Large Scale Central

Hartland Forney

Modeling Motive Power
#1

Anyone here own a Hartland Forney ? If so, how do you like it?

#2

Dan, I own one, but mine has been seriously bashed. The running gear has not been modified, except for properly gauging the wheels. It runs well, but then I only have it pulling its 3 passenger cars around.

I thought I had a better picture on here, but…

#3

Thanks Dave. I like your passenger cars. Do you have any grades on your layout ?

#4

Thanks Dan, and yes. My lower reverse loop is flat. My single track mainline, and part of the upper reverse loop is a 2.58% grade.

I have that Forney that I bashed everything above the running boards. So the running gear is all the is original. I also have a Heartland 4-4-0 and 2-4-0 that I run. I just have to keep in mind that they have 12 volt motors in them, so I have to make sure I don’t exceed 12 volts on the rails. They all run well, but they don’t have the pulling power of the bigger engines I have. They are decent pullers, but I can’t tack a 12 car train to either of them with my grades.

#5

David, Love the look of your passenger cars. Nice job.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

#6

Thanks.

#7

David Maynard said:

Thanks Dan, and yes. My lower reverse loop is flat. My single track mainline, and part of the upper reverse loop is a 2.58% grade.

I have that Forney that I bashed everything above the running boards. So the running gear is all the is original. I also have a Heartland 4-4-0 and 2-4-0 that I run. I just have to keep in mind that they have 12 volt motors in them, so I have to make sure I don’t exceed 12 volts on the rails. They all run well, but they don’t have the pulling power of the bigger engines I have. They are decent pullers, but I can’t tack a 12 car train to either of them with my grades.

So I should know the answer to this but I’ll ask anyway. I run battery power with 14.8 volt Li-on batteries and G Scale Graphics electronics. Would you see any issues here ?

#8

Dan, you would have to limit the max voltage to the motor, to 12 volts. So you would either need a battery pack that is only 12 volts, put some diodes in series with the motor, or somehow adjust your controller to not exceed 12 volts. If you could make sure you never put the whole 14.8 volts to the motor, then you should be fine.

I know I have exceeded 12 volts to the Forney without issue, but I did burn up the motor in my 4-4-0 by exceeding 12 volts. Phil sent me a new motor, with the admonishment that I am not to exceed 12 volts to it. So I want you to be aware.

#9

That shouldn’t be too difficult. I have several 11.1 volt batteries. Since I use trailing battery cars, it’s a cinch to change the batteries out.

#10

Mine is in the slow process of being redecorated. Sturdy. Runs well. Probably pulls more cars than a real 2-4-4 of that size.

#11

As long as you run prototype speed you can use a larger battery.

Just be cautious to whom you hand the controls, I wouldn’t suggest my adorable grand nephews. Seems as though the 4-4-0 will fall over at speed (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-yell.gif), the emoticon displays sweet ol’ Uncle John’s reaction.

John

#12

John, I do try and run my trains at prototypical speeds, but, somehow, I turned he throttle up into the 14 volt range or so, and fried the motor in my 4-4-0. I was just cautioning that some kind of safety should be in place to prevent that kind of accident.

I like the Heartland products, and enjoy running them. I just wonder why they chose to use 12 volt motors in them.