I have a section of insulated rail (GarGraves three rail) and all my equipment with metal wheels actuate the signals in that section. However, I have three Atlas flat cars, with auto load, that the box states "metal wheels" but will not operate the signals. The wheels have been cleaned and still no operation. Does Atlas use some type of exotic metal in the wheel or axle that does not conduct a current?
Have you put a voltmeter on the wheels to see if they conduct current?
Alton Junction
Check them with an ohm meter. Touch probes to each wheel. Should show a complete circuit. If so, they should conduct. They would have to be exta light not to work if metal axles.
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Since they make both 2-rail and 3-rail stuff, their wheelsets may share a design that is insulated.
Bob Nelson
I put an ohm meter on the wheels and no continuity.
Addendum: The axles do conduct and show continuity.
I just put my OHM meter on an Atlas Gondola and presto - it has continuity. What gives Atlas?
Does the box say how many rails it is meant for?
Box is Industrial Rail 0/027 and does not mention 2 or 3 rail.
Industrial Rail is usually three rail from what I have seen.
Atlas makes kits to adapt the wheelsets over to two rail or three rail and the wheels are identical except for the piece of plastic around the center shaft on the two rail version. It is very similar to an H.O. diesel wheel set in design except for the size of the wheel.
Lee F.
All my (pre-Atlas) Industrial Rail has conducting wheelsets. Could someone have swapped wheelsets? Did you buy the cars new? Are the flanges toy-train-ish or scale-ish?
If they are two rail cars they will have shiny chrome, not black, wheels, with very small flanges.
2 rail cars have insulated axles because they operate on DC current so one rail is positive and the other is negative.
"Lionel trains are the standard of the world" - Jousha Lionel Cowen
As an American Flyer guy, I am unfamiliar with the problem here, but couldn't you just swap the questionable wheelset for a wheeset that is compatible and see if that works?
Rich
Presto!! Dawn breaks. You guys have solved the mystery. After close inspection here is what I have. The wheel itself is conductive and you can see a light colored gasket or bushing around the axle at wheel. I have 2 rail cars. Now I guess its a matter of contacting Atlas and getting some three rail wheel sets. Can't thank you enough for your expert help.
Wabashbud Presto!! Dawn breaks. You guys have solved the mystery. After close inspection here is what I have. The wheel itself is conductive and you can see a light colored gasket or bushing around the axle at wheel. I have 2 rail cars. Now I guess its a matter of contacting Atlas and getting some three rail wheel sets. Can't thank you enough for your expert help.
Congrats!
I guess that qualifies as a response to my suggestion that you swap wheelsets.
Grayson, while it is true that most 3-rail trains are run on AC and most 2-rail trains on DC, the choice of number of rails has nothing to do with AC versus DC. There are numerous examples of all combinations of rails and power. Perhaps the most common exception to the rule you propose is 2-rail postwar American Flyer running on AC.
My cars were contained in boxes that indicated they were for 0/027. Would you think they were 2-rail cars? I sure didn't. Atlas's response was to say that these cars were sold in 2 & 3 rail versions. I got the shaft and got 2-rail cars that I didn't want. So much for Atlas packaging. I should have stuck to MTH and Lionel.
Any chance that you could mount a piece of wire in the truck somehow so it would lightly rub on the inside of both wheels? This would 'short out' the insulation between the axle and wheel, allowing the car to activate your insulated rail set up.
I know, it is kind of a jurry rigged solution, but it might get you going.
The proper solution would be to replace the two rail wheels with three rail wheels.
Good luck.
It wouldn't have to rub if you could solder each end of the wire the inside of each wheel. However, the flanges could be too small for toy-train operation.
So Atlas is saying you can't buy new three rail trucks and swap them out? That is a bit strange because they typically pride themselves on the adaptability of their products.
New trucks will probably cost as much as the original purchase price. No thanks.
I am very disappointed in Atlas they suggested that Industrial Rail was never produced with 2 rail wheels, Try cleaning the black plating off of the wheel faces, this should solve your problem. The only problem is that the axles are insulated from the wheels. These cars will go back in the box and on the shelf for a reminder of poor customer service.
Wabashbud My cars were contained in boxes that indicated they were for 0/027. Would you think they were 2-rail cars? I sure didn't. Atlas's response was to say that these cars were sold in 2 & 3 rail versions. I got the shaft and got 2-rail cars that I didn't want. So much for Atlas packaging. I should have stuck to MTH and Lionel.
From what I have seen of Industrial Rail products, it seems that somebody at your local hobby shop might have swapped the wheels out for the two rail version.
Have you tried to replace the wheels with Lionel or MTH wheels? I am not sure if they are exact replacements or not.
Good thought Lee, I'll keep my eyes open for replacements. They are very good looking cars and deserve to be run.
If these were purchased new I would go back to the seller. If you bought it used what about checking with the seller to see if he changed out 3R for 2R trucks.
I have never seen the Atlas Industrial Rail sold in 2R, 3R only. Let's face it, the Industrial Rail Line is not marketed to the 2R operators where scale fidelity is a key concept.
How do these trucks attach to the chassis, a screw from the bottom similar to other Atlas product or from the top. If from the bottom a Weaver truck may work and the plastic ones are readily available on E-Bay at pretty low prices.
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Wabashbud New trucks will probably cost as much as the original purchase price. No thanks. I am very disappointed in Atlas they suggested that Industrial Rail was never produced with 2 rail wheels, Try cleaning the black plating off of the wheel faces, this should solve your problem. The only problem is that the axles are insulated from the wheels. These cars will go back in the box and on the shelf for a reminder of poor customer service.
According to Atlas, as clearly stated in their catalog on page 15, their Industrial Rail line is strictly 3-rail. So, either your cars are 2-rail or someone swapped the trucks. It's highly unlikely that they came from the factory that way. Have you determined if they are, in fact, 2 rail scale or Industrial Rail cars with scale trucks? Forget what the box says.
I'm curious. Where did you buy these Atlas Flat cars? Did you purchase them new from a retail store? If so, then you should be able to return them to the store. Obviously, you didn't get what should have been in the package.
Or did you purchase them from an individual through Ebay, at a train show, or otherwise?
Dennis
Hey guys, the cars were all purchased at Hobby Lobby over six months ago and no receipts. I can't see Hobby Lobby trading out the wheels. The wheels are totally different in appearance from another Atlas car I have. The wheels are a shinny black as opposed to dull black and you can see what appears to be fiber bushings at the axles. The flanges appear to be the same, 3-rail, size. Looks like these cars are built to stop shorts when they derail, a good feature. As long as they are kept within the consist the non-conductivity won't matter.
The trucks are attached with screws and would be an easy task to switch them out. However, these are not expensive cars and I won't spend a lot of additional dollars on them. Darn, I just noticed that these cars have sprung trucks, pretty good for a cheap car.
Thank you all for your concern, I guess I will just live with the problem. I was hoping Atlas could supply replacement wheels but since they won't I will live through the problem.
Just a couple suggestions:Lionel 6-14078 Die-Cast Metal Sprung Trucks (MSRP $19.99 per set)Lionel 6-14251 Die-Cast Metal Sprung Trucks with Rotating Bearing Caps (MSRP $20.49 per set)
Or go to a local train show and look under the tables for damaged cars, buy them and swap out the trucks... or go to the train show and find replacement trucks in your price range... there are lots of ways to solve your problem.
I have dozens of assorted modern wheelsets, with needle-point bearings, conical treads, and deep flanges. If you can remove and measure one of your insulated wheelsets, I'll see whether I can find replacements for it. I think the tread diameter and the point-to-point length of the axle are probably the only critical measurements.
lionelsoni: Eyes aren't as they were but here goes. tread width: 5/32, tread diameter at the flange: 23/32, length at the end of axle: 1 51/64. Now I have springs and screws all over my desk so there goes the rest of the morning.
Thanks for the consideration Bob, please don't go to a lot of trouble .
Bud
budgerman@bellsouth.net
I have a dozen in 3 sets of 4 that look like they would work. The axles are between 51/64 and 52/64. Within each set the wheels are all identical; but there are slight differences between sets. If you think you can use them, send me your address and I'll get them into the mail.
Bob:
I emailed you this morning.
Bud German
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