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 Posted - August 25 2008 : 09:42:12 AM
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Guys:
I've seen Locomotive wheelsets in both 36" and 42".
Can anyone tell me which is more accurate prototypically?
Thanks,
Gareth
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 Posted - August 25 2008 : 10:41:04 AM
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| hi gareth,thats always puzzled me,i assumed it was a railroad issue ken
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Posted - August 27 2008 : 9:45:17 PM
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WoW!!!
nothing! No one knows the answer, WOW!
-Gareth
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Posted - August 27 2008 : 10:02:31 PM
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It depends on the type of car and application... IIRC:
28" - excess-height / low-clearance cars (autoracks, well cars, etc)
33" - The "standard size" for most cars
36" - 100T + capacity cars
42" - I think Locomotives start here...
There will be exceptions to the rule, they are not steadfast but again that's a general ballpark "95% of the time" rule of thumb...
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Posted - August 27 2008 : 10:20:47 PM
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I would only add to the general rule;
switchers 40"
road units 42"
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Posted - August 27 2008 : 10:44:42 PM
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Thanks GIC.
SG; makes sense. The larger Dia. wheel has less rolling resistance. Important over distance. OTOH, the smaller switcher wheels begin/start to turn more easily aiding in the stopping and starting of switching.
-Gareth
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Posted - August 28 2008 : 10:18:46 AM
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Wheel diameters on locos are a bit more confusing then that Romcat. The wheel size depended on loco maker and component sizes. As an example, all FM locos with Westinghouse traction motors used 42" wheels to allow enough space between the axles for the large Westinghouse motors. The same loco with GE or FM traction motors used 40" wheels as those motors were smaller. I have been unable to find reliable info regarding wheel size of EMD, GE, and Alco locos. Still looking though!
Edited by - Hypoponera on August 28 2008 11:26:00 AM
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Posted - August 28 2008 : 10:57:08 AM
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Hey Ant-Man:
Thats good to know! So if I were rewheeling a H16-44 or H24-66 they would have prototypically 42" wheels? Assuming the WH Traction motors? Course in HO 2 scale inches is basically invisible.
-Gareth
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Posted - August 28 2008 : 11:32:05 AM
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| Yep, that is correct. But as you pointed out, near impossible to see those 2 inches in HO scale!
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Posted - August 28 2008 : 11:34:45 AM
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Hey Ant-Man:
Alco's used WH Traction motors at one point didn't they after the falling out with GE? So 42's for them then?
-Gareth
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Posted - August 28 2008 : 11:41:03 AM
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hi gareth,not sure if this is any use to you ken
Diameter Commonly found on
15/20 Mine, industrial railroads 33 Typical freight car, early streetcars, interurbans
20/26 Narrow gauge, light railroads (18, 2, etc. gauges) 36 Freight cars of 70 Ton and up capacity, interurbans
22/36 Streetcars, Interurbans passenger cars, some diesel and electric locomotives
26 Modern streetcars, narrow gauge freight cars 38 High capacity double stack containter cars (125+ ton capy)
28 Trailer trains, modern interurban, N.G. passenger cars 40 EMD diesels, some circa 1900 passenger cars
30 Streetcars (some US, many European) 42 Baldwin, ALCO (some) diesels
31 North Shore Electroliner
Note: It was not uncommon for a prototype wheel size to be changed over the years. Many interurbans were delivered with 37-1/2 wheels that were later allowed
to wear to or were replaced by 36 (or even 33) wheels. Most early 3 gauge equipment had 24 wheels that were later replaced with 26 wheels in the early
1900s
http://www.nwsl.com/Catalog/cat7-01-v0309.pdf
Edited by - catfordken on August 28 2008 11:47:50 AM
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Posted - August 28 2008 : 11:45:24 AM
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No. While GE and Alco stopped working together on locos in 1953, Alco still bought all its electrical parts from GE.
WH got out of the heavy traction biz in 1954. Most Baldwin locos came with WH motors, but the last 2 years of Baldwin production came with GE motors.
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Posted - August 28 2008 : 11:45:45 AM
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Hey Ken:
Wonder which some(?) Alcos!
-Gareth
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Posted - August 28 2008 : 11:53:51 AM
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So Ant-Man:
Rewheeling my Trainmaster and "Baby-TM" with Athearn 40's could be ok, since they may have been built with non-WH TM's?
-Gareth
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Posted - August 28 2008 : 11:55:20 AM
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hi gareth according to wilkopaedia,40 inch on the 600/660/900/1000s ken
Edited by - catfordken on August 28 2008 11:58:38 AM
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Posted - August 28 2008 : 12:01:58 PM
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Romcat,
That is correct. I have found some info in "Contemporary Diesel Spotters Guide":
"While 40" wheelsets are standard on all other EMD production trucks shown here, wheelsets on the HTCR truck are 42" in diameter"
The trucks shown are:
AAR Type A switcher truck
Flexicoil B Truck
Blomberg B Truck
Blomberg B Truck Dash 2 style
Blomberg B Truck, Latest style
Flexicoil C Truck
HTC Truck
So if correct, all standard EMD locos from switchers to the SD60 should be on 40" wheels. 42" wheels appeared starting with the SD70s.
The only info I have found on GE is that the "Generation I Steerable Truck" has 44" wheels. This truck is for the AC4400 and later locos.
Dofasco six axle trucks hav 40" wheels.
MLW ZWT truck also has 40" wheels.
Edited by - Hypoponera on August 28 2008 12:09:46 PM
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Posted - August 28 2008 : 12:48:23 PM
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Hey Ken:
Those are the "HH" units, Alco Switchers right?
-Gareth
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Posted - August 28 2008 : 12:52:34 PM
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| hi gareth right on ken
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