Welcome to the Small Scale Internal Combustion Locomotives FAQ web site. If you are into outdoor model railroading (garden railway environment), particularly in the Gauge 1 (i.e. 45mm between the rails and any number of scales depending upon the weather), AND are interested in a form of motive power other than putting electricity to the rails, then you have arrived at the right spot. Here you will learn about what is becoming the newest REV-olution in the hobby.
The idea of using a real gas powered engine to provide motive power for the garden railroader is not new, but the hobby has been waiting for technology to finally provide the materials to get the locomotives rolling. Now the time and technology has arrived to bring new excitement to the hobby!!
Q: How does a gas powered locomotive really operate?
A: A real diesel locomotive uses the diesel engine for one
basic purpose - to create electricity by turning a generator. The
higher the rpms, the faster the generator turns which results in an
increase in electrical power to traction motors mounted on the axles.
In a true sense, a diesel locomotive is an electric train. To make a
diesel model that is true to the nature of the real thing, a gas
engine would do the same thing. Turn a generator to create
electricity to power electric traction motors. This is how the WADA
WORKS EMD GP9 works.
Q: What type of fuel does this innovative locomotive use?
A: The WADA WORKS EMD GP9 is the next step in garden railroading motive power. The locomotive operates on 20% Nitro-Methane. This is the same fuel used to power model aircraft engines and is readily available at hobby stores. The locomotive will operate for approximately 25 minutes with a full tank of gas. (Depending of course upon the load.)
Q: What type of gas engine is in the GP9?
A: The GP9 uses an OS-10 Max model helicopter engine. This is proven technology that model aircraft operators have relied on for many years.
Q: Model airplane engines can be very noisy. Does the GP9 make as much noise as the model airplanes?
A: No. The GP9 contains a unique dual muffler system that puts the noise at the same level found on electric trains with sound systems installed. This system allows the model to have a very prototypical gas engine sound, without the need for electronic sound systems. The WADA WORKS EMD GP9 also operates at a lower average rpm's than if used on an airplane or helicopter. This also reduces the noise level greatly and extends the life of the engine.
Q: Aren't model airplane engines also very messy because of the lubricant in the glow fuel?
A: Airplanes and model boats do not incorporate any type of recovery system. The dual muffler system also acts as a spent lubricant recovery system. The second stage captures all of the lubricant that would normally be spread all over and sends it to the first stage of the muffler, the tank under the chassis, where it is held until you are ready to drain the tank after several runs.
Q: How many pieces of rolling stock will the engine haul?
A: The first engine off the production line hauled over 30 METAL pieces of rolling stock with power to spare!! Providing you have the space and wide radius curves to prevent the natural laws of physics from causing derailments the engine should pull twice the amount of plastic rolling stock.
Q: How steep of a grade will the GP9 handle?
A: We recently tested the GP9 on a 5 percent grade in blustry conditions. The locomotive performed perfectly with our rpm's at a moderate setting. During this test we only had available 5 pieces of rolling stock, but it is our estimation that this locomotive could easily pull 30+ pieces up the same grade. We will be conducting another test in the near future and will report back our findings.
Q: What about braking on a downhill run? Will the GP9 get away from me since it rolls so easily?
A: Like any locomotive, it will take some practice to build up your personal skill level of operation. By balancing the rpm's and the directional control, you can have effective dynamic breaking, and can cruise very slowly downhill.
Q: How much assembly is required?
A: No assembly is required, only that you add your radio-control receiver if you desire to operate with R/C. Once you have added your receiver (servo and electronic speed controller are pre-installed), just add fuel, apply an electric current to the engine and glow plug (using 12v rechargeable battery and a 1.5 volt battery for the glow plug) and press the start button!
Q: Do I have to use Radio Control?
A: No. The locomotive has three modes of operation. Two which use R/C and the third which is manual control. The third mode of operation would be very similar to setting the throttle on a live steam locomotive and then letting the engine run free. You would however have to manually catch the locmotive to either stop it or reverse direction.
Q: What do I need for a "Rev-up" Kit.
A: You will need a 12 volt rechargeable battery to "kick" the starter and a battery charger. A battery cable with plug is supplied. You will also need a 1.5 volt power supply and glow plug cable to heat the glow plug during ignition. These items are available from Potomac Steam Industries (WADA WORKS U.S representative and distributor) or at hobby shops as they are standard items in both the model airplane and model boat hobby. Other items that help to fill out a "Rev-up" kit are a syringe or fuel pump for transferring fuel. Hex alan wrenches are supplied with the locomotive for minor maintenance.
Q: Will the gas engine/generator assembly fit inside other diesel prototype models?
A: The early "Geep" model was specifically chosen for the first product because it represented the narrowest diesel body outline produced. By getting everything to fit inside a 1/32 scale "Geep", moving up to a streamline "E" or "F" series, SD45, U-25, or any of the other popular Gauge-1 scales would pose little problem. Moving to a smaller switcher prototype would present a bit of work in remodeling as the chassis is shorter in length. The best way to accomplish this would be to remove the gas tank to a "calf" unit or a modified "tank" car that could actually hold the gas.
Q: Are there any other gas powered locomotives on the market in gauge-1?
A: In 1997 a small gas-mechanical narrow gauge switcher engine was announced from the U.K. Like it's full scale prototype, a gas-mechanical locomotive is very limited in its tractive effort and can only pull a short rake of cars. This locomotive model was also reviewed in several publications as only being capable of having one direction of travel!!
The Wada Works locomotive, like its full size brother, is gas-electric. With four electric tractions motors, (one for each axle) the Wada Works locomotive is unparalled in performance having pulled over 32 pieces of metal rolling stock. No one knows exactly how many pieces of rolling stock the Wada Works locomotive can actually pull before reaching its limit as everyone always runs out of rolling stock! The Wada Works GP9 also operates either manually or via radio control with full control of either direction of travel.
There are also a few hobbyists who are playing around with this type of motive power. Check out this page for a report on how the hobby is progressing.
Q: Will there be others?
A: It is anticipated that this will be the next phase in the growth of gauge-1 garden railway locomotive motive power. Now that technology has given us components that allow for sufficient generation of electricity at lower rpm's other manufacturer's will undoubtedly jump on the "bandwagon" that the WADA WORKS GP9 has created.