1:20.Me 2-6-6-2 Review

I look forward to more factual reporting on this locomotove, especially from anyone that is running it now. While I think I understand the eccentric issues and am are still waiting for some clarification on whether a fix is required should you have the binding problem shown on 1:20.me. I'm looking at the engine as the basis for bashing into a tendered logging mallet version...versus the tank version.

It's the rear drawbar that has drawn my interest. If you look at the following photo, you'll note the drawbar is designed to extend rearward as the cab swings due to curves.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jl-RFo6VUnk/SWmIZsDvqZI/AAAAAAAABdY/POf_nosAxyU/s400/DSCN4251.JPG

That is why the lead end is forked...and it is the rearmost step in the drawbar that bears agains the engine that provides the pulling power.

My question has to do with this arrangement. I'd like to know how well this drawbar design performs when pulling cars. Does it bind at all...for if it does, it's sure to derail a drawbar connected tender...or put it on it's side. I concerned about the drawbar binding under load as it moves left to right (or right to left) when the engine enters a curve. As I have 8' diameter curves in my layout design...and one is on a 5' tall trestle. It's important to understand how well trailing cars would track on an 8' diameter curve. Can anyone provide info here?

As a sidenote, this is one reason why the Meyer design lost out against the Mallet and Garrett design....excessive cab swing. There is substantially more lateral acceleration in the cab (compared to Mallets) when the Meyer designed engines went through switches or entered sharp curves. All steamers have lurch...but the Meyer design had LURCH!!!. And, there were the additional HUGE issues regarding the steam line joints to two motor systems...as on the Mallet there was only one flexible joint for the front engine and none for the rear engine.

Dwight and I met at the Train Shop in Santa Clara yesterday to do a bit of buying and snooping on the Mallet. They had four of the Mallets in stock on display shelves and the shop owner said he had test run all four and they ran very smoothly (there's a benefit of buying from your LHS). They were priced at $649...which is a good price from what I've seen. Some observations:

[*]On all four engines the eccentrics matched on the firemens side as far as rotational placement during assembly. [*]The eccentrics were installed such that they lagged the driver...opposite what the "consultant" on 1.20pointme had said was correct. Since this engine was never fabricated in real life, "correct" may be tough to establish. [*]We took one engine out of the display case, and the engineer's side matched the firemen's side...all eccentrics were installed in the lag position. [*]With it out of the display case, we were able to "unscientifically" test (mess with) the rear coupler arrangement that I have some concerns about. [*]It does indeed slide fore/aft as you move it to the side and apply load. [*]The springs that are on the coupler ONLY center it when there is no or very little load on the coupler shaft. [*]The last step on the coupler shaft IS the load bearing surface as I had surmised from looking at the photographs on 120pointme. [*]That coupler shaft bears agains a metal plate that spans the width of the cab. [*]Under load, when moving the coupler left of right, you can feel some small amount of sidewards resistance. It's a small amount and I doubt (there's a scientific term) that it is sufficient to cause a tender/follow car derailment. [*]Lubricating that rear metal plate would probably reduce the resistance to sideways motion...BUT [*]The lube will provide a place for dirt to collect while running as this area is very exposed [*]The centering spring area also is a place where dirt will collect...and that assembly has a small plate that runs in a channel with springs on each side...so some kind of lube is going to be needed anyway. [/list] [/list] [*]The cab swing is significant. We didn't ever put the engine on track while at the store, but we did position the motors as if it was on a curve...and IMHO, the center rear of the cab does extend beyond the outer rail in my estimation...so this weird coupler set up is vital. [*]Folks with tunnel portals on curves...and at the BEGINNING of a curve want to be careful here...more clearance might be required than usual. [*]Lastly....our most interesting find...the eccentrics on two K27s. There were two K27s...on shelves...one above the other. [/list] http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/mikereilley/Chat/K27%20lag.jpg

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/mikereilley/Chat/K27%20lead.jpg