I have a mix of Athearn, Walthers, and Accurail 85 and 89' flat cars. I want to replace their wheels with metal Intermountain wheels. Should they get 33" or 36"? Thanks.
Modeling the D&H in 1984: http://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/
I did a lot of checking into this when I put together some intermodal trains, looking at prototype specs and drawings, and the general consensus was 33". I had some flats that had problems with 36" wheels rubbing slightly on the frame. I think all of mine now have 33".
Mike.
My You Tube
The answer might be the dreaded "it depends." According to my 1974 Car and Locomotive Builder's Cyclopedia, it showed 89' flats that had auto racks put on them which had 28" wheels. I think that was pretty common to get the lower deck at a reasonable height for loading. A TTX trailer train flat in the Cyc had 33" wheels. I am not aware of flatcars of that length that carried such heavy loads that they needed 36" wheels but I may well be in error on that.
As a practical matter, while getting the correct scale sized wheels should normally be the goal, sometimes the practical operation of the car and the need to adjust coupler height can dictate a "wrong" (larger or smaller) sized wheel, at least as a last resort when all else fails.
Dave Nelson
This is my first post in the General Discussion forum. So I'll introduce myself. The name you see is my real name. I'm living in the city of Essen in Germany. I'm interested in American railroads and model railroads since the mid 1980s. I'm a retired civil engineer (structural design) and enjoy my retirement.
Back to the topic: Dave is right it depends on the load capacity of the flatcars.
If LD LMT plus LT WT is less than or equal 220,000 lbs use 33' wheels. Above 220,000 lbs up to 286,000 lbs use 36' wheels. Above that there are 38' wheels.
There are some exceptions as there are wheels with a higher load limit than the above mentioned standard wheels available.
The following website contains a table with dimensions and load limits for single wheels: http://www.standardsteel.com/wheels.php
So if it is a 70 ton capacity flatcar it would have 33' wheels, a heavy duty or 100 ton flatcar would have 36' wheel. Up to 263,000 lbs gross weight it might be equipped with high-grade 33' wheels.Reagards, Volker (Germany)
Thanks everyone. I will try 33" on everything and if the couplers line up, and if the wheels don't scrape the underframe of the flat car, I will call it good!
If the wheels scrape the underside of the car, it could be that the axles are to short, causing a loose fit. Reboxx is the cure.
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
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Accurail pig flats are often derailment magnets due to the poor bolster design. I found that substituting Kadee HGC 70-ton roller bearing trucks (that already come with 33" wheels) eliminated the problem with mine. The Kadee trucks allow better movement around the body/truck bolster interface than the stock arrangement.
Rob Spangler
If the cars give me grief I will keep your truck replacement suggestion in mind. Thanks.