Wheel Size

[Anonymous]

What determines what size wheels (33" or 36") belong on which type of cars? Are the sizes standard across the industry or are the sizes dependent upon the individual railroad? Is there a reference for this type of info? I'm planning on converting to all metal wheels and would like to be fairly accurate as to wheel size on box cars, cabooses, tank cars, gondolas and passenger cars (both short and heavyweight).

Thanks for any help, I'm sorta new at this.

Tom

[Anonymous]

To the best of my knowledge most modern boxcars have 33" wheels and covered hoppers have 36" wheels, thats about the best I can tell and thats the way I have them on my layout. the athearn covered hoppers are normally low for the Kadee height guage so the 36" wheels make them about where they need to be without any washers.[;)] Hope this helps and if I am wrong someone correct me. As far as other freight cars I dont really know. [?]

[jsoderq]

70 ton and below use 33" . Heavier cars use 36" except intermodal which may be various sizes depending on the car. It has nothing to do with individual railroads. It is industry standards.

[loathar]

36" are also used on many paaenger cars.

[warhammerdriver]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jsoderq

70 ton and below use 33" . Heavier cars use 36" except intermodal which may be various sizes depending on the car. It has nothing to do with individual railroads. It is industry standards.

Was this the standard before 1960? My RR is set in the late 50's, and eventally I'm gonna need to replace my wheels with metal. May as well get the info now...

[canazar]

In nut shell, up 70 Ton rated cars are usieng 33" while anything at or close too 100 Ton, is useing 36" (as far frieght). Most intermodul use 36" wheels due to the weight/axle ratio

During the 50's, I think just about all the frieght was useing 33" with passenger useing 36"

[tomikawaTT]

Early TOFC cars used 28 inch wheels to keep the height of car plus highway trailer within the clearance limits of the eastern railroads that operated them. I believe catenary height on the PRR and NH was part of the reason - metal boxes and 11,000 VAC being rather uncomfortable bedfellows. Also, NYC had very limited clearance in the tunnels along the Hudson. (That, incidentally, is why the NYC Niagara 4-8-4 looks so clean. It's a foot lower than most other 4-8-4's.)

Chuck.

[Anonymous]

While the 36" wheels maybe prototypical on most passenger cars, the trucks used on many of the models will take 33" or less to operate correctly. The trucks on many models are not correct or have brake shoes that may not clear 36" wheels. You may have to compromise on wheel size or replace the trucks completely.

Will

[waltersrails]

dittio on that.

[ProtoWeathering]

How wonderfully confusing and inaccurate on almost every level. You guys are a riot!

Someone ought to do some accurate research and help this poor guy out.

A little spell check might make a few of you look a little brighter too. www.iespell.com

usieng? useing? It's USING! Fer petes sake!

[Don Gibson]

REGARDLESS what the prototype has, you need to replace any wheelsets with the same exact size or the coupler height's won't match.

99% of the models out there come with 33" on freight and 36" on their passenger cars. If you want more specifics you'll need to buy a set of Calipers.

Neutrino Your answer was the LEAST helpful.

QUOTE: How wonderfully confusing and inaccurate on almost every level. You guys are a riot!

I can understand your confusion, but since model makers 'fudge' on dimensions, This answer is for YOU:

"If you want more specifics you'll need to buy a set of Calipers".

[ProtoWeathering]

I disagree Don. Mine was the MOST helpful! I gave everyone a link to an easy to use spell checker. It was also the most accurate. (The other replies were confusing and inaccurate.) Besides being badly misspelled. BTW Don, Branchline's passenger cars use 30" wheels.

[Don Gibson]

..."Branchline's passenger cars use 30" wheels"... and IHC 31". Your point?

QUOTE: 99% of the models out there come with 33" on freight and 36" on their passenger cars.... REGARDLESS what the prototype has, you need to replace any wheelsets with the same exact size or the coupler height's won't match.

[Don Z]

I resorted to using my dial caliper to measure the existing wheels when replacing them with metal wheels. Here's an oddity I found: On a 52'6" covered gondola, I pulled out my magnifying glass and found "Wheel type 36 inch" and "Bettendorf truck" listed under the dimension information on the side of the car. I measured the wheels with my caliper and they scaled out to 33". To top it off, the trucks are NOT Bettendorf trucks. Creative license indeed.

Don Z.