Minimum radius curve for Atlas Cab Forward 2-8-8-2

Napagary Feb 7, 2012

  1. Napagary

    Napagary TrainBoard Member

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    Hello
    I'm using Atlas Code 80 snap track. Can someone give me an approximation of the minimum radius an Atlas Cab Forward 2-8-8-2 might negotiate?
    Thks,
    Gary
     
  2. skipgear

    skipgear TrainBoard Member

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    There is no such thing. Atlas never made a cab forward, just a standard cab USRA 2-8-8-2 that was a questionable runner at best. The only N scale cab forward ever produced besides brass is the Intermountain AC-12. I'm not sure on the AC-12 but I think minimum radius is around 12-14".
     
  3. EMD F7A

    EMD F7A TrainBoard Member

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    I've seen a few older Atlas units modified into cab-forwards.... maybe he's got someone's prior kitbash? Interested to know!
     
  4. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

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    I think you've got the type of engine that is generally an articulated... so... whatever the manufacturer is... the likelyhood is that you should have a minimum radius above 15"... and that is going to be sort of tight if it is a 2-8-8-2 MALLET articulated. Not only is it tight for good running characteristics... but the overhanging pilot is not going to be a very attractive look either. Going into the curve it might wipe-out scenery that's within a 1/2" of the track. DO NOT run them into a tunnel portal on a curve unless you use a double wide portal or modify the portal to accomodate the overhang.
     
  5. Spookshow

    Spookshow TrainBoard Member

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    I ran an Atlas 2-8-8-2 on a "Scenic Ridge" layout, so based on that it should be able to handle curves as sharp as 9.75"-radius.

    -Mark
     
  6. Alan C.

    Alan C. TrainBoard Member

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    I would just get a couple pieces of flex track and before you draw you track plan lay it out on the bench and see what the engine will do by making a tighter turns till it jumps. I also think that when it start to look funny going around the curve it time to quit anyway as your almost there to a derailment anyway.
     
  7. oldrk

    oldrk TrainBoard Supporter

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    How about a picture of the engine?
     
  8. bobthebear

    bobthebear TrainBoard Supporter

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  9. skipgear

    skipgear TrainBoard Member

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    The Atlas body is not the same as the Rivarossi. The Rowa/Rivarossi/Concor version is a N&W Y-6B. The Atlas version was a USRA 2-8-8-2 built by Samongohsa. They are completely different. The Y-6B is a much larger loco than the USRA 2-8-8-2.

    The cab forward in the picture is based on the Y-6B boiler, not the Atlas.
     
  10. EMD F7A

    EMD F7A TrainBoard Member

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  11. bobthebear

    bobthebear TrainBoard Supporter

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    Tony, I agree the Atlas/Samongohsa is different, BUT, here in U.K. many Rivarossi lines were sold as Atlas - work that one out! I have one in a Rivarossi box,one in a Concor box, and one in an Atlas box - all Y-6Bs. Two Countries divided by a common language!
     
  12. Napagary

    Napagary TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the replies and interesting chat. I think whats driven me to not purchase this item is the overhang and tunnel clearance problems. I have a lot of small radius track and several tunnels.
    Gary
     
  13. EMD F7A

    EMD F7A TrainBoard Member

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    Gary, look into the Micro-ace and some other foreign loco makers; I believe they make smaller articulated locomotives! You could modify a short-wheelbase loco into an older US prototype (pre-1910 make) with a tender, some basic cab modifications and a couple shell details off other cheap steam locos. Several railroads had Mallets that were barely bigger than some 4-6-2's and 4-8-4's (low driver height, shorter wheelbase). Cheers!
     
  14. skipgear

    skipgear TrainBoard Member

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    In the US, the Y6 was never sold under the Atlas name. I know there were lots of Rivarossi items sold as Atlas here also but the Y6 was not one. I wanted to point that out because it would be confusing to someone in the US looking for the models. I have an original producton Big Boy and Y6 in the blue Rivarossi Jewel case both labeled as Rivarossi. The Bigboy came from the UK and the Y6 was NIB old store stock that had never been opened. The tape on the box was still sealed when I got it.
     
  15. CarlH

    CarlH TrainBoard Member

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    Not sure if your heart is set on getting a cab forward steamer. If a non cab-forward model would also interest you, you might consider the Athearn 4-6-6-4 Challenger. While it's still a pretty big loco, it's not as big or long as a 2-8-8-2 or Bigboy. I have run my Challenger quite a bit on 11 inch radius curves, and while the overhang is quite visually apparent, it has no difficulty running on 11 inch radius curves.
     
  16. Napagary

    Napagary TrainBoard Member

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    Yes it's all about the Cab Forward - I remember them well running in northern Calif. There's a fine example in the Sacramento Railway Museum.
     
  17. skipgear

    skipgear TrainBoard Member

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  18. Mark Watson

    Mark Watson TrainBoard Member

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    Hi Gary,

    The Intermountain CabForward is one of the best products in N scale. Design, detail, performance, everything about it is excellent quality.
    Layout restrictions are an unfortunate reason to have to pass up that gorgeous loco. By chance, could you provide a track plan of your layout (with radius).

    When I purchased mine, I decided that that loco alone was worth tearing down my current layout (actually I gave it away) a building a new layout to accommodate better aesthetic running. At the time, my minimum radius was 11" and the loco had zero issues, except for the ugly overhang. Perhaps your layout is still able to accommodate running the cab forward or possibly easily modified to do so.
     
  19. Napagary

    Napagary TrainBoard Member

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    Mark
    I'll own an Intermountain Cab Forward in the future. Right now my layout is small 40"X72" and wouldn't lend itself to a long unit. If I added a few cars, the consist would be as long as my longest straight.
     
  20. skipgear

    skipgear TrainBoard Member

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    40x72 is not small. With a 40" wide layout, you have plenty of room for 12-14"R curves which are fine for the IM cab forward. As long as you have easements, you can run long equipment on smaller radius curves very easily.
     

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