IBLS - User contributions [en]

Company notch

2023-03-15T03:19:03Z

SteveR:

[[Category:Definitions]]

The "company notch" refers to a position on a [[Johnson bar]], and adjusts the cut-off valve to provide the most efficient use of the steam.

== References ==

* [https://www.discoverlivesteam.com/magazineold/179/index.htm "The Company Notch", Discover Live Steam]

Superscale Locomotive Company

2022-02-04T08:08:58Z

SteveR: Added the Super Scale contact information in the form of his card. The official website is hosted by North Georgia Live Steamers at this time

[[Category:Suppliers]]

[[Superscale Locomotive Company]] was founded in 1975 by [[Barry Hauge]].

From [https://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=105303&start=48 Chaski.org, 24 June 2020]:

: I have been working with [[David Bortz]] to try to bring back the [[Superscale Locomotive Company|SuperScale]] product line.

: Regards, [[Howard Gorin]]

== External Links ==

* [https://northgeorgialivesteamers.org/post-news/2020/11/18/superscale Offical website]
[[File:Superscale Business Card.jpg|frameless|border|Super Scale Business Card]]

* [http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=101710&sid=3c9190ee29167286a33dee5538b1a861 "Superscale safety valves", Chaski.org]
* [http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=105303 "Future of Superscale Locomotive", Chaski.org]

<img src="http://free.pagepeeker.com/v2/thumbs.php?size=x&url=superscale.biz%2FSuperscale2%2FIndex.html" />

File:Superscale Business Card.jpg

2022-02-04T07:56:15Z

SteveR:

Business Card Information January 2022

IBLS Track Standard

2021-05-10T17:22:00Z

SteveR: changed chaski.com to chaski.org in 2 places

[[Category:Standards]]

== Gauge ==

[[File:Gauge EN.jpg|thumb|center|300px|Correct way to measure gauge]]

<table border="1">
<tr><td>Scale</td><td>Ratio</td><td>Standard Gauge</td><td>Notes</td></tr>

<tr><td>00</td><td>1:67</td><td>16.5 mm 0.650 inch</td><td>Hornby produced.Generally regarded as the smallest scale for live steam.</td></tr>

<tr><td>O</td><td>1:45</td><td>32 mm 1.260 inch</td><td>Popularly used for the small scale live steam.</td></tr>

<tr><td>No. 1</td><td>1:32</td><td>45 mm 1.772 inch</td><td>Popularly used for the small scale live steam. Corresponds to NEM 1 or NMRA #I.</td></tr>

<tr><td>No. 3 1⁄2 inch</td><td>1:22.6</td><td>63.5 mm 2 1⁄2 inch</td><td>The smallest scale able to pull real passengers. Was one of the first popular live steam gauges, developed in England in the early 1900s. In terms of model railway operation, Gauge '3' is the largest (standard gauge) scenic railway modelling scale, using a scale of 13.5mm to the foot. The Gauge '3' Society represents this aspect of 2½ inch gauge railway modelling with both electric and live steam operation. Gauge '3' corresponds to NEM II scale, also known as 'Spur II' in Germany.
The National 2.5 inch Association continues to support live steam passenger hauling in 2.5 inch gauge using MES Tracks. They use a 'scale' appropriate to the original prototype modelling both standard and narrow gauge locomotives to run on 2.5 inch track.
</td></tr>

<tr><td>3/4 inch</td><td>1:16</td><td>3 1⁄2 inch 89 mm</td><td>A worldwide garden railroad scale. Corresponds to NEM III and NMRA 3/4".</td></tr>

<tr><td>1 inch</td><td>1:12</td><td>4 3⁄4 inch 121 mm</td><td>North America specific scale corresponding to NMRA 1" scale. 1:12 is one of the most popular backyard railway scales.</td></tr>

<tr><td>1 inch</td><td>1:11</td><td>5 inch 127 mm</td><td>Used outside North America. Corresponds to NEM V. One of the most popular garden railway scales.</td></tr>

<tr><td>1.5 inch</td><td>1:8</td><td>7 1⁄4 inch 184 mm</td><td>Used in North-Eastern USA, Canada and the world outside North America. Corresponds to NEM VII.</td></tr>

<tr><td>1.5 inch</td><td>1:8</td><td>7 1⁄2 inch 190.5 mm</td><td>Used in North America outside of New England and Eastern Canada.</td></tr>

<tr><td>1.6 inch</td><td>1:7.5</td><td>7 1⁄4, 7 1⁄2 inch 190.5 mm</td><td>1.6in=1ft. Used in the USA, often finer-scale.</td></tr>

<tr><td>2 inch</td><td>1:6</td><td>7 1⁄4, 7 1⁄2, 9, 10, 12, 14 inch </td><td>Narrow gauge for 7 1⁄4 and 7 1⁄2 inch gauge.</td></tr>

<tr><td>2.5 inch</td><td>1:5</td><td>7 1⁄4, 7 1⁄2, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15 inch </td><td>Narrow gauge for 7 1⁄4 and 7 1⁄2 inch gauge.</td></tr>

<tr><td>3 inch</td><td>1:4</td><td>12, 14, 15 inch </td><td></td></tr>

<tr><td>3.75 inch</td><td>1:3.125</td><td>7 1⁄4, 7 1⁄2 inch </td><td>Narrow gauge for 7 1⁄4 and 7 1⁄2 inch gauge.</td></tr>

<tr><td>4 inch</td><td>1:3</td><td>15, 16 inch </td><td></td></tr>

<tr><td>5 inch</td><td>1:2.4</td><td>15, 16, 18 inch </td><td></td></tr>

<tr><td>6 inch</td><td>1:2</td><td>18 inch </td><td></td></tr>

</table>

Special thanks to Glenn Brooks, who provided information for 2 inch scale and above.

== Rail Gap ==

See [[Rail expansion]].

== Background ==

From http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,2249399

Date: 08/08/10 08:05

Many thanks to Mike ONeill of Parker, CO for providing some general info on Live Steam track gauges. In the United States and Canada, no one could ever come together and "standardize" on what certain scale gauges should really be, which was unfortunate. Some examples: The standard gauges as adopted by the NMRA years ago for the small live steam railroads are--- 2 1/2 inch (1/2" scale); 3 1/2 inch (3/4" scale), and 4 3/4 inch (1" scale)... In the UK and Canada, 5 inch gauge represents 1" scale...

In the Western U.S. the gauge for 1 1/2" scale is 7 1/2 inch gauge. In the Eastern U.S. the gauge for this same scale is 7 1/4 inches. The same in Canada. Neither gauge is truly correct for the scale involved. For the absolute "purist", the gauge for 1 1/2 inch scale works out to 7 1/16 inches.

This is really a shame because Live Steamers in different parts of the country are "restricted" on whose tracks they can visit and run on. Many years ago, one of the older GGLS members in Oakland, CA built an absolute stunning model of a STEAM locomotive as well as a Steeple-cab locomotive that drew power from either Overhead wire or outside 3rd rail (a 'la SN) and a large beautifully constructed wood caboose. His name was [[Louis Lawrence]] and he resided in West Oakland. However. he could ONLY operate his beautiful creations in his own backyard. Why ?? Because for some strange reason he built them with a track gauge of 6 3/8 inches.

The track gauge on Erich Thomsen's "Redwood Valley Railroad" was originally 12 inches before he enlarged it to the current 15 inches.

Anyway, even with early-day intervention by some of the IBLS secretaries, the gauge drama still lingers on. If you are a Live Steam hobbyist, you RUN where you can.

:Cheers.

:KEN SHATTOCK
:Secretary
:North American Region
:International Brotherhood of Live Steamers

== Model Rail Types ==

This is a survey of historic and existing rail form factors and their suppliers. If you have data to contribute to this survey please contact [mailto:daris@nevil.org Daris Nevil].

* [[Buddy-L]] Rail
** For 3/4 inch scale - 5/8 inch high - steel, rolled by Bethlehem Steel Co

* [http://www.cannonballltd.com/rail_cat.html Cannonball Rail]
** For 1-1/2 inch scale - "Standard" - 1 inch high, 7/16 inch wide head, 1/8 inch wide web, 3/4 inch wide foot, length 10 foot, aluminum
** For 1-1/2 inch scale - "West Coast" - 1 inch high, 1/2 inch wide head, 15/16 inch wide foot, length 10 foot, aluminum
<gallery widths=300px heights=300px perrow=2>
File:CannonballLtd StandardRail 2004.JPG|[[Cannonball Ltd]] "Standard" aluminum rail profile, from their 2004 catalog.
File:CannonballLtd WestCoastRail 2004.JPG|[[Cannonball Ltd]] "West Coast" aluminum rail profile, from their 2004 catalog.
</gallery>

* Culp Rail
** Peter Nuskey, a machinist in Pennsylvania, has been offering Culp Rail (a 1/8 scale aluminum model of Pennsylvania Railroad’s 115lb steel rail) for over 40 years, as of 2012.
** 1-1/2 inch scale rail 0.825 inch high – 10 foot lengths – 6061T6 Aluminum
** 3/4 inch scale rail 0.625 inch high – 10 foot lengths
** LGB rail 0.335 inch high – 10 foot lengths
<gallery widths=300px heights=300px perrow=2>
File:CulpRail LiveSteam Feb1981.jpg|Culp Rail advertisement from Live Steam Magazine, February 1981.
</gallery>

* [http://www.friendsmodels.com/productsforsale/rail.html Friends "Yankee Shop" Rail]
** For 3/4 inch scale and 5 inch scale - 5/8 inch high - 10 foot lengths - aluminum

* [[Groovy Track]]
** 1-1/2 inch scale - 1 inch x 3/8 inch [[HRS]] flat
** See also [http://www.discoverlivesteam.com/magazine/168/index.htm "No Weld Groovy Track", DiscoverLiveSteam.com]

* L S Rail
** Aluminum 6063-T5, 1.5 Scale LS Rail, 10 foot lengths

* [http://www.livesteamlocomotives.com/ Live Steam Locomotives]
** 1 inch high by 1/2 inch wide, 15/16 inch foot - aluminum

* [http://www.realtrains.com/files/83950654.pdf Real Trains]
** For 1 inch scale - 0.500 inch high, 0.234 inch wide head, 0.457 inch wide foot - 6061T6 Aluminum
** For 1-1/2 inch scale - 0.891 inch high, 0.369 inch wide head, 0.750 inch wide foot - 6061T6 Aluminum
** For 3" scale - 1.500 inch high, 0.600 inch wide head, 1.200 inch wide foot - 6061T6 Aluminum

* [http://www.rmirailworks.com/ RMI Railworks]
** For 1-1/2 inch scale - 1 inch high - 6061T6 aluminum and steel

* West Coast
** 1 inch high, 1/2 inch wide head, 15/16 inch wide foot

* George Pruitt's "[http://ibls.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Sagebrush_Short_Line_Railroad#Groovy_Rail Groovy Rail]"
** Does not require fasteners

* [[Conical Tool Company]]
** 0.634 high, 5/16 inch wide head, 3/8 inch wide foot

* [[Live Steamer Parts LLC]]
** For 1 inch scale - 5/8 inch tall 5/8 inch foot, with 1/4 inch railhead, 8-1/2 foot lengths

* [[Portable track]]

* Grand Scale Rail
: Glenn Brooks wrote:

:: Regarding rail, over the past 100 years, 8# (8 pound) rail was common during the early 1900’s, but has largely been replaced with 12# rail. Nowadays 6 kg rail (13.2#) is the most prevalent size rail produced by rail suppliers.

== Tie Spacing ==

See Also:
* [[Texas Standard Tie Spacing]]
* [[Charles Field Track Panel Jig]]

== Rail Profiles ==

[[File:Rail Profile ASCE 3.jpg|thumb|center|300px|ASCE Rail Profile for 10020 rail]]

* [http://ibls.org/files/drawings/Rail_Profile_ASCE.dxf ASCE Rail Profile - DXF File]
* [http://ibls.org/files/drawings/Rail_Profile_ASCE.vc3 ASCE Rail Profile - ViaCAD File]

== Supplementary Information ==

* [https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0CqbBKGAtAuVWNlSGtDMGZ0Y0E/edit?usp=sharing Railroad Track Maintenance and Saftey Standards - DOD 2008 (PDF)]
* [https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0CqbBKGAtAuR0xULVZrdEpyOGM/edit?usp=sharing Maintenance of Trackage, DOD 1980 (PDF)]
* [http://www.millcreekcentral.com/TrackStandards/TrackStandards.htm Mill Creek Central RR Track Building & Track Laying Standards]

== Turnouts ==

* [[Turnouts]]
* [http://www.southerncalifornialivesteamers.com/SCLS_Live_Steam_Railroad_Frog_Standards.asp SCLS Frog Standards]
* [http://csme-eprr.com/eprr/track/EPRR-TrackWork.htm Eagle Point RR Track Work]
** [http://csme-eprr.com/eprr/track/2006-EPRR-Turnout-Designs.ppt Turnout Design (PowerPoint)]
* [http://www.calvertcentral.com/CC_9.html Building A Turnout]

== Grades ==

From [[Large-scale Model Railroading]], page 52:

: On curves, there is more resistance or drag to the train. For this reason, grades should be reduced when a curve is involed. Using prototype figures as a guideline, we find that our grades should be reduced as follows:

* 1/2 percent on a 125 foot radius
* 3/4 percent on a 75 foot radius
* 1 percent on a 60 foot radius
* 1-1/4 percent on a 50 foot radius
* 1-1/2 percent on a 40 foot radius

== Elevated Track ==

See [[Elevated Track]].

== Bibliography ==

* "Mini-Rail News - Track Standards", Lewis Soibelman, Live Steam Magazine, Mar 1991

== References ==

* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_%28rail_transport%29 "Track", Wikipedia]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_profile "Rail Profile", Wikipedia]
* [http://www.icrr.net/rails.htm Rail Specifications, American Society of Civil Engineers (A.S.C.E.)]
* [http://www.icrr.net/rails.htm ASCE Rail Information]
* [http://www.grandscales.com/freestuff/Track%20Manual.pdf Swanton Pacific Railroad Track Manual]
* [http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=91413 Chaski.org, thread on 3/4" scale rail]
* [http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=81579 Chaski.org, info on Peter Nuskey]
* [http://www.black5video.com/wordpress/why-build-a-backyard-railroad/ "Mill Brook Railroad", info on Culp Rail/Peter Nuskey]
* [http://www.steamingpriest.com/suppliers/rail/ "Live Steam by Father Finelli", info on Culp Rail and L S Rail]
* [[Mini-Rail Corporation]]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ridable_miniature_railway "Ridable miniature railway", Wikipedia, provides an extensive list of gauges from around the world]
* [http://www.grandscales.com/freestuff/Track%20Manual.pdf Swanton Pacific Railroad Track Manual]
* [http://www.calvertcentral.com/LiveSteam_1.html "Assembling Track Panels", Calvert Centrail RR]
* [http://www.discoverlivesteam.com/discoverforsale/forsale/1_fallon/index.htm Dimensions for 8 and 12 pound rail, DiscoverLiveSteam.com]
* [http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=101053 "Typical rail loading weights", Chaski.org]
* [http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=101029 "Radius of curve", Chaski.org]
* [http://harmersteel.com/catalog/tee-rails/ Specifications and Drawings for rail, 12-lb/yd and up, Harmer Steel Co]
* "Rail Gap Standards", Arthur W. Reiter, [[Modeltec]], January 1994
* [https://www.jghtech.com/assets/applets/LFLSRM-Fundamentals-of-Railway-Curve-Superelevation-current.pdf "Fundamentals of Railway Curve Superelevation", Jeffrey G. Hook, Deerfield & Roundabout RR]
* [http://www.harmersteel.com/tee-rails/12-lb-yd-asce-rail/ Prototype rail drawings and specification, Harmer Steel]
* [https://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104115&p=361213&hilit=tie+track+spacing#p361089 "Typical Tie Spacing 7-1/X Gauge?", Chaski.org]

Freight Trucks

2021-04-19T05:18:30Z

SteveR: updated link in reference 5

[[Category:Construction]]

== Assembly ==

Question: What is the best tool/easiest way to change out springs on our truck sets?

Rick White answers:

: One trick that Tom Bee (the truck maker) does each time he handles springs: place a piece of heavy thread or string through the spring and hold onto it. You do not want the spring to spring away from you or at you. I have seen Tom Bee and others use a large flat bladed screw driver to push down on the spring, then pull out (if removing) or push in (if adding) on the spring with the hand. Always hold onto the string to keep the spring in control. I have some bolsters to replace, so I will be doing this with Tom Bee's strongest springs, the purple ones. Tom Bee can replace the bolster and all the springs in five minutes per truck. I will be lucky to get a truck done in 30 minutes. Looks easy when Tom does it, not really that easy. The force you need with purple springs makes this hard. Practice will make you faster. I have four pair of trucks to do this on, so I should be getting faster, hoping for 20 minutes after doing all 8 trucks. Not hoping for five minutes, I am not strong enough to do it that fast.

== Leaf Springs ==

[http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=96843 Ronald posted on Chaski.org]

: I purchased an unpainted caboose from [[Mountain Car Company|Mountain Car Co]]. When I got to the trucks, I realized they did not quit look right, they were the standard Bettendorf truck that [[Mountain Car Company|MCC]] supplies, I wanted something like Barber-Bettendorf Elliptical Spring Caboose Trucks.

: Should I attempt to replace those coil springs with leaf springs? No, that was way too much work. What I did instead was simulate the look of leaf springs by soldering sheet brass as shown in the photo. They are screwed only to the upper part of the bolster so the coil springs can still work.

: In much of our model work we try to approach the look of the real thing, not the function, and the appearance of these trucks is close enough for me.

<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px>
File:Ronald Caboose Truck Leaf Springs2.jpg
File:Ronald Caboose Truck Leaf Springs1.jpg
</gallery>

[http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=96843 R Williams added]:

: Ronald is not the only one to do the cover up job on some coil springs for a decent looking set of caboose trucks. Attached is a leaf spring modification by a Chicago area builder to a set of Tom Bee coil spring trucks.

<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px>
File:Frank caboose with well compressed coil springs.jpg
</gallery>

See also [[Some Notes on Springs]].

== Truck Brakes ==

How to assemble brakes on modern trucks, by Tom Bee.

<videoflash>Y5av67RqoNM</videoflash>
 

== More Information ==
See also:

: [[1 inch Scale Freight Car Trucks]]
: [[Calculating Axle Maximum Load]]
: [[Some Notes on Springs]]

== References ==

* [http://mrr.trains.com/~/media/import/files/pdf/4/c/c/mr_pi_5-06_freightcartrucks.ashx "Modeler's Guide to Freight Car Trucks; Understanding and choosing trucks and wheelsets.", Jeff Wilson, Model Railroader December 2003, pg 72 (link may be dead)]
* [http://www.nmra.org/member/sites/default/files/datasheets/Rolling/d5a.PDF "Freight and Tender Trucks", NMRA]
* [http://www.stucki.com/literature/Product-Guide-Rev-9.pdf "Product Guide", A. Stucki Company]
* [http://www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com/uploaded/2012-7-0/d4c9aa3e-74db-4042-a100-5301d06ec0a63614%20OT.pdf "AAR 1966 Hopper Car", Ozark Mountain Railcar]
* [https://www.wabtec.com/documents/8899/truck-components-overview "Barber S-2 Stabilized Truck Component Diagram"]
* [https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/ways-of-shipping/equipment/pdf/50ftF_BoxcarDiagram.pdf "BNSF 50ft Boxcar"]
* [http://www.trainweb.org/jlsrr/livesteam/buckeye-trucks/buckeye-trucks-1/buckeye-trucks-1.htm Buckeye Truck Construction]
* [http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=100888&sid=763ae5ba586be9d505ec3c8562ca7fd8 "Maine style trucks", Chaski.org]

Freight Trucks

2021-04-19T05:08:49Z

SteveR: updated link in reference 3

[[Category:Construction]]

== Assembly ==

Question: What is the best tool/easiest way to change out springs on our truck sets?

Rick White answers:

: One trick that Tom Bee (the truck maker) does each time he handles springs: place a piece of heavy thread or string through the spring and hold onto it. You do not want the spring to spring away from you or at you. I have seen Tom Bee and others use a large flat bladed screw driver to push down on the spring, then pull out (if removing) or push in (if adding) on the spring with the hand. Always hold onto the string to keep the spring in control. I have some bolsters to replace, so I will be doing this with Tom Bee's strongest springs, the purple ones. Tom Bee can replace the bolster and all the springs in five minutes per truck. I will be lucky to get a truck done in 30 minutes. Looks easy when Tom does it, not really that easy. The force you need with purple springs makes this hard. Practice will make you faster. I have four pair of trucks to do this on, so I should be getting faster, hoping for 20 minutes after doing all 8 trucks. Not hoping for five minutes, I am not strong enough to do it that fast.

== Leaf Springs ==

[http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=96843 Ronald posted on Chaski.org]

: I purchased an unpainted caboose from [[Mountain Car Company|Mountain Car Co]]. When I got to the trucks, I realized they did not quit look right, they were the standard Bettendorf truck that [[Mountain Car Company|MCC]] supplies, I wanted something like Barber-Bettendorf Elliptical Spring Caboose Trucks.

: Should I attempt to replace those coil springs with leaf springs? No, that was way too much work. What I did instead was simulate the look of leaf springs by soldering sheet brass as shown in the photo. They are screwed only to the upper part of the bolster so the coil springs can still work.

: In much of our model work we try to approach the look of the real thing, not the function, and the appearance of these trucks is close enough for me.

<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px>
File:Ronald Caboose Truck Leaf Springs2.jpg
File:Ronald Caboose Truck Leaf Springs1.jpg
</gallery>

[http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=96843 R Williams added]:

: Ronald is not the only one to do the cover up job on some coil springs for a decent looking set of caboose trucks. Attached is a leaf spring modification by a Chicago area builder to a set of Tom Bee coil spring trucks.

<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px>
File:Frank caboose with well compressed coil springs.jpg
</gallery>

See also [[Some Notes on Springs]].

== Truck Brakes ==

How to assemble brakes on modern trucks, by Tom Bee.

<videoflash>Y5av67RqoNM</videoflash>
 

== More Information ==
See also:

: [[1 inch Scale Freight Car Trucks]]
: [[Calculating Axle Maximum Load]]
: [[Some Notes on Springs]]

== References ==

* [http://mrr.trains.com/~/media/import/files/pdf/4/c/c/mr_pi_5-06_freightcartrucks.ashx "Modeler's Guide to Freight Car Trucks; Understanding and choosing trucks and wheelsets.", Jeff Wilson, Model Railroader December 2003, pg 72 (link may be dead)]
* [http://www.nmra.org/member/sites/default/files/datasheets/Rolling/d5a.PDF "Freight and Tender Trucks", NMRA]
* [http://www.stucki.com/literature/Product-Guide-Rev-9.pdf "Product Guide", A. Stucki Company]
* [http://www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com/uploaded/2012-7-0/d4c9aa3e-74db-4042-a100-5301d06ec0a63614%20OT.pdf "AAR 1966 Hopper Car", Ozark Mountain Railcar]
* [http://www.sctco.com/pdf/sect_1.pdf "Barber S-2 Stabilized Truck Component Diagram"]
* [https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/ways-of-shipping/equipment/pdf/50ftF_BoxcarDiagram.pdf "BNSF 50ft Boxcar"]
* [http://www.trainweb.org/jlsrr/livesteam/buckeye-trucks/buckeye-trucks-1/buckeye-trucks-1.htm Buckeye Truck Construction]
* [http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=100888&sid=763ae5ba586be9d505ec3c8562ca7fd8 "Maine style trucks", Chaski.org]

Freight Trucks

2021-04-19T04:56:01Z

SteveR: updated reference 1

[[Category:Construction]]

== Assembly ==

Question: What is the best tool/easiest way to change out springs on our truck sets?

Rick White answers:

: One trick that Tom Bee (the truck maker) does each time he handles springs: place a piece of heavy thread or string through the spring and hold onto it. You do not want the spring to spring away from you or at you. I have seen Tom Bee and others use a large flat bladed screw driver to push down on the spring, then pull out (if removing) or push in (if adding) on the spring with the hand. Always hold onto the string to keep the spring in control. I have some bolsters to replace, so I will be doing this with Tom Bee's strongest springs, the purple ones. Tom Bee can replace the bolster and all the springs in five minutes per truck. I will be lucky to get a truck done in 30 minutes. Looks easy when Tom does it, not really that easy. The force you need with purple springs makes this hard. Practice will make you faster. I have four pair of trucks to do this on, so I should be getting faster, hoping for 20 minutes after doing all 8 trucks. Not hoping for five minutes, I am not strong enough to do it that fast.

== Leaf Springs ==

[http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=96843 Ronald posted on Chaski.org]

: I purchased an unpainted caboose from [[Mountain Car Company|Mountain Car Co]]. When I got to the trucks, I realized they did not quit look right, they were the standard Bettendorf truck that [[Mountain Car Company|MCC]] supplies, I wanted something like Barber-Bettendorf Elliptical Spring Caboose Trucks.

: Should I attempt to replace those coil springs with leaf springs? No, that was way too much work. What I did instead was simulate the look of leaf springs by soldering sheet brass as shown in the photo. They are screwed only to the upper part of the bolster so the coil springs can still work.

: In much of our model work we try to approach the look of the real thing, not the function, and the appearance of these trucks is close enough for me.

<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px>
File:Ronald Caboose Truck Leaf Springs2.jpg
File:Ronald Caboose Truck Leaf Springs1.jpg
</gallery>

[http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=96843 R Williams added]:

: Ronald is not the only one to do the cover up job on some coil springs for a decent looking set of caboose trucks. Attached is a leaf spring modification by a Chicago area builder to a set of Tom Bee coil spring trucks.

<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px>
File:Frank caboose with well compressed coil springs.jpg
</gallery>

See also [[Some Notes on Springs]].

== Truck Brakes ==

How to assemble brakes on modern trucks, by Tom Bee.

<videoflash>Y5av67RqoNM</videoflash>
 

== More Information ==
See also:

: [[1 inch Scale Freight Car Trucks]]
: [[Calculating Axle Maximum Load]]
: [[Some Notes on Springs]]

== References ==

* [http://mrr.trains.com/~/media/import/files/pdf/4/c/c/mr_pi_5-06_freightcartrucks.ashx "Modeler's Guide to Freight Car Trucks; Understanding and choosing trucks and wheelsets.", Jeff Wilson, Model Railroader December 2003, pg 72 (link may be dead)]
* [http://www.nmra.org/member/sites/default/files/datasheets/Rolling/d5a.PDF "Freight and Tender Trucks", NMRA]
* [http://www.aar.com/mid/pdf/ASCProductGuideRev7.pdf "Product Guide", A. Stucki]
* [http://www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com/uploaded/2012-7-0/d4c9aa3e-74db-4042-a100-5301d06ec0a63614%20OT.pdf "AAR 1966 Hopper Car", Ozark Mountain Railcar]
* [http://www.sctco.com/pdf/sect_1.pdf "Barber S-2 Stabilized Truck Component Diagram"]
* [https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/ways-of-shipping/equipment/pdf/50ftF_BoxcarDiagram.pdf "BNSF 50ft Boxcar"]
* [http://www.trainweb.org/jlsrr/livesteam/buckeye-trucks/buckeye-trucks-1/buckeye-trucks-1.htm Buckeye Truck Construction]
* [http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=100888&sid=763ae5ba586be9d505ec3c8562ca7fd8 "Maine style trucks", Chaski.org]

Freight Trucks

2021-04-19T04:45:03Z

SteveR: updated the broken link to what looked to be closest match

[[Category:Construction]]

== Assembly ==

Question: What is the best tool/easiest way to change out springs on our truck sets?

Rick White answers:

: One trick that Tom Bee (the truck maker) does each time he handles springs: place a piece of heavy thread or string through the spring and hold onto it. You do not want the spring to spring away from you or at you. I have seen Tom Bee and others use a large flat bladed screw driver to push down on the spring, then pull out (if removing) or push in (if adding) on the spring with the hand. Always hold onto the string to keep the spring in control. I have some bolsters to replace, so I will be doing this with Tom Bee's strongest springs, the purple ones. Tom Bee can replace the bolster and all the springs in five minutes per truck. I will be lucky to get a truck done in 30 minutes. Looks easy when Tom does it, not really that easy. The force you need with purple springs makes this hard. Practice will make you faster. I have four pair of trucks to do this on, so I should be getting faster, hoping for 20 minutes after doing all 8 trucks. Not hoping for five minutes, I am not strong enough to do it that fast.

== Leaf Springs ==

[http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=96843 Ronald posted on Chaski.org]

: I purchased an unpainted caboose from [[Mountain Car Company|Mountain Car Co]]. When I got to the trucks, I realized they did not quit look right, they were the standard Bettendorf truck that [[Mountain Car Company|MCC]] supplies, I wanted something like Barber-Bettendorf Elliptical Spring Caboose Trucks.

: Should I attempt to replace those coil springs with leaf springs? No, that was way too much work. What I did instead was simulate the look of leaf springs by soldering sheet brass as shown in the photo. They are screwed only to the upper part of the bolster so the coil springs can still work.

: In much of our model work we try to approach the look of the real thing, not the function, and the appearance of these trucks is close enough for me.

<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px>
File:Ronald Caboose Truck Leaf Springs2.jpg
File:Ronald Caboose Truck Leaf Springs1.jpg
</gallery>

[http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=96843 R Williams added]:

: Ronald is not the only one to do the cover up job on some coil springs for a decent looking set of caboose trucks. Attached is a leaf spring modification by a Chicago area builder to a set of Tom Bee coil spring trucks.

<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px>
File:Frank caboose with well compressed coil springs.jpg
</gallery>

See also [[Some Notes on Springs]].

== Truck Brakes ==

How to assemble brakes on modern trucks, by Tom Bee.

<videoflash>Y5av67RqoNM</videoflash>
 

== More Information ==
See also:

: [[1 inch Scale Freight Car Trucks]]
: [[Calculating Axle Maximum Load]]
: [[Some Notes on Springs]]

== References ==

* [http://mrr.trains.com/~/media/import/files/pdf/4/c/c/mr_pi_5-06_freightcartrucks.ashx "Modeler's Guide to Freight Car Trucks", Jeff Wilson, Model Railroader]
* [http://www.nmra.org/member/sites/default/files/datasheets/Rolling/d5a.PDF "Freight and Tender Trucks", NMRA]
* [http://www.aar.com/mid/pdf/ASCProductGuideRev7.pdf "Product Guide", A. Stucki]
* [http://www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com/uploaded/2012-7-0/d4c9aa3e-74db-4042-a100-5301d06ec0a63614%20OT.pdf "AAR 1966 Hopper Car", Ozark Mountain Railcar]
* [http://www.sctco.com/pdf/sect_1.pdf "Barber S-2 Stabalized Truck Component Diagram"]
* [https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/ways-of-shipping/equipment/pdf/50ftF_BoxcarDiagram.pdf "BNSF 50ft Boxcar"]
* [http://www.trainweb.org/jlsrr/livesteam/buckeye-trucks/buckeye-trucks-1/buckeye-trucks-1.htm Buckeye Truck Construction]
* [http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=100888&sid=763ae5ba586be9d505ec3c8562ca7fd8 "Maine style trucks", Chaski.org]