SavaTheAggie

A simple Flanged-Blind-Flanged setup for XXL drivers is enough to prevent them from navigating r40 curves. It would probably be possible to make a ridged frame navigate r104 curves, and if you can make it work, great. My gut tells me that given the location of the 6 axled pilot truck ahead of the pistons, you may have to resort to articulation of the drivers. --Tony

The skirting is attached to the trucks, with the center attached to the tender, and a half stud gap between them. It still needed to be articulated, so it remains so. However I did have the change the placement of the second flanged driver, those XXL drivers are divas. Thank you all for the kind words, I really appreciate it. --Tony Here's a private video of testing the new valve gear. --Tony Here's a private video of testing the train on a loop of track with r104 switches. --Tony

I would say shut up and take my money, but he's already taken it. :) --Tony

Pennsylvania T1 Steam Locomotive #5544 version 4 by Tony Sava, on Flickr Sharknosed Greyhound - The Pennsylvania T1 Duplex drive 4-4-4-4 steam Locomotive #5544, a MOC that has taken 12 years and 3 previous versions to get to this state. Pennsylvania T1 Steam Locomotive #5544 version 4 by Tony Sava, on Flickr This MOC represents one of the many "production" T1 Locomotives produced for the Pennsy Railroad, as opposed to one of the two prototypes, as well as representing the "as delivered" version with the "Buick" style front end prior to the retrofitting that occured later. Pennsylvania T1 Steam Locomotive #5544 version 4 by Tony Sava, on Flickr The PRR T1 could arguably have been one of the fastest steam Locomotives ever produced, had they ever officially measures her speed. Anecdotal evidence of timetables of "late" trains suggests she was capable of 140+ mph. (The official record by the Mallard was 126 mph) Pennsylvania T1 Steam Locomotive #5544 version 4 by Tony Sava, on Flickr Version 4 of my T1 includes a rebuild of the entire wheelbase, including XXL boxpok drivers from OKBrickworks, custom rods with oversized bearings from Trained Bricks, extended length, "working" valve gear, rebuilt streamlining, extra details on the tender, and an overall better eye for proportions, scale, and detail. She is a shadow of her original self. Pennsylvania T1 Steam Locomotive #5544 version 4 by Tony Sava, on Flickr Upgrading her to full XXL sized drivers has reduced her ability to handle curves down to r104 or larger, but she's fully capable of navigating r104 switches at speed. Given preliminary testing, she may be one of my best performers. Pennsylvania T1 Steam Locomotive #5544 version 4 by Tony Sava, on Flickr Again, special thanks to OKBrickworks for the XXL drivers, as well as the swank new decals. Special thanks also to Trained Bricks for the awesome rods and valve gear. Pennsylvania T1 Steam Locomotive #5544 version 4 by Tony Sava, on Flickr Version 1: Large Drivers, flat boiler. PRR5544_02 by Tony Sava, on Flickr Version 2: XL drivers, curved boiler Shark of the Pennsylvania Railroad by Tony Sava, on Flickr Version 3: version 1 of the "Buick" front end, streamlined Pistons, etc. LEGO T1 Trust #5550 by Tony Sava, on Flickr --Tony

Here is the only video I have of the Locomotive in it's current configuration. The audio quality stinks, but that's a problem of my phone which I have since fixed. Here is a video of our test of it wearing the XXL drivers for the first time, but before I installed the custom rods and other details. --Tony

New York Central Dreyfuss Hudson with XXL Disc drivers by Tony Sava, on Flickr I upgraded my Dreyfuss to wear 3D printed XXL Disc drivers some time ago, but only recently took good photos of it. It's hard to tell, but nearly half the locomotive was completely rebuilt to accommodate how XXL drivers handle curves. She can no longer navigate standard LEGO curves or anything less than r88. But she's my fastest and most reliable Locomotive, so I have no complaints. New York Central Dreyfuss Hudson with XXL Disc drivers by Tony Sava, on Flickr New York Central Dreyfuss Hudson with XXL Disc drivers by Tony Sava, on Flickr New York Central Dreyfuss Hudson with XXL Disc drivers by Tony Sava, on Flickr --Tony

I've been trying to design something like this since 2013 - a modular, motorized, mini-train layout. I call it "Quarter Scale Rail." The name isn't 100% accurate, but comes from Texas Brick Railroad member Steve Jackson who has built a quarter sized replica of all of his track modules and MOC buildings for planning purposes (as opposed to software like BlueBrick). He calls it "Quarter Scale". My trains as shown are 2 wide, which is one quarter the width of my preferred train size - 8-wide - along with the quarter Scale mini modulars from the one LEGO set. The system uses a chain of 1x2 technic liftarms in a channel built into a MILS base, powered by an XL motor, which turns a large technic motorcycle wheel rubbing against the chain. This layout is 4 modules - 2 double track 32x32 straights and 2 16x32 half loops. I've purposely decorated each module differently and without overlap to emphasize the modularity. --Tony

My Allegheny is powered by two XL motors in the tender. --Tony

My favorite way is to pivot above the first set of drivers and above the rear truck. This leaves the second set of drivers sliding freely beneath the boiler, being towed by the first set. This is how my Allegheny is articulated. mOxxLBa5N24 --Tony

Huh? What is the current prototype? The T&P had a set of F7A&B painted in eagle colors, the rest were E7s. No glue. Ever. I had to really change the anchor of his design, but my design isn't possible without Nate's work. --Tony

Hi folks, Sorry to bring up an old topic, but instructions for this MOC are now available at www.SavaRailways.com Available now on www.SavaRailways.com by Tony Sava, on Flickr Available now at www.SavaRailways.com by Tony Sava, on Flickr Thanks! --Tony

TJ Avery inspired Union Pacific GP40 Locomotive by Tony Sava, on Flickr At one of the very first big TexLUG meetings, TJ Avery brought a MOC of a Union Pacific GP40/SD40 hybrid. It was 6-wide, and fits in very well with the BNSF locomotive that came out many years later. Seen here: http://www.texbrick.com/model_diesel/index.html Back then I was only building Castles, and while I loved trains, I never thought of it as a viable thing because LEGO train sets I saw in catalogs as a kid were either very European (I'm in the US), or just kind of terrible. TJ's locomotive was the first time I'd ever seen a train made from LEGO that looked like anything I recognized. We lost TJ this year. As a way to remember him, I've designed an 8-wide Union Pacific EMD GP40 as an homage to his model. It's certainly not a copy, but I feel TJ helped pave the way for me to move from Castles to Trains. It's power functions with 2 motors, and had an inverted battery box that I'm not sure how it'll get it to stay just yet. I'll figure out that and a few other details when I get physical bricks in hand. TJ Avery inspired Union Pacific GP40 Locomotive by Tony Sava, on Flickr It needs the red pinstripe between the yellow and dark grey, but that'll have to be done with stickers. --Tony

Are you entering the switch by directly exiting a curve? I have to separate my curves from switches by at least 1 straight track. --Tony

I apologise in advance, I know this isn't quite a kosher topic. However, I wanted to let people know that after Bricklink took down all custom instructions and custom parts off their website, I now finally have my own commercial website for my custom train instructions. www.SavaRailways.com (If it takes you to Facebook, the domain hasn't propagated to all the servers yet) And thanks to everyone who has supported me and my hobby through my instructions sales. --Tony Here's a direct link until the URL above resolves correctly: https://bonahoombuilds.com/srw/ --Tony