Hi-Rail Wheels vs. Scale Wheels

[Anonymous]

In MTH's 2006 catalog, I have noted that some of the engines listed there have the HRW version and the SW versions.....what is the difference between these two? Two of the diesels I ordered from there are the HR versions....these should run on any track I presume, say like on FasTrack? I am guessing that the SW version is for those who want a more prototypical look, but for me personally, it doesnt matter.

Chris

[FJ and G]

Chris,

That's a good question you pose. My thinking is that toy flanges will not negotiate turnouts made for 2-rail O b/c of the closer clearances of the guard rails and the shallowness of the frog flangeway.

Conversely, 2-rail O flanges will run on most 3-rail track.

That's my guess. Perhaps someone else can step in here and advise?

[Big_Boy_4005]

The other major difference beside the flanges is, scale wheels for 2 rail operation are insulated. Scale wheels may also have difficulty with some brands of 3 rail switches, because frog tolerances are not as tight.

Be careful Chris, they aren't as interchangable as you might think.

[FJ and G]

I'm also thinking, Elliott, that since the 3-rail frogs are deeper, the scale wheels might bottom out (so it would be like hitting a pothole)

also, since wheels are insulated in scale, your control rail (if you're using one), won't keep the crossing gate down or whatever else you're using the control rail for.

[IRONROOSTER]

Hi rail turnouts/crossings have wider gaps in the track to allow the large flanges to pass through.. This causes a drop that can derail scale wheels. S scale solves the problem with closed frog turnouts. see this page http://www.trainweb.org/bristol-s-gauge/Projects/cfrogsw/cfroginfo.html I'm sure you can do a similar one in 3 rail, but I don't know how tricky it might be because of the 3 rails. Also because of the problems with wiring and lack of wheel insulation, I'm not sure if it is worth the effort. Also I don't think scale wheels do well on tubular track, since the wheel is not as thick and the flanges are smaller.

Enjoy
Paul

[FJ and G]

Paul,

Much appreciate that piece of info. I will look into this as in the future I'd like to get a "scale" steam locomotive and would thus be running both scale and toy flanges. Perhaps what I need to do is to create removeable frogs.

My guardrails on the turnouts are already pretty tight and still allow the bigger flanges thru.

More work ahead!