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Aristocraft Rogers 2-4-2

Engine

This was the first steam engine produced by Aristocraft. While labeled as a 1:29 scale engine, the Rogers is clearly modeled to a much larger scale. The prototype is unknown. The chief merit of this engine in a scratch/bash project is parts and the drive train. These engines are commonly available on eBay for $50-$75.

Driver Blocks

As the above photo shows, the drivers for the Rogers are independent two wheel blocks. As the following photos show, each block contains drivers, shafts, power pickups, gears, a motor, and molded in lead weights.

	Once removed from the engine, these drives can be disassembled by removing the screws holding on the wheels and brakes and by removing the four screws holding the two halves of the block together.
	The drive block is composed of three compartments containing (1) the motor barrel, (2) the main weight and pickup brush, and (3) the gears, shaft, shaft bearings and a small weight.

The driver wheelbase in the Rogers is created by holding the driver blocks apart with a spacer. Removal of the spacer allows the driver wheelbase to be reduced considerably. By ganging these driver blocks with appropriate separation a wide variety of drive configurations could be achieved including x-2-x, x-4-x, x-6-x, x-8-x, x-10-x, x-4-4-x, etc.

Specifications

Component		Aristocraft Rogers Driver blocks
Classification		Two wheel driver block
Length	Width	Height	Driver Diameter	Shaft Diameter	Driver Wheelbase	Overall Wheelbase
2.3"	3"	3.25"	1.8"	.25"	3"	n/a

Length does nor include round protrusions that mate with separator. Width includes the journals that accept piston and side rods. Height is from the top of motor block to the track. Drive wheels have metal rims and plastic spokes and centers. Driver wheelbase includes spacers. This could be cut to 2.3" by eliminating cylindrical protrusions and spacers. Two flat slots are cut into the shafts to accept drive wheels. Screws tapped into the shaft hold the wheels on the shaft. Drive wheels have been known to pick up dirt, interfering with electrical pickup. The Rogers wheels are interchangable with those on the Aristo C-16.

Spring loaded brushes recessed on driver block pick up track power from the driver wheels.

Drive Train Comments

George Schreyer rates the Aristo Rogers as having very good pulling power for an engine this size. He has a tips page for the Rogers at his Web site. You may also want to see how the Rogers fared in his Tractive Effort Tests.

Conversions

English - inches	Model	1:20.3	1:22.5	1:24	1:29	1:32
Driver Diameter	1.80	36.5	40.5	43.2	52.2	57.6
Driver Wheelbase	3.00	60.9	67.5	72.0	87.0	96.0