We examine Bachmann's narrow gauge mallet and find uses for the loco other than On30 at:

http://www.55n3.info/locomotives/mallet/



The Mallet comes close to the plans of this 1906 Great Northern 2-6-6-2 in HO scale. Just needs new domes, cab fittings and the tender narrowed.

We also look at in other scales.

Thank you if you visit
Harold

The prototype photo on your website of the Mallet going around the curve is of Baldwin's test of the Uintah 2-6-6-2. Uintah needed a powerful rod locomotive to traverse it's extremely tight curves (an 8-coupled locomotive would not work - even with blind flanges). Baldwin designed and built the 2-6-6-2s, and tested them around sharp curves at the factory before delivering them to the Uintah Railway. Considering the curves and grades of baxter pass - those locomotives were a remarkable design.

nachoman Wrote:Considering the curves and grades of baxter pass - those locomotives were a remarkable design.

If memory serves, 66 degree curves at 7.5 percent grade. In HO scale, an 18" radius curve is only 45 degrees, a 66 degree curve would be closer to 13" radius.

Here is a video of the 2-6-6-2s on the Uintah railway.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7IkujWEpm8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7IkujWEpm8</a><!-- m -->

The line still exists as a gravel road, and I am told you need a sturdy car to get over baxter pass.

Great Video

Thanks
Harold

I thought that looked familiar, I have that video. To my knowledge, it is the only film/video of the 2-6-6-2's, and there are only stills of the Sumpter Valley locos, after the side tanks were removed and tenders added.

Good clip.

The narrator is Rich Melvin. A couple weeks back, I asked him about these dvds and he'd never seen them. So, I loaned him my copy of the C&S movie. As impressive as it is, seeing a Uintah mallet take such a curve is better.

I tend to recall that prior to the mallets, the Uintah had some even tighter curves. I just find it extraordinary that Baldwin refused to believe the design restrictions and caused the first one to be rebuilt upon delivery...the crownsheet would become exposed on a run over the pass