USA Articulated Locomotives

A

alec dawe

Railways, Cars, Wine!
O. K. Chaps. Daft question time.
For some reason, and I personally put it down to galloping senility, I have this craving for a huge, air pump and inter cooler behung, vast USA articulated team loco.
I know that USA Trains make a UP Big Boy, but the price of that is way out of my league.
MTH aka RailKing did a big boy. Few years ago, but I think they are out of production and rare, even on eBay.
Aristocrat do make a generic 2-8-8-2 loco, but its not a specific model of anything.
I think there's also. 4-6-6-4 Challenger somewhere about, not sure who makes it or if its still available.
Anyone know of any others? I like the DMIRR Yellowstones, but don't think there's ever been a G Scale model of that.

All advice that is physically possible welcome, even if I ignore it!

Alec
 
mth did the challenger i think and a big boy,,, seen them s/h for around 5 to 600
squid
 
I have to object! Love of articulated locos is NOT sign of galloping senility . . . . . . . . . . it are a sign of growing maturity.

:love::love:
 
:onphone: Have you considered the Bachmann 2-6-6-2T ? Cheap(ish), and available (I think). Prototype, or something very similar, runs on the Black Hills Central in South Dakota, out the back of Mt Rushmore. I rode behind this in '09. Had the chance of bringing back a G model of it, but there was now room left beside the Climax in our baggage.
 
The Aristo Mallet prototype looks a lot like the ones used on the B&O and N&W , i have some HO models of them made by Rivarossi.
 
Don't forget the LGB Uintah mallet tank and its Sumpter valley tender version.
In addition to the already mentioned Big Boy and Challenger MTH Rail King produced three versions of a Triplex 2-8-8-8-2.

Then again there's this http://www.accucraft.com/modelc/AL98-411-ALLEGHENY.htm < Link To http://www.accucraft.com/...AL98-411-ALLEGHENY.htm also available in live steam.
I fear it may stretch the budget as much, if not more than than USA Trains Big Boy though!
 
If money is no object and senility has really set in how about the Accucraft SP Cab Forward, amazing bit of modelling. Electric and live steam (c £3,500 - £5,000 !).

Can vouch for both the Aristocraft and Bachmann Mallets, owning both. Excelent value, nice detail and good runners. The Bachmann can be got at very good price from a certain US trader on Ebay, even after you have factored in shipping, the exchange rate and UK VAT at 20%.

Max.
 
maxi-model said:
The Bachmann can be got at very good price from a certain US trader on Ebay, even after you have factored in shipping, the exchange rate and UK VAT at 20%.
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Or a friendly forum member eh Max? ...;)

I am at the finishing stage of customising an Aristocraft 2-8-8-2 to make it more like the prototype L131 class that ran on the Rio Grande standard gauge lines. It is a great bit of kit and can be found for about £500 so is a great way to get into mainline articulated locos.
Narrow gauge ones like the already mentioned LGB sumpter and the Uintah locos are also nice locos but for all the wheel contact, are not as powerful when going up hill! The Bachmann 2-6-6-2 is a fabulous piece of kit and really has dragging power.

Rio Grande 2-8-8-2 Class 131
4a5d6268496749939dcfdb81d7cf4b2d.jpg
 
Richie said:
The Aristo Mallet prototype looks a lot like the ones used on the B&O and N&W , i have some HO models of them made by Rivarossi.
Click to expand...

Thats correct Richie.
The Aristo USRA 2-8-8-2 Mallet can be used as a basis for many of the Chesapeake type locos.
It is a reasonable representation of this type of loco.
It could pass as a N&W Y6B, these were impressive locos that could haul 13500tons on the flat
and had an output of 5500Hp. Here is a video of three on a N&W coal drag.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV8rA3UE-lc
 
kimbrit said:
Make sure you have the curves to accommodate it!!
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Ah, a very valid point.
The MTH Railking articulateds are deceptive. Whilst relatively small (!:32 scale) they echo the prototype in that only the front unit is free to move independently with the rear unit rigidly fixed to the boiler. This means a larger overhang on curves than may be expected.
 
The Aristocraft articulated isn't generic its a model of the USRA standard mallet based on the N&W ones and built to fit the loading gauge on all railroads for war use in WWI ;)
Here's the HO Y3 Pennsy version, They were used by many railroads but most dumped them quickly after WWI due to their low speed, anything over 20mph and they started to hammer themselves and the track. There were a few detail differences and some of the coal hauling roads used them for a long time due to their huge slogging power at low speeds. Remember coal drags often were reduced to 5- 10 mph in mountainous territory anyway.
HO Y3 different tender
168037a1fc2b43d68572ce7b58c47d7e.jpg

 
Aristo USRA
64469041a80645dd9470e0fccfe794da.jpg
 
maxi-model said:
If money is no object and senility has really set in how about the Accucraft SP Cab Forward, amazing bit of modelling. Electric and live steam (c £3,500 - £5,000 !).

Can vouch for both the Aristocraft and Bachmann Mallets, owning both. Excelent value, nice detail and good runners. The Bachmann can be got at very good price from a certain US trader on Ebay, even after you have factored in shipping, the exchange rate and UK VAT at 20%.

Max.
Click to expand...

Can you imagine my life expectation if SWMBO found out I had paid out that sort of money for a model of a steam locomotive? I suspect it might be measured in milliseconds!

Anyway, does anyone know of an Aristo Mallet for sale anywhere in the UK opr Europe for a price that might be deemed sensible?
Alec
 
Found some more accurate info, the initial batch were based on the Y2 and N&W classified them as Y3, basically a stock design and they chose them because of the small loading gauge.
Quote from review of the proto 2000 HO model
"Although delivered too late for the war effort, the N&W received 50 of the USRA engines in 1919, which it classified as Y-3. In 1923 another 30 were ordered with larger tenders (Y-3a), followed by 10 more in 1927 fitted with feedwater heaters. During World War II, several Y-3s were sold to various western railroads that were desperate to ease motive power shortages. Although well suited to coal-hauling duties in the Appalachians, the big articulateds proved too slow for most of their new owners and they were retired or sold following the war. At home, Y-3s remained in service until 1958."

http://www.spookshow.net/ll2882.html
 
HA!!!!
I have found one, in the UK, and brand new, and at a decent price, only a few ££s more than the last used one went on eBay.
The wife will have a dicky fit, but then I don't have 90 pairs of shoes, and the exclusive use of 4 wardrobes!
Thanks for all the advice, 10' minimum curves!
Alec.
 
[style="color: #008080;"]Go for it, Axec!!! :thumbup::thumbup:
 
Ah well done. :D

My memory may be faulty (it often is these days) but I think I've seen them negotiate LGB R3 turnouts, nominal 8ft diameter, at a few open days.

The wheels can slip out of quarter and cause a bind. Not to difficult to fix if your example does this, but please don't ignore it if it happens.

The tender wiring is also often suspect. It won't cause damage but the tender pickups won't work. If you want better pickup or are considering battery operation look here.

http://elmassian.com/trains/motive-...-power/mikado-electric/improving-power-pickup < Link To http://elmassian.com/trai...improving-power-pickup
 
All very academic as far as I am concerned, my curves are all tighter than those of Coral Vorderperson. However, answer a question you cognoscenti, were the Yellowstones actually more powerful than the Big Boys?
 
That depends on your definition of power.
The Yellowstones were, I believe, not as long, and lighter, but did have greater adhesion weight, and greater tractive effort, but of course, the Big Boy was able to run at up to 70 MPH (dear heavens, all them rods and bits thrashing about at that speed), and the Yellowstones were built for slogging with the iron ore trains.
Greg Scholl videos have a 30 minute DVD of the Yellowstones, with some trackside pacing shots running at about, I estimate 40/45MPH, with the usual unfenced USA track, and completely unguarded level crossings; different attitude to level crossings out there, if you get hit, its YOUR fault, you shouldn't have been on the crossing. Even at 40MPH and fully air-braked, one wonders what the stopping distance would be!

Alec

PS. bobg, I have gone for it.
PPS. Neil, I understand that the judicious application of loc-tite bearing retaining compound is a good cure for the wheel slipping.
 
alec dawe said:
PS. bobg, I have gone for it.
Click to expand...

Good man; excellent occifer!!!! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Don't forget the pics!
 
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