So what is a FLANGED WHEEL anyway?

[Anonymous]

Maybe Big_Boy can answer this for me and others. What is a flanged wheel and what does it have to do with it all?

Main Entry: 1flange
Pronunciation: 'flanj
Function: noun

1 : a rib or rim for strength, for guiding, or for attachment to another object <a flange on a wheel>

[spankybird]

Hi Jack,
Train wheels have flanges on the inside. This is what keeps them on the track.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Sorry Jack, I saw you ask before but I wasn't sure if you were serious. I'm not making fun of you, but I am a bit surprised that with all of your train experience you didn't know that. Spanky's got it, though there are other objects beside wheels that have flanges, for this crowd that explanation works.

That's my quote of course, and my point is that I don't care if it runs on steam, diesel, or electricity, or what gauge the track is, model, real, below ground, above ground or at grade, "If it has flanged wheels, I like it !!!!!"

I came up with that a long time ago, and for a while this kid over on the MR forum was using it too. Of course I knew where he got it, but I wasn't sure how to react. Finally I found an opportunity to mention it to him and told him I wasn't angry, but slightly flattered. He has since stopped using it, which is fine with me.

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys..No, I never really looked at the wheels. I thought they all had flanges....BTW Elliot, Can you email me and teach me how to insert an image into my posts? Thanks again you two!

[Anonymous]

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[mersenne6]

There are also "blind" wheels - wheels with no flanges. They are quite common on the real locomotives built in the 20th century and they are very common on multi drivered toy trains. What isn't generally known is that the practice of blind wheelsets goes back to the early days of railroading in the 19th century. The reason for drivers with no flanges, then and now on real and toy, has to do with getting a locomotive around a curve. The William Mason is an excellent example of a 4-4-0 with blind lead drivers. She holds court at the B&O museum in Baltimore.