Short(er) Wheelbase Locomotives

[taholmes160]

Hi Folks:

I'm making progress on my layout, and as I am doing so, it looks like my SD90/43MAC may be too big for some of my curves.  My curves are hand drawn, but close to 9.75" radius, and in a couple places, the loco wants to drop wheels.  My F40PH seems to handle all the curves without a problem.  so I am wondering, as I look for additional locomotives, I am wondering if I need to exclusively look for 4 wheel truck engines, or if just a shorter overall length should resolve the problem.  Rebuilding the track is not an option as that is all the room I have

Thanks
TIM

San Luis and Rio Grande

[brokemoto]

On nine and three quarter curves, you should stick to four axle diesels and steam with six drivers or fewer.  You might get away with the Athearn/MDC nineteenth century steam power, as it has blind drivers and is very small.  If you are running exclusively diesels, I would stick to GP series with four axles, four axle cab units or yard switchers.  I would avoid any rolling stock over fifty feet.

[MK]

SD26 and SD40-2 on my 9.75 curves work fine.  Looks wise that's a personal taste.  Otherwise you can use Geeps.

[scaro]

A MILW or SOO fan might use SDL39s for that 'six axle SD' effect, given the shorter trucks?

[Tom Todd]

Although manufacturers may say 9 3/4 inch minimum.  That is true only for smaller wheelbase locos as mentioned above.  But a more realistic absolute minimum should be 11 inches.

Tom