MR101: How To Identify Truck Types?

[CSX_road_slug]

OK, I'm sure that one of the hundreds of Kalmbach books has the answer buried somewhere in their pages, but I don't have time to scan thru them all.

I've seen at least 4 different truck types listed for Athearn frieght cars:

1) Andrews

2) Bettendorf

3) Hyatt Roller Bearing

4) Timken Roller Bearing

I know [vaguely] that the later-model freight cars are likely to have roller-bearing trucks; but I can't tell just by looking at an HO model what type of trucks are on it.

Is there a website somewhere that shows the spotting features of the different types of trucks, or can somebody tell me exactly which Kalmbach book has that info?  I need to know, because the Reboxx chart for metal wheel sizes [by manufacturer] goes by truck type.

Thanx in advance...

[ShadowNix]

Great question, man.  I am eagerly awaiting an answer as well.  In a few months I will need to begin replacing all my plastic wheels with metal and also some of the trucks, but I have no clue if the truck on them is correct or not....

Brian

[NS2591]

There is an issue of Model Railroader, I can't think of which one that goes into detail about trucks. If i find it I'll let you know.

[doctorwayne]

Some time ago, Mainline Modeler ran a two-part article on the different styles of freight trucks used on the prototype, and offered examples available for modellers in HO scale.  I will dig up the articles if you think they might be of use, as you should be able to order back-issues.  However, there were many more types shown than the four that you listed.  Also, if you're looking for info regarding replacing the wheelsets with metal ones, this information is not given in the articles.  You should be able to determine the specifications with a simple caliper and a scale ruler:  check the wheel diameter with the caliper, then measure the gap between the faces on the scale ruler.  Measure on the tread surface, not over the flanges.  Most wheels on freight cars will be 33" or 36", although there are some exceptions.  The other crucial dimension will be length of the axle, from tip-to-tip.  Use the calipers to measure this:  I would think that you'll need this dimension in thousandths-of-an-inch.

Wayne

[ShadowNix]

Hey Doctorwayne,

Thanks for the info on measuring for wheel replacements...What I am looking for, especially on kits without trucks, is what truck is prototypical for certain time periods, freight, etc?   This is where I stumble... 

 

Brian

[CSX_road_slug]

Thanx guys, for your input.

Brian, here is the link to the Reboxx site for cross-referencing different manufacturers and truck types with axle lengths: http://reboxx.com/wheelsets.htm

Wayne, when I measure my wheels with the caliper, are you saying that I should measure between flat surfaces [A] or the flange [B]?

[doctorwayne]

To measure the wheel diameter, dimension A is the correct one to use.  Dimension B, over the flanges, will vary depending on the manufacturer, as some, particularily older equipment, will have abnormally deep flanges. 

There were many different types of archbar trucks, all of which were eventually banned in interchange service (I can't recall the date that this occurred).  However, equipment that was not interchanged with other roads, such as maintenance-of-way cars, or other company service cars could have had archbar trucks into the 1960s.  Andrews trucks (again, there were many varieties) became popular because they were designed to re-use the journal boxes from archbar trucks, an obvious cost saving measure.  They too were eventually banned from interchange service, although I believe that the actual date of the ban was pushed back due to WW II.  What modellers know as the Bettendorf freight truck actually encompasses a wide variety of designs and manufacturers and they generally superceded the Andrews type.  In any given era, there would be an overlap of the different types in service.  Roller bearings first began to appear in some numbers during the '50s, although they were introduced, I believe, in the '20s.  Many "Bettendorf" trucks were retrofitted with roller bearings, the key spotting feature being the removal of the journal lids, which revealed the rotating bearing caps on the axle ends.  Among other things, a car's carrying capacity, weight-wise, is governed by the journal size (axle diameter) and the wheel size.  On a model, the journal size is not of importance, but the wheel diameter is.  In the 1940s and '50s, most freight cars rode on 33" wheels.  Cars of 100 tons capacity or more had 36" wheels, although there were probably some exceptions to these rules.

Wayne

[CSX_road_slug]

To measure the wheel diameter, dimension A is the correct one to use...

Wayne, thank you for the above, and the history lesson - I believe that tells me everything I need to know before starting on my re-wheeling project.  Since all my freightcars are post-1965, I know none of them have any Andrews trucks.

[Anonymous]

I don't know about Mainline Modeler but I do know that MR had an article on this very subject and it hasn't been too many years in the past.  Not only did they have photos accompanying the narrative but they also had a chart for HO and N outlining who produced what.

[WP 3020]

Or you could try looking in the Walthers and Horison catalogs or web sites. Also try lookingon the web for some of the road names of the cars you want to change the trucks on to find what the prototype had.

[CSX_road_slug]

... Also try looking on the web for some of the road names of the cars you want to change the trucks on to find what the prototype had.

True, if you don't mind doing the extra work of re-adjusting the coupler height on cars that came from the factory with wrong-sized wheels.   

Unfortunately some model manufacturers used 33" wheels on cars that should have had 36".  That's why I'm using a caliper to measure each car-type's wheel diameter before I buy the replacement wheels.

[RedGrey62]

CSX_road_slug

Another great resource is freight car books.  Many times they will list what kind of trucks are under a particular piece of equipment.  After seing what they look like, you can compare to photos of other cars.

 

Rick

[IRONROOSTER]

This book "Freight Cars" by Jeff Wilson might help http://kalmbachcatalog.stores.yahoo.net/12450.html
Enjoy
Paul

[Leon Silverman]

FYI:

     The MR magazine with the Frieght car data was the December 2003 Issue.

[Sperandeo]

Leon is correct, Jeff Wilson's artilce, "Modeler's guide to freight car trucks" appeared in the december 2003 issue, pages 72-77. That issue is probably still in print and available on this site – click on "shop" at the top of the page. Most of the same material is included in Chapter Eight of Jeff's 2005 book, "The Model railroader's Guide to Freight Cars," from Kalmbach Books.

So long,

Andy

[jrbernier]

Kent,

  Here is a web link to review: http://www.mrrwarehouse.com/images/EASTERN/ecwtrks1.jpg

o - Arch Bar - Early design with cast metal and strap metal parts bolted together.

o - Andrews - Early 'cast' sideframe, but with metal straps between the journal and the spring area.

o - Bettendorf - Sort of a generic model railroad name for the basic ARA cast steel frame truck.  Bettendorf was a manufacturer.  The Athearn truck is a basic friction bearing 50-70 ton design.

o - Hyatt - Cast sideframe with Hyatt roller bearing.  IIRC, the Athearn version is a more HD version of the basic truck(maybe 100 ton)..

o - Timken - Cast sideframe with Tinkem roller bearings - Basic 50-70 ton truck.

  Most 50-70 ton trucks have 33" wheels, 100 ton trucks should have 36" wheels.  The real difference is the size of the bearings(thicker axles and bearings for larger loading).  That Kalmbach article is quite good, and is worth buying the magazine or getting the reprint of the article.

Jim

[CSX_road_slug]

Guess I'll try to pickup a copy of Jeff Wilson's freight car guide book tomorrow, during my trip to MB Klein's.

 

Thanx Andy, Leon and gang for answering my questions!

[rghammill]

There is an online bonus for free here:

http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=106

Randy

 

 

[Morpar]

Randy,

     Thanks a million for the link. I too am in the process of replacing all of my plastic wheelsets and in some cases the trucks too. That article will help a bunch.

[pcarrell]

I found this helpful.

http://www.realtrains.com/trucks.html

[ProtoWeathering]

I have reference pictures of modern freight car trucks in my PBase gallery. This can help with weathering your trucks and it can help identify certain types.

http://www.pbase.com/lumixfz30/freight_car_trucks