Hey guys - I am thinking of purchasing one of the new units - but the specs state min curve is O-54. The largest curve I have on my layout is O-48 on the outer track loop.
This is the engine....
http://www.lionel.com/products...1D7D&PageID=2097
Does anyone have one of these - would it negotiate the O-48? I understand it has a semi-fixed pilot on both front and rear - so I'm wondering if will work at all on my O-48
Thanks
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The SD70ace does O48 without any problems so I assume ES44ac's will also even with the way the pilots are.
I'm going to say no. Even running on O54 requires careful selection of the car coupled to the locomotive to keep it from being pulled off the track. Even though the pilot can swing, the spring that centers it is fairly stiff, and there's not all that much travel in the motion of the pilot.
I'm going to say no. Even running on O54 requires careful selection of the car coupled to the locomotive to keep it from being pulled off the track. Even though the pilot can swing, the spring that centers it is fairly stiff, and there's not all that much travel in the motion of the pilot.
OK, well. I have one "yes" and one "no" - I guess I'm back to where I started! lol
I have the Lionel BNSF ES44AC all metal unit and it runs fine on my layout which is all O-48 curves. I do have to makes sure the first car behind the locomotive has a longer coupler so the engine doesn't derail the car. The other option is to hook up another engine behind the ES44 that has the pilot and coupler attached to the front truck (ie. my Lionel SD70) and then add your cars behind the second engine. Hope this helps.
I have the PRR version and 054 is the minimum. I had to rework a section of track to keep cars from derailing. I hope this helps.
I have the PRR version and 054 is the minimum. I had to rework a section of track to keep cars from derailing. I hope this helps.
Well - I have two yes, and two no = guess I'm going to have to avoid buying these! Thanks guys.
I found on a fix pilot engine a short length car that weight a pound or more. It the weight that force the spring to swing more. I run a northeast cleaning car.
I know the die-cast ES44ACs have minimum O42 with recommended O54. I've yet to run mine to test the limits but I presume its similar to the operation of my VL UP Genset.
The VL Genset is also min O42/rec O54 but without any freight I've had it traverse O36 (don't think I'd try with my ES44), certain freight will decouple from the engine on O48 and everything says coupled on O54.
Well, got the ES44AC (NS Heritage "Southern") - the smoke unit was completely DOA, the rear pilot was missing the spring that allows the pilot to center itself when going around curve (the pilot just swayed back and forth!), and there was no removable CAB cover as listed in the specs on the Lionel website and the specs on the seller's website.
So, back it went to the seller and I received a full refund very quickly.
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