Branchline Trains new semi-scale tread wheels

[Anonymous]

I'm curious as to how these wheels will run on regular code 83 or code 100 flextrack? They say that they are compatible, but I'm just a little doubtful...anyone had any experience with these or similar wheels?

[cacole]

I've had no problems with Intermountain semi-scale wheelsets, which should be the same as or close to the Branchline wheels.

[Anonymous]

I guess the only difference is the width of tread that isn't touching the rail anyway, huh? Thanks cacole.

[cacole]

Yes, I think the NMRA established the standard for wheel widths way back when practically everyone was hand laying their track, and tolerances were not as good as they are today with flex track. With modern manufacturing techniques you hardly ever find flex track or a turnout that is so out of gauge that a narrower wheel is likely to derail.

[Jetrock]

I too use Intermountain semi-scale wheels and they run fine as long as your trackwork is halfway decent. I did notice that they tend to slip down into the frogs of Peco turnouts--Peco, being made for wider-flanged European equipment, kind of has a big "trough" in the frog that semi-scale stuff can fall into.

Maybe someone can clear up, though--what exactly is "semi-scale"? I gather that it's somewhere between an RP-25 profile and an actual (Proto:87 etc.) scale replica of a wheel...

[ckape]

The only problems would be if your track is out of guage in the first place, there's still plenty of tread left touching assuming both your wheels and track are properly in guage.

Also, I've noticed with my Intermountain semi-scale wheels it seems slightly harder to rail cars in the first place, but once they're on the rails I haven't had problems with them.