what loco

Kanawha

Member
Prototypically, railroads would buy small, heavy engines with 6 or 8 drivers for logging, mining, and other hill climbing applications. (for really steep grades they would get a geared engine like a Shay) The heavy weight insures traction, and the many wheels distributes the weight more widely on poorly maintained, lightweight track. Also, presuming the engines wouldn't attain very high speed, you don't need pilot wheels. I would say either an 0-8-0 or 0-6-0 would be best. Or, if you can get slightly larger engine around your curves, a 2-8-0 Consolidation.
 

jetrock

Member
Front and rear wheels don't make much difference in terms of traction, but they do make a difference as to the realism of a locomotive's setting. Typically a loco with no pilot or trailing wheels would be found in a yard, rather than out on the mainline pulling grades.

Era is important too--for a 1900 era layout, a Ten-Wheeler or Consolidation would provide suitable oomph. For a 1950 layout, an articulated compound locomotive of some sort, with two sets of drivers for more traction and lots of weight. In 2000, a diesel-electric with six-wheel trucks. Because, of course, traction motors are much better for low-speed groveling than high-stepping steam engine drivers.

And, of course, a geared locomotive is the best for traction, at least among small locomotives. Low gearing does the job.
 

Jim Krause

Active Member
An 0-6-0 would typically be used as a yard switcher. Low speed operation. They did not track well on curves due to no pilot wheels. The 0-6-2 and 0-6-4 wheel arrangements were pretty much limited to a manufacturer named Forney. By any chance, did you reverse your wheel arrangement when you typed the thread? Normal wheel designation is pilot (front) wheels first. Main driving wheels second. Trailing wheels(under the cab) third. If there are no pilot or trailing wheels, a 0 is substituted. As mentioned above, the geared locomotives were used on most steep grades due to better traction. Google Shay, Heisler and Climax locomotives for more information.
 

Glen Haasdyk

Active Member
Prototypicly is your're not into gear steam (like a shay) I would go with more drivers but also lower (or smaller) drivers since the smaller the driver the more torque is transmitted to the driving wheels. Much like the lower and higher gears on a bicycle work.
A tank engine is also a good thought since all the water weight is over the drivers as well, meaning more traction to the track
 

Kanawha

Member
jetrock said:
Typically a loco with no pilot or trailing wheels would be found in a yard, rather than out on the mainline pulling grades.

True, unless he's talking about a branchline mining or logging operation which I thought he was. You normally wouldn't find really steep grades on a Class One railroad mainline anyhow.
 

Jim Krause

Active Member
If you want to model logging or mining with standard rod engines, pick an area of the country without mountains. Some of the the southeastern US had lots of flatland logging railroads that used old, secondhand rod locomotives. Mining and quarry operations also used leftovers from mainline operations. If you are interested, find copies of Tall Timber Shortlines and Timber Times Magazines for reference.
 
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