Minimum radius for a Bachmann 4-8-4?

[michael_balcos]

What is the minimum radius requirement for a Bachmann 4-8-4?

Also, what is this Bachmann "smoke liquid?" Is there a substitute for that?

[nachoman]

I have seen Bachmann 4-8-4s (the older ones-1990 vintage) run on 18" radius, but they don't look very good. A safe minimum would be about 24". The smoke fluid - I am not sure, but my best guess would be mineral oil. .

[michael_balcos]

Thanks for the reply. The set that came with my Bachmann 4-8-4 (Overland Limited) says that the width of a semi-circle is 54". Does that make the curves 24" radii? Btw, it includes Bachmann's EZ Track.

[nachoman]

Thanks for the reply. The set that came with my Bachmann 4-8-4 (Overland Limited) says that the width of a semi-circle is 54". Does that make the curves 24" radii? Btw, it includes Bachmann's EZ Track.

If the width of the outside of the eztrack is 54", the radius of the centerline may be about 24" .

[Squidbait]

I think there's a little slip of the fingers there.... the track that comes with the Bachmann Overland set makes a 72" x 45" oval. The earlier sets came with 18" radius curves, looks like the newer ones are coming with 22".

[michael_balcos]

Strange... My Bachmann Overland Limited box says the track is 63"x54". Perhaps my box is an older stock? Or perhaps there is a typographical error in my box or the website?

[Selector]

Sounds like a scale error somewhere in the mix.

[BR60103]

You can get 63 x 54 with 10 straights and a circle of 18" R. 2 straights in each end for 54", 3 in the sides for 63".
The actual space required is a couple of inches more.
22" radius might get there - one straight in the ends and two in the sides.
Don't know why they'd measure it that way, though.

[nkp_174]

I do believe that EZ track comes in both 18" and 22" radius curves.

I have a standard B-man 4-8-4 as well as a Spectrum 4-8-4. The standard 4-8-4 does run on 18" radius curves. It looks less than stellar, but my little boy doesn't care as its still a train. I can't recall if I've tried the Spectrum 4-8-4 or not...but it has no problem with 22" curves.

I would assume that we are talking about a B-man standard (marketed as Bachmann...rather than packaged in a black box with gold lettering that says "Spectrum"). If so, 18" curves will work with it...and so it is up to you to decide if you mind the overhang or not. I would recommend 22" curves or wider. I also think that EZ-track is to be avoided unless your are building temporary floor layouts. My son's EZ-track drives me nuts with corrosion/dirt on the steel rail.

Note:
track comes in different rail sizes as well as either "sectional" or "flex". Sectional track is preformed into straight or curved track...while flex is shaped by the modeler. Code 100 sectional track commonly comes in 18" and 22" R curves. EZ-track is Code 100. Code 83 sectional track comes in 18" (?) and 24" radius curves. Many or most modelers will tell you that 18" is a bit too tight. Most modelers will tell you that smaller rail looks better than large rail...with the greatest improvement in switching from enormous Code 100 or Code 83 (which is still quite large)...but there are a number of fine modelers whom have no problem with Code 100 track.

EDIT: as for the smoke, I think it is safe to say that many of us on here would discourage the use of any "smoke fluid". It is notorious for making your track dirty and not looking remotely similar to real locomotive smoke. Therefore, I am ignorant as to a replacement.

[Selector]

Ditto on the smoke. Okay, use it once in a while, but most of us have long since concluded that it causes more headaches than it relieves.

As of about 2006, EZ-Track has expanded their offerings. They have curves in the 32" range, maybe even beyond. To my knowledge, they only offer it in Code 100 and that would be in nickel-silver if it is the grey-ballasted stuff. I feel that it is a good, if expensive, product....EXCEPT for the turnouts. They are costly and don't always deliver. They need a lot of work in many cases to keep trains from picking the points. I suggest strongly that you use Peco or Atlas Code 83 and shim them up to the right railhead height.

[ocalicreek]

I've got a B'mann 4-8-4 (Class J, N&W 611) SILVER Series...apparantly a step up from standard but pre-Spectrum. It runs very well around tight (18" rad) curves but as mentioned above does not look great.

One issue that has not been mentioned which you may want to consider is backing. I have an N&W Powhatan Arrow passenger set with 70' cars. I replaced all the X2F horn-hook couplers with Kadee replacement kits for IHC cars. N.B. - there is a different kit for the full length cars versus the 70 footers. Anyway, all were truck-mounted. Cars came with metal wheelsets and are featherweight light. Still, car weight matters less when all are weighted equally and track is good.

I backed this train down through a wye onto a yard ladder (the farthest track, so I had to pass through several turnouts) without ANY derailments...from the train! The way the engine and tender are connected is the problem. On my to-do list for upgrading that engine is putting in a drawbar and weighting the tender which does matter in this case. Radius for the layout on which it was running is a comfortable 36". Not sure, but I believe the wye track radius is the same.

The engine kept shoving the front tender trucks off the track. Could have something to do with how they are mounted at the bolster, but I don't think so. I think it had more to do with the way the engine and tender are connected. I'm guessing this trouble would be exaggerated on smaller radius curves.

Galen

[nkp_174]

Galen,
There might be a problem with yours...I've had the old standard, B-man Plus, and now the Spectrum J...but never such problems. Of course, the old standard version wasn't capable of pulling a long enough train to have such problems Of course, the Silver Series version is in between the B-man+ and the Spectrum (?), so it might be different than my experiences.

My GS-4s have always had a different connection than the Js. IIRC, the first two Js had the same connection, while the new one is permanently coupled (but I've not checked to see if it is the same system). As you might be able to guess...I've gone through multiples because of both flaws in the original design as well as owner error. None have ever been good pullers, but the Spectrum is by far the best of the three in every respect. Another perk to the Spectrum version is that it you can open the front coupler door and use the dummy for double heading

[Kanawha]

My Bachmann Plus GS4 4-8-4 struggles around an 18" radius turns a bit, sometimes the tender derails. However on 22" and larger it runs just fine. The old Bachmann Plus 4-8-4's were great running engines, if a bit light in the detail department, and a little out of scale on the drivers.