Can anyone tell me how small a radius curve the Athearn BigBoy can negotiate? I want one but I'm not sure it will run on my layout as I have some relatively tight curves. Will it run on as small a radius as the Challenger? My Challenger does fine but I am not sure about the larger BigBoy. Thanks in advance.
Here's a video I made of it going around 9.75" Kato Unitrack [video=youtube;KfMS6qlCRsA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfMS6qlCRsA[/video]
WOW !!! I know hugh curves are preferred for these BIG locomotives...but...negotiating 9 3/4 curves and not derailing...I'm impressed !
I'm not sure why mine would be any different than AV's (maybe the position of the wiring harness?), but I couldn't get it around a 180 degree / 9.75"-radius curve without it derailing (the cab end would swing way out and pull the front tender truck off the rails). No problems on 11" curves, though. -Mark
Thanks fellas, I think the tightest curve I have is about 13 to 15 degrees so I should be fine. Ordered it 5 minutes ago. (had to hurry, wife is on her way home)
Not sure what to say. Not really impressed. Me thinks someone is having a really good laugh. Really, 9 3/4" radius? Looks bigger then that to these eyes.
I think Athearn's official line is 11" minimum radius. That doesn't mean that any particular one couldn't negotiate a 9.75"; it does mean that "I wouldn't count on it." See http://www.spookshow.net/loco/athearn4884.html John C.
