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Red axles on D&RG steam

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  • Member since
    April 2001
  • From: Roanoke, VA
  • 2,015 posts
Red axles on D&RG steam
Posted by BigJim on Thursday, August 4, 2016 11:21 AM

Someone on another forum asked why some D&RG steam locos have one or more ends of a driver axle painted red. Anyone here know why?

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  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: Colorado Springs CO
  • 87 posts
Posted by Thechief66 on Saturday, August 13, 2016 8:06 AM

Locomotive 483 had red axle counterweights for a time, part of a paint job that was done for a movie shoot in the late 60's. Perhaps that person saw some old photos of that.

  • Member since
    April 2001
  • From: Roanoke, VA
  • 2,015 posts
Posted by BigJim on Saturday, August 13, 2016 2:06 PM

Yes, I have posted pictures of that one elsewhere too. However, I am speaking of big steam, as in the L-131 and some others. 

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RME
  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 2,073 posts
Posted by RME on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 5:44 PM

BigJim
Someone on another forum asked why some D&RG steam locos have one or more ends of a driver axle painted red. Anyone here know why?

O Gauge Forum, right?  There were people over there who thought it meant the axle had roller bearings...Dunce

My suspicion is that it means the axle or bearings are at minimum permissible thickness, and would need to be replaced or rebuilt at next servicing, rather than resurfaced.  

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