Joe Brugger's article goes right to the heart of a number of important subjects.
I was just a little too young to have any Varney die cast locomotives, but I was just old enough to see Athearn-, Model Die Casting/Roundhouse, Penn Line and other manufacturers' HO steam engine models. And I was just in time to see the importation of Rivarossi steam engines.
My first large steam engine was an Athearn Pacific, and at age 13 I had carving knives and one small screw driver ( a give away from a gasoline company) as my only tools. As you might guess, these were insufficient to do much "miniature work like springing pilot trucks.
I loved my Pacific. It was B&M prototype (Irv Athearn, the company founder was a New England Yankee) and it was well proportioned, nicely painted and really looked like its prototype. If only that lead truck didn't keep jumping the track! As awful as it sounds- and it still bugs me fifty years later- I removed the pilot truck and made my Pacific into a fast running passenger 0-4-2. I cannot count the number of lawns I had to cut, driveways from which I had to shovel snow and other fun activities- to be able to afford that inexpensive engine,
The history lesson here refers to Joe's clear photo and description of the workings of sprung and weighted pilot trucks. On the prototype steam engine, the pilot truck is mechanically connected to the engine to help pull it around curves and help support the engine. Varney was probably one of the first HO companies to include this feature, outside of some expensive brass locomotives. But for some reason, by the time I got into the hobby, sprung pilot and trailing trucks were not being used on kits and R-T-R steam engine models. It did represent a mechanical complication and was probably omitted to keep the price of the model down.
Finally, ( one million years it seemed to this youngster) I spotted one of the new Rivarossi plastic import USRA 4-6-2 Pacifics, marked down in the AHM "Christmas in July" sale magazine ad. I could get one for less than $20.00, ready to run. On the way home from the store with my new engine,I was already thinking of how to add weight to the lead and trailing trucks- but after a shakedown run on my 4x8 layout, I was surprised that adding weight was not necessary. The clever designers had used coil springs to help guide the engine around curves, and also exerted a downward pressure. This obviated the need for adding weight, for the weight of the engine was helping to keep the lead and trailing trucks on the rails. If you are having problems with lead trucks jumping the track, it is not hard to add this feature. (you can use a single piece of thin steel piano wire from a music store)
Or take the low road and just have diesels on your layout.
But the moving valve gear and the chuffing of modern sound equipped steam engine models has enthusiasts even among young modelers today. An executive special or fan trip on your layout provides all the excuse you need to run steam in a modern setting. From museum lines and 0-4-0s up through Union Pacific articulateds, there are many kinds of steam locos in special service, and are shown prominently in newspapers and magazines when the railroad runs them, so there is no excuse not to stable a couple of steamers on your layout.
Sorry I have been so wordy, but this important operating feature seems to have been forgotten- but fortunately, anyone reading Joe Brugger's article will be able to consider this method of keeping their steam engines on the rails.
Victor Roseman
