wheels 33" or 36"

[Anonymous]

i just changed eras from the 40's when frieght cars had 33" wheels to the pressent and im not sure what is used today 36" on all cars, 33" on the some, 36" for 100ton cars 33" 70 and below?
Help would be much appreaciated
thanks
Chris

[Anonymous]

Be extremely careful.
http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/002/197xvpbs.asp

http:www.nmra.org/beginner/wheelsets.html

http:www.micro-mark.com then add in item #82838 and click on description for
an exploded picture.

Beware that axle sets come in various lengths per Nigel of this forum.
"P2K, 1.008, KD. 1.013, IM 1.018 and there are more.

33" wheels less than 100 ton
36" wheels on 100 ton freight and passenger.
38" wheels on 125 ton freight cars
28" wheels on some autoracks


Courtesy of Master Modeler Nigel of this forum.

[dknelson]

Don't forget also that while the ribbed back wheels were appropriate for the 1940s they are not for the modern day except for old non interchange stuff.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by locomotive3

33" wheels less than 100 ton
36" wheels on 100 ton freight and passenger.
38" wheels on 125 ton freight cars
28" wheels on some autoracks

Chuck's pretty much got this right.

Most frieght (60' boxcars, tankers, ect) are under 100 tons, longer cars (80'er's) are the over 100 ton type. most low riders (long flats, ect) use the 28" to achieve clearances in tunnels.

Jay

[Anonymous]

I have a little experience from replacing wheels on my intermodal equipment in HO:

Athearn stand-alone and 3-unit double-stack cars use 33' wheels
Their 5-unit Maxi-111 uses a mixture of 33' wheels on the end trucks and 36' on the intermediate ones
Athearn Impacks need 28' wheels
Walthers' 5-unit spine car uses 33' wheels

I used Lifelike metal wheelsets on the 3-unit drawbar husky (the only one I've converted so far), they were a straight drop-in conversion. Hope this info is of help to someone!

[Anonymous]

thanks for the infon guys!
Chris

[Anonymous]

Here'a quote from www.reboxx.com
"Research shows that many trucks required axle lenghts longer than those supplied to provide the correct relationship between the needle bearing on the axle end and the journal in the side frame".

"To account for production variations axles are purposely a little short".

When you upgrade, separate your models by manufacturer, since there is this variation
between manufacturers.

Don't go out and buy a gross of one brand, because one brand doesn't fit all.

This is why www.reboxx.com supplies wheel sets in multiple axle lengths.