Longest Item of N-Gauge Rolling Stock for British Outline?

[Flakmunky]

Hi,

As per the title, can anyone confirm what the longest item of British Outline N-Gauge rolling stock is? I model 1980's BR Blue.

I have MKIII Coaches which are the longest item I have, but are there any longer items? Or likely to be longer, i.e. something not currently available but which is likely to be made by Dapol/GraFar in the future?

The reason I want to know is for clearances on curves. Yes, an old topic and a question asked many times but what I want to answer is at what radius can we safely drop to 27mm track centres? I intend to carry out empirical testing and will post full details, photo's and so on for the community.

Thanks in advance,

Timmo

[EtchedPixels]

The largest overhang also depends upon the bogie positions. The Mark 3 and Mark 4 coaches ought to be about the limit at 23m but there have been a tiny number of larger vehicles - the longest probably being the Procor 80 car carrier.

If you allow for a shade over a mark 3 or mark 4 coach you should be fine.

Alan

[MJKERR]

Agree, as you are modelling the 1980s, the longest body shell is the Mark 3 coach
It is very unlikely you will be modelling Mark 4 coaches
For testing I use four Mark 3 coaches

The next issue is the lack of movement in some locos
Therefore test the latest DC version of the Class 47 or DCC version Class 57 to ensure it can cope with any tight curves

[Flakmunky]

Thanks, guys.

@MJ - I'm not going for the tightest curves stock can traverse, I'm going for the tightest curve stock can traverse at Streamline spacing without fouling.

@EP - I realised the bogie position would be a factor but I'm not as versed in railways as many others are so wasn't sure if there was anything else as 'big' as a MKIII. Do you have a link to the stock you mention?

Thanks once again. When I get round to testing this out, I'll let you know.

[EtchedPixels]

I don't believe the Procor 80 has ever been released RTR 1:148 N scale.

[Flakmunky]

  That will be why I couldn't find any, then!

Thanks for the info, EP.

[edwin_m]

I think the Dapol Cargowaggon has a greater bogie centre spacing than a Mk3, but its bogies are pushed right out to the end so the overhang is mostly on the inside of the curve.  The worst case may be with a Mk3 on the inner track and a Cargowaggon on the outer. 

[H]

Longest? Possibly a Cartic-4 articulated wagon set and it's already available at an N gauge kit so is a prime target to be picked off by Bachmann as RTR like they're currently doing with all the NGS and TPM kits. But being articulated it's not a problem for tight track bend clearance.

H.

[EtchedPixels]

I think the Dapol Cargowaggon has a greater bogie centre spacing than a Mk3, but its bogies are pushed right out to the end so the overhang is mostly on the inside of the curve.  The worst case may be with a Mk3 on the inner track and a Cargowaggon on the outer.

Actually thats a good suggestion - especially as the brake wheels on the cargonwaggon stick out excessively.

[Flakmunky]

I think the Dapol Cargowaggon has a greater bogie centre spacing than a Mk3, but its bogies are pushed right out to the end so the overhang is mostly on the inside of the curve.  The worst case may be with a Mk3 on the inner track and a Cargowaggon on the outer.

Thanks for that... But weren't these post-privatisation?

[EtchedPixels]

Thanks for that... But weren't these post-privatisation?

Not sure about the dates for the Dapol liveries but the original bogie Cargowaggons hit our shores at the end of the 1970s. Not sure exactly when but Paul Bartlett has photos of them in 1979.

BTW Graham is we are going to count articulated stock presumably APT-P wins for that period, And eurostar afterwards ?

[Flakmunky]

Ah! Ok, thanks EP...

Might need to track one down in order to complete my tests...

[edwin_m]

IIRC one of the Dapol Cargowaggon liveries dates from introduction, the one with the black lettering on white I think. 

[H]

we are going to count articulated stock presumably APT-P wins for that period, And eurostar afterwards ?

Unfortunately neither is fully articulated for their entire length and can be split without a section being short of wheels at one end  .

http://www.traintesting.com/images/power%20car%20test%20train.jpg

However, I guess the lengths of the aticulated sections might still be quite long.

H.

[edwin_m]

According to Wikipedia the Three Capitals Eurostar is 394m long and divisible at the midpoint as well as between the end power cars and the passenger section.  So I think the longest indivisible item of rolling stock in the UK is somewhere around 177 metres (half the above less about 20m for the power car).  I can't immediately find a length for the APT but it was also divisible at the power cars (in this case in the middle) so I'd be surprised if the articulated section was any longer than that of the Eurostar.