Weird attachment to trucks. What is this?

[crossthedog]

Bought this car today at a swap meet, got it home before I noticed this bizarre attachment on each truck. It's a Bachmann MOW tank car, the bottom says Made in China. Also a number, K181107. Can anyone tell me what this is and what I should do about it? It's hinged, and I cannot imagine it stays on for running the car... it would jam in the ties. There's one at each end.

Thanks,

-Matt

[maxman]

Maybe an attachment for a track cleaning pad?

[mbinsewi]

Looks like it originally came with a track cleaning pad.

Mike.

EDIT:  Yea, like Maxman said.    (He was quicker)

[Little Timmy]

First time I'v  ever seen that.

But, the wheelsets are insulated.

It may be for something electrical ?

An actuator for an operating something or other ?

 

[crossthedog]

mbinsewi

Looks like it originally came with a track cleaning pad.

Whal... thar ya go. Funny I didn't see a track cleaning unit in the results when I googled that number. I'm not interested in a track cleaning pad so I'm fixin' to cut it off or replace the trucks. 

Thanks all,

-Matt

 

[kasskaboose]

Unless you plan to use the car for cleaning, I too suggest replacing it.

[SeeYou190]

I have been trying to think of anything else these could be useful for, and I came up with absolutely nothing.

-Kevin

[Lone Wolf and Santa Fe]

It attaches to a track cleaning pad. If you carefully remove it you can save it because sometime in the future you might find that you want to use it. Track cleaning pads are very helpful in keeping the track clean. I use them.

[mbinsewi]

crossthedog

I'm not interested in a track cleaning pad so I'm fixin' to cut it off or replace the trucks. 

That's what I would do, replace the trucks, and save these just in case, at some time, you want a track cleaning car, as Lone Wolf suggest. 

Mike.

[wjstix]

I haven't checked, but you may be able to buy the pads from Bachmann. Their website has a pretty well stocked parts dept.

[cv_acr]

Little Timmy

But, the wheelsets are insulated.

It may be for something electrical ?

 

All metal wheelsets HAVE TO BE insulated, or the simple act of putting the car on the rails will short out your whole railroad.

This is not an indicator that the car had any power features.

There are no wires or pickup wipers attached to the trucks.

[Medina1128]

crossthedog

 

 

mbinsewi

Looks like it originally came with a track cleaning pad.

 

 

Whal... thar ya go. Funny I didn't see a track cleaning unit in the results when I googled that number. I'm not interested in a track cleaning pad so I'm fixin' to cut it off or replace the trucks. 

 

Thanks all,

-Matt

 

 

Instead of cutting it off, or replacing the trucks, just replace the axles that they're on.

[crossthedog]

Medina1128

Instead of cutting it off, or replacing the trucks, just replace the axles that they're on.

Hi Marlon. It was hard to take a photo that clearly showed what's going on so it's a little deceptive. The attachment is not mounted on the axle, although it comes closely underneath the axle and its hinge is right next to it. The whole thing is part of the truck frame. You either have to cut it off or put different trucks on. The wheels-and-axle sets in the truck are just like any other.

-Matt

[Overmod]

The problem is in the hinge, not the ability of the truck to pivot or ride properly on the track.  If a pad spanning the railheads is not installed, any time that hinge is 'leading' and vibrates down it will foul the ties much like a car driveshaft with a failed front universal, and the results may be equally traumatic (to the railroader) and comical (to everyone else watching the resulting action).

In theory you could mount a short piece of styrene shape or card with a pin to hold it on the end, that would ride on the rails and not short or jam.  But if you go to that trouble... why not just use a piece of inverted Masonite on a sprung pin in honor of John Allen? 

[crossthedog]

Overmod

In theory you could mount a short piece of styrene shape or card with a pin to hold it on the end, that would ride on the rails and not short or jam. But if you go to that trouble... why not just use a piece of inverted Masonite on a sprung pin in honor of John Allen?

I suppose, but I don't even see why I would want anything dangling down to the rails between the trucks at all, since I won't use this car to clean track. I like the trucks and the wheels, so I was going to cut the appendages off. But maybe I'll replace the truck assemblies outright and save them for someone who wants to make a cleaning car (not I).

-Matt 

[gmpullman]

This replacement pad from Walthers may be an easy-fit if one were so inclined:

https://www.walthers.com/replacement-pad-for-walthers-track-cleaning-cars

I do have one of the Walthers cleaning cars and only use it to do a preliminary pass or two on little used sidings and trackage I can not normally reach.

The backing plate is steel so has a bit of weight to it.

Good Luck, Ed