Plastic wheels to quiet things down

[Boyd]

Over on the Yahoo Fastrack forum noise suppression came up a week or more ago. One person mentioned plastic wheels on the cars. I remember when I had mostly underscale 027 cars from the 80s and many of them had  plastic wheels. I ran a train with plastic wheel cars and then a train with 50s cars. The sound difference was quite noticeable. Since most of my track is fastrack, I would switch over every car I  have to plastic wheels to bring the sound down. I  would do it even if I had to change trucks. I  don't operate any flashing  crossings or other accessories that need the metal wheels to trigger them.

[FJ and G]

Boyd,

It is interesting that you brought this topic up, as I'm pondering building resin cast spoked wheels for my outdoor 7/8n2 layout, being as those wheels cost around $9 per axle!!!

Planning to do a clay or wood mold and paint it with mold builder (materials from Michaels), then after doing a bunch of layers, adding the resin.

The one problem with this; actually several "minor" problems, is that there might be more wear on the wheels; the plastic weighs less than metal and this could create some tracking problems. However, I would think the wear would be minimal and weights could always be added to the trucks.

I think you'll get responses back saying that the clickety clack would be gone; but hey, you've just you to please.

[lionelsoni]

Did you see this recent post:

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/2/936928/ShowPost.aspx#936928

 

[ben10ben]

I once had a Kusan hopper with plastic wheels. The things squeeked like crazy no matter how much grease or oil I put on them. They also tracked really poorly. I ended up putting some cheap K-line trucks with metal wheels on the car, and they gave an exponential improvement in running quality.

 

Based on that experience, I can't ever imagine going backwards and using plastic wheels. 

[Anonymous]

Just the opposite of what I do with rolling stock in every scale. I switch out all of the plastic wheelsets for metal wheels. Had to do this with a lot of Large Scale rolling stock in the past, but now most of what I buy comes with metal wheels.

Noise is not a consideration for me--even with FasTrack.  I just like the other features of metal wheels, including the fact that they help to keep the track (and wheels themselves) a whole lot cleaner.

 But, different strokes for different folks is the operative phrase in the hobby, as I see it.

[3railguy]

This plastic wheel thing did not occur to me until recently when I set up an HO layout using Kato Unitrack and noticed plastic wheelsets used by Athearn make much less noise than metal wheelsets used on Atlas rolling stock.

The problem with plastic wheelsets, as Allan Miller states, is they do attract grime leaving a film on the rails over time.

 My druthers would be to put carpet foam under your Fastrack verses changing out the wheelsets.

[jimhaleyscomet]

I just changed my Marx 6" cars from steel to plastic wheels (from extra beaters I had).  It did quite down the train on fastrak.

 

Jim H 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting this, and the link to the other post regarding noise from the FasTrack. My wife commented today how the train is rather loud. Through reading both posts on this I think I may try getting some of the carpet insulation and put it under the track.

[riverrailfan]

Carpet padding to me has worked the best. it's what I'm useing with about a 50% reduction in noise.

[brianel027]

Thanks Bob for the link and the credit. I posted that idea a long time before that one on this forum and also on CoilCouplers.

Just as I came up with a fix for the Industrial Rail couplers 6 years ago and posted that fix on the OGR forum and later here. There some guy with the coupler idea on OGR now and everyone is thanking him like it's a new idea... it ain't. It was my idea.

I did searches at those times, and both ideas had not been posted anywhere. Maybe others had thought of them, but I'm the first person to have posted the fixes anywhere on the internet.

I don't mean to toot my horn, but when it comes to 027 trains and doing it on a budget and fixing things yourself, I'm the KING. Too many times I've had people who have seen my layout tell me they have never ever seen the creative ideas I've incorporated into my trains.

If Lionel wants to start putting plastic wheels on their rolling stock, the noise debate about FasTrack should end promptly. Of course, when the angry mob at YORK comes looking for blood at the Lionel display and Clyde Coil is there saying "Dang, twasn't my idea... it was him over there!" pointing at me... I'd be make sure the get-a-way vehicle is gassed up and ready to go.

Knowing my luck I'd be saying, "Oh man, who the heck blocked my get-a-way vehicle in with this parked Greendale bus?????"

[Anonymous]

With the carpet foam, do you rest the track on top of it, or cut it so it fits under the roadbed?

Just curious because I have a rather large roll of it in my basement and my wife keeps telling me to throw it out... now if I can tell her, "look I found a use for it and will need it when we move and I start building the large layout." I think I may have a winner!

[RR Redneck]

This plastic wheel thing did not occur to me until recently when I set up an HO layout using Kato Unitrack and noticed plastic wheelsets used by Athearn make much less noise than metal wheelsets used on Atlas rolling stock.

The problem with plastic wheelsets, as Allan Miller states, is they do attract grime leaving a film on the rails over time.

 My druthers would be to put carpet foam under your Fastrack verses changing out the wheelsets.

That is the main reason that I love Lionels. They come equiped from the factory with metal wheels.