Old time coach wheel diameter (HO)?

[ort007]

I've tried to do a little research on this one before asking so I would avoid a redundent question. But so far, no luck. I've got a good handle on modern rolling stock and passenger wheel sizes, but what about 1800s coaches? Did they use 33'' or 36" or something else? I assume most were rib-backed?

Thanks,
Ort007

[jrbernier]

Unless you can find some documentation, I would go with 36" wheels for passenger cars. As far as 'rib back' cooling fins on the wheels, you would have to inspect them. They were popular on many freight cars(the idea was to create a cooling draft so the heat would soak off after heavy braking).

Jim Bernier

[jrbarney]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ort007

I've tried to do a little research on this one before asking so I would avoid a redundent question. But so far, no luck. I've got a good handle on modern rolling stock and passenger wheel sizes, but what about 1800s coaches? Did they use 33'' or 36" or something else? I assume most were rib-backed?

Thanks,
Ort007

Ort007,
Your question piqued my curiosity. According to John H. White, Jr.'s The American Railroad Passenger Car, Part 2, "Many passenger cars have employed 33-inch wheels, although larger wheels were generally used. In the 1830s, 36-inch wheels became popular and, except for a brief period late in the nineteenth century when 42-inch wheels were in vogue, remain the standard of the present day." Later on he notes, "Around 1900, very large wheels gave way to the compromise size of 36 inches, which is still the standard for American passenger cars." Not all the wheels had ribbed backs. The so called paper wheels had steel or iron plates bolted through the compressed straw board centers. What I think this suggests is that ideally you should look for plans of the car in which you are interested if you want spot on accuracy. Also, for further detail, read his book. A public library should be able to get if for you on Inter Library Loan. Hope this helps.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[cacole]

The ribbed-back wheels were made of cast iron instead of steel, and the ribs were to aid in cooling because cast iron would become brittle if it was overheated. Steel wheels with the smooth backs became mandatory for rolling stock in interchange duty in either the late 1930s or early 1940s.

[ort007]

Thanks for the input, guys. I think 36" would be appropriate. Bob, I've read about the paper wheels before. Pretty inovative idea for the time. I'll have to check out that book, too.

Cheers,
Ort007

[jrbarney]

Ort007,
If you can access a copy of Newton K. Gregg's Train Shed Encyclopedia No. 39, a reprint of 80 pages from William Voss' 1892 publication, Railway Car Construction, and read Chapter XX, Passenger Car Trucks, it states, "The majority of steel-tired wheels are 42 inches, . . ." A few sentences later, it says, "There are, however, a large number of steel-tired wheels of 33 or 36 inch diameter in use, . . ." and on the next page has an engraving of a four wheel passenger car truck with 33 inch wheels. In Chapter XXI, Pullman's Palace Car Co. Standard Sleeping Car, it includes an engraving of that car's trucks dimensioned as 42 inch wheels, even though the text states that those cars are equipped with 38-inch steel tired paper wheels. Don't want to keep going round in circles on the topic, but to paraphrase an old saw, "It's whatever floats your boat."
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[ort007]

Bob,
Your library is quite impressive! I'll check into my usual sources for those references and read up a little. I appreciate your research; you've made it easy for me!
Thanks,
Toby