Help Needed in Finding Plastic Wheels for Brio trains...

[Anonymous]

This is not an O gauge question but I need the help of the forum to find some plastic wheels and axles for Brio type engines and cars.

I have looked, and Goggled etc and no luck. I want to make some engines and cars for the grandkids Brio train tables and sets. If I could buy the wheels and axles I would be on my way. Radio Shack magnets will work for the couplings. One would think Hobby Lobby or Michaels Craft store would stock them.

I may have to find some 3/4 or 7/8 inch buttons to make do if you guys can't come through.

Thanks

CharlieBee

[Anonymous]

Hello Charlie, I've ordered them from:

Whittle Toy Company
24 Front Street
Valley Park, Mo 63088
1-314-821-8771
www.woodentrain.com

This guy makes an extensive line of wooden trains and will happily sell you
wheels, axles, magnets etc. Go on his web site and email or call for prices.
There are also several great web sites with tips and even patterns for making
your own wooden trains. You can even make your own track these days and
there are companies selling the wooden stock and the special router bits. Just
do a Yahoo search using "whittle, magnets, wheels, wooden trains" and you'll
come up with all these sites. I'm sure you know this, but just in case: Be
careful what length cars you make--if you go much above the standard length
of a Brio or Thomas you have to use wheel trucks (not straight axled wheels)
or you'll never negotiate the curves. When I was making them I always had
various Thomas cars on the work bench to use as reminders re: length. Same
goes with height; you'd be surprised at how low the various tunnels, engine
sheds etc. can be and you don't want to make cars that are going to get hung
up.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply. I have emailed them a their site was not very helpful with wheel and axle information.

If you get time I would appreciate any of the sites you mentioned on building the Brio cars and engines.

Thanks again

Charlie

[Anonymous]

Hello Charlie! You're welcome. I know his site doesn't mention that he sells the wheels, axles, and magnets because he's into selling the trains he makes as his excellent web site so nicely displays. The owner is not trying to make a buck selling parts for the do-it-yourselfer he just does it because nobody else is (Lots of others such Cherry Tree Toys sell wooden wheels & axles but Whittle is the only one selling plastic) and he's trying to be helpful--that's why I said to email him about the parts.

It's been a while since I went on the web sites I referred to and have no longer got them bookmarked. But I absolutely know that they are there. Please do a search yourself using the words I suggested. If you can't find them after a good try then please email me and then we'll figure out together what you're doing wrong. In the meantime, use all these words in your search "Whittle, wheels, wooden trains, axles, magnets." Then just spend a half hour opening the sites these words lead you to and I guarantee you'll find tons of helpful stuff on making your own wooden trains.

Good luck, Charlie!