This is my 7-year old's HO train set. His birthday is coming up very soon and he's been asking for a Bachmann 4-8-4 SP Daylight or 4-8-4 Overland Limited so I wanted to get him a used one. His layout is 63"x36" on a 16V DC power pack using E-Z track. I do not wish to rebuild the entire layout. Will these longer engines run on the layout he has...he doesn't care if it's not prototypical or looks funky, as long as it runs through those curves. The tunnel lifts off the layout so if it doesn't fit inside the tunnel portal it's not a big deal. I just don't want him to be disappointed if the engine arrives and it doesn't pass the curves at all. He has a Rivarossi 4-6-4 and it runs good but I am a bit skeptical about the 4-8-4's so I wanted to see if anyone can verify this for me. Thank you.
It all depends on your smallest curve radius. I've read two contradictory versions, one saying that it should run on 18" radius if the curves were absolutely perfectly laid, while the other says an absolute minimum is 22" radius. If the layout is only 36 inches wide, those cannot be 18 inch curves, or they would be hanging half over the edge! Bachmann's Overland Limited train set has 22 inch radius curves in the box! Those locos are big 8-coupled engines, so I'd err on the side of caution and the larger radius.
Sorry, correction, the tracks measurement is 63”x36”, so I believe the curves are 18”. I have read the same thing, maybe it’ll work and maybe it’ll not.
I have a Bachmann 2-8-4 Pere Marquette berkshire, and it barely likes 22" radius. I think it's a balance issue. The heavy weight of the firebox in the rear makes the weight on the front too light. That front driver pops off all the time. A 4-8-4 is more symmetric, but you will probably have issues on 18" radius. For a kid, you want trouble-free operation. If you're buying a used model, a lot of those older Bachmann steam locomotives have a split-frame chassis with a poor motor. Between mechanical issues and tracking issues, you're going to have a bad time.
