trailrider
Well-Known Member
I have a local station at "Grashhook", with two tracks served by a dual-radius turnout which curves around and leads to the main line. At the upper end of the main is a siding leading to a small ski resort. One of the tracks at Grashhook has a small train consisting of a combine way car and an oldtime open-platform passenger care lettered for the Gorre and Dephetid. This two car tourist train is supposed to be pulled by a steam locomotive, to take tourists uphill to the ski resort. The train then backs downhill, to Grashhook. I've tried several of my old DC steamers, but have had a lot of problems with derailments when the train hits that double-curve turnout leading to the station. (The other track handles a commuter run with an aluminum double-decker car, pulled by a kitbashed shovelnose Zephyr #9908.)
After nearly tearing my hair out finding one of my steam locomotives to pull the tourist train, I found a kitbashed 2-6-2 that works reasonably well...except for the trailing truck derailing constants when backing around the turnout leading to the station. So, I did what a number of railroads might have done... I removed the trailing truck! Problem solved! Had that not worked, I was preparing to try a Mantua Mikado, from which I removed both the lead and trailing trucks! Not prototypical you say? Well the "Q" actually did that to a Mike that they retired to switching duties. They only did it to that one engine, so it may not have been too successful, especially with the coming of dieselization in the mid-1950's.
After nearly tearing my hair out finding one of my steam locomotives to pull the tourist train, I found a kitbashed 2-6-2 that works reasonably well...except for the trailing truck derailing constants when backing around the turnout leading to the station. So, I did what a number of railroads might have done... I removed the trailing truck! Problem solved! Had that not worked, I was preparing to try a Mantua Mikado, from which I removed both the lead and trailing trucks! Not prototypical you say? Well the "Q" actually did that to a Mike that they retired to switching duties. They only did it to that one engine, so it may not have been too successful, especially with the coming of dieselization in the mid-1950's.