would a shorter/longer draw-bar help on smaller curves

Walt. how long is his drawbar set up compared to yours? A shorter drawbar may have the tender striking the cab.

Walt,

Do you think that changing mine for a different one would help??  Also, if "maybe" or "yes", do you think a shorter one or a larger one would be more effective?

All other things being equal, a longer wireless drawbar will sometimes allow an MTH PS3 engine to negotiate sharper curves.

Since your engine is a Rail King model, it comes equipped to negotiate O31 curves and is not guaranteed by MTH to negotiate anything tighter. The Blue Comet has, I believe, 6-wheel drivers. That would also be a factor on O27 curves.

If you can slide the engine and tender, untethered, around an O27 curve and through the curved portion of an O27 switch track, a longer tether may allow the engine to negotiate O27 curves and switch tracks.

I don't off-hand know the length but it's the original one that came with it so I'm sure that number can be found.

It easily handles 31" on my brother's layout.

THANKS Barry - when I get things out again to start setting up for my Christmas layout I will try your suggestion.  Too bad the engine doesn't run/move without the tender.  I dislike sliding engines with traction tires.  I have done so but I take most of the weight off of it by lifting slightly.  I will try to keep it as close to the rails as possible for this test though.

As usual, thanks - walt

Actually Walt, I don't think you have slide it. Just place the engine on a piece of 027 an see if there is still some play in the trucks and the forward and rear drivers have their treads on the track and not being lifted up on the flanges. Same with the tender. If both can sit flat on the rails then a longer drawbar should do it.

Pete

Pete,

I'd still slide it a bit around an O27 switch if Walt plans to use them.

I should have stated 2 thoughts earlier but didn't think of them at the time:

1) As far as it handling, individually, 27" stuff:  As I mentioned, my friends PS2 version (Tether) handled everything easily.  Short of the connection type between engine and tender our sets are identical wheel-wise.  Therefore I don't think I need to slide it around to see if, when done separately, each component handles the curves.  But I'll check anyways.

2) It only has 4 drive wheels - It's a 2-4-2 engine. here's an old photo that I took showing that one of the rollers was broken but it shows that it only has 4 drive wheels.

Next time that I'm near my authorized LHS I'll stop in and see what my options are. I'm curious to see IF there is a longer drawbar than my drawbar, it may already have the longest one.  Don't know.

I have TONS of 42", 54", and 72" curves with 12 of the 42" switches, but since I try to run 4 trains on my modest 11'x14' layout, using 27" stuff for parts of it help allow for more options in configuration.  Plus - I have 30 of the 27" switches, not just 12.

As I ALWAYS like to end with - Thanks for chiming in to help

- walt