IBLS Wheel Standard

Current Version


Notes:

1. Each line which joins an arc is tangent to the arc

2. In prototype practice the flange radius (r) is not a simple radius.

Notes:

1. The flange radius (r) is not specified by IBLS but has been calculated from F, W, and R

2. LBSC pointed out that 2-1/2 inch gauge models are actually built to 17/32 inch scale.

See also the 1981 IBLS Wheel Standard.

by Ken Shattock
In 1978-1979 there was a "Blue-Ribbon" committee formed of SIX (6) individuals who were asked to meet and put together a defined list of "BLS WHEEL STANDARDS". These individuals, known to many in our Fraternity, were as follows:


 * Austin Barr
 * Brenton Barnfather
 * Ken Shattock
 * Jack Kerr
 * Doug Alkire
 * Robert Brinkman

The efforts of this group resulted in the BLS Standards, They were presented with the "10th Annual Live Steam Magazine Award" on December 1, 1979 by the late William Fitt, then-Editor of Live Steam Magazine.

These "Interim IBLS Standards" have been widely adopted and have become the accepted wheel standards for the hobby.

by Rick Henderson
As worldwide communications improved and it became evident that having two standards for 1:8 scale modeling in the U.S. was counterproductive, an attempt was put forth to adopt a true standard for track gauge, wheel profiles and couplers. The organization known as the International Brotherhood of Live Steamers was formed, with representatives from areas around the world working with riding scale railroads. Via mailings, all known private and club railroads were contacted and asking for input on what the standards should be so a single set could be established. From the replies, it became abundantly apparent there was no easy solution within the U.S. and the I.B.L.S. settled on adopting and recommending standards following those being used in California and sent these out as “proposed standards” to everyone. Since these first included 7-1/2” as the correct gauge for 1:8 scale, they were never officially adopted by everyone and have remained as proposed ever since. However, in the U.S., these proposed standards have been used by most everyone for wheels and couplers and each area has used their local gauge standard. This has allowed for the trains to easily travel to other railroads and interchange equipment fairly easy, except for crossing The 1/4” Demarcation Line in the northeast. Today if you look at most IBLS wheel and coupler charts, you will find gauging standards for both 7-1/4” and 7-1/2” that have become the accepted standards by most.

by Keith Taylor
Posted on Chaski.org, 4 March 2007:

As the last East Coast secretary of the IBLS, and having known Mr. Purinton, the founder of the Brotherhood of Live Steamers, I can tell you he was not opposed to standards. He felt that there was no need to create "new" standards as there was already a published set of standards in existence since the dawn of the Twentieth Century.

The "Live Steam" hobby came to us from England, and live steamers used the standards of the Society of Model and Experimental Engineers. These standards were developed by Henry Greenly, and are still used virtually all over the world....except here.

Dual Gauge Track
From Bill Donovan of RealTrains Inc.:


 * Many clubs have 3-1/2 inch and 4-3/4 inch dual-gauge tracks (3 rails). These are laid with 1 inch scale rail and frogs.  The 4-3/4 inch gauge is for 1 inch scale.  The 3-1/2 gauge is for 3/4 inch scale.


 * To be completely compatible any 3/4 inch scale equipment operating on this track should have flanges built to the 4-3/4 inch gauge standard (but the width can be as in 3-1/2 inch gauge). This is seldom done but the equipment is so small and light it is less of a problem.


 * For 3/4 inch scale equipment I prefer to use the IBLS 1 inch scale 4-3/4 inch gauge wheel dimensions directly and then modify the three wheelset dimensions B (back to back), WG (wheel gauge), and WC (wheel check) by decreasing the 4-3/4 inch gauge dimensions by 1-1/4 inch, as shown in the table below. You cannot use the 3-1/2 inch gauge wheelset dimensions since the wider flanges from 4-3/4 inch gauge will change the back to back dimension.


 * In a similar way there are some modelers that follow 1-1/2 inch scale narrow gauge (from 3 foot gauge prototype). They seem to all be in the United States so they run on 4-3/4 inch gauge track.  If they have laid new track using 1-1/2 inch scale rail and frogs then the only change needed to the 1-1/2 inch scale standard is to decrease the wheelset dimensions by 2-3/4 inches.  If they run on existing 1 inch scale tracks then they need special wheels with 1-1/2 inch scale width but 1 inch scale flanges.  Here, the back to back (B) is the same as for 1 inch scale on 4-3/4 inch track.

Endorsements
The following organizations use, recommend or require the IBLS Wheel Standard.


 * Finger Lakes Live Steamers
 * Electric Powered Locomotive Works
 * Sacramento Valley Live Steamers
 * Home Railway Journals
 * Ridge Live Steamers
 * Tom Bee
 * Green Loco
 * Colorado Live Steamers
 * Mr Motion
 * BSC Fabricators Inc
 * Calvert Central Railroad
 * Lawn Tracks
 * Plumb Cove Studios
 * Hesston Steam Museum
 * Mid-South Live Steamers
 * Locomotive Chassis
 * The Great American Train Company
 * Golden Gate Live Steamers
 * Northeastern Ohio Live Steamers
 * Washington County Railroad
 * Cinder Sniffers Inc
 * Southwestern Live Steamers
 * Rhino Industries
 * Kitsap Live Steamers
 * Island Pond Railroad

User Comments
Posted on Chaskit.org by Matt Mason, 17 January 2006:


 * Whether or not the wheel standards were "formally" adopted, so many clubs in the US (especially western US) use them they have become defacto standards. Yes, some clubs use other dimensions, and you should use what works for you and your club. As mentioned before, just because these dimensions are out there, you can still model however you want. As a testament to these standards, I was able to fly from California to New Jersey Live Steamers with my equipment, put the loco on the track, and run with no derailments. I like a set of standards, myself.