer specified.
No, no, no it will not! Take it from me, I was a butthead and just had to learn the hard way. A few years ago my max curve was 054. Well Mr. Butthead (me) forked out big money for a beautiful MTH Premier Union Pacific 4-8-4. The box clearly said 072 minimum curve, but that did not deter me. I got the thing home, placed on my layout, loaded it unto the DCS and started it up. Everything was great, until it hit the curve, where it derailed! So what did I do? Well, fortunately I had room to enlarge the outside loop with 072 curves. You might get away with going to a tighter curve with rolling stock, but even then you may run into problems.
Depends on many factors. If it were me I would try it out carefully. As BMoran said the manufacturer could have deemed it 054 for some reason that won't be encountered on your layout, e.g., because maybe an s curve of 042 derails it, but if you don't have that then maybe it will be ok.
It might help to mention the exact steam locomotive. Maybe someone has already tested it.
Not sure what engine you are talking about but --- Scale Lionel 1225 berkshire calls for 054 and I've run it on 036 super o
Crazy but works
Sometimes and engine labeled for one curve will run in forward around a smaller curve but not in reverse through the reduced curve. Or the limitations will show up through your switches, grades could be another big question mark, the engine could be fine on a flat turn but jump track on your grades. In short things may work out for you but that is not likely on every aspect of operation.
Have Fun and good luck.
I had a 3rd Rail Y6b that would run on much tighter than "required" sectional track curves, but would derail on the similar sized turnouts.
When Lionel says 072 they mean it.!
MTH engines not necessarily so as they usually run on lesser radii then spec'd.
I have 072 only engines that run fine on a 063 quarter turn. Try it and see.
Thank you all for your input. Pecking order would all be Lionel. 1st- Mohawk, 2nd Berkshire and 3rd Hudson. I'm pretty sure the tender on the Mohawk is to long.
The usual issue is the swinging and pivoting issues with pilot/trailing trucks. Couplers may not swing enough and excessive overhang off center there and results in angle increases; binding.
Travel in curve and in a turnout can differ. Turnouts need a little slop; a curve can sometimes handle silght binding. Run the turnouts in any tests.
I'm not sure what's being offered now but the number of Berk & Hudson sizes mean being specific might be prudent. Being specific there is a good chance your question might actually get a yes or no answer too
Like said above it depends. I tend to try to find the tightest all my locomotives will do.
The Lionel Vision Line Big Boy, I know a guy who regularly runs in on O63 without issues on his layout. The have tested the locomotive it self on O54 and it took it. The tender on the other hand would not do it. So just like the prototype, the tender is the limited factor on this engine.
The MTH PS-1 equipped Premier PRR T-1, I ran it on O48. It didn't care for it, but it did not climb out, so I have no fear running it on O54.
The MTH PS-1 equipped DL-109, Runs on O36 just fine.
The Lionel Mikado, these are an odd one. When they first came out they were listed as O36, but later releases bumped them to O54. I run my heavy Mike on O36 all day without issues, forwards and backwards and through S-curves.
K-Line Big Boy, I got bored one afternoon when I stumbled across some of my old O27 track that I got when I was a kid to run my Marx train on. So I pulled this locomotive out and tried it. It does run, but every once in a while if conditions are right it'll climb out of the curve.
So the short of it is it really depends on the locomotive and your track geometry.
Steelie posted:Thinking about buying a scale steam engine that calls for o54 will it run on o48. Already have smaller steam engine.
If you slam-dunk from straight to O-48, you may have problems. However, if you ease into and out of O-48 with O-54 or larger curved tracks, you might stand a better chance of having it work.
Like all say, lots of variables, and you won't know until you try. 
I know my MTH Premier GS4 4-8-4 Northern will go through the Ross 042 switches in my yard no problem, both forward and backwards. It's rated at 054 minimum. The tender will go around an 031 curve, the drive wheels not so much.
For what its worth, my Lionel Vision Line Hudson, Lionel Milwaukee Road 261 4-8-4, Lionel ATSF 3751 4-8-4 and Lionel NKP 765 2-8-4 all run fine on my O-48 Fastrack layout.
