Larry,
All modern, large diameter wheels have smooth backs. In the world of model
wheel sets I'm quite sure passenger car wheels will work just fine so long as
they're not ribbed.
33" wheels were the standard dia. for decades and are still found in service
today.
If you have ever noticed the stenciling on car ends you may see 1W or MW listed
along with the number and rate of truck springs, the style and type of draft
gear and coupler and the type and style of side bearings. 1W stands for 1 wear
and MW for Multiple wear wheels. 1W wheels are scrapped when tread thickness
reaches the FRA limit. MW wheels may be turned on a wheel lathe and continued
in service for an additional period of time.
Karl
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----- Original Message -----
From: LARRY L. DOUB
To: BRHSlist@egroups.com
Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2000 10:01 AM
Subject: Re: [BRHSlist] Wheel size on Hoppers
Thanks John & Karl,
Glad I found this out, never knew the 100 ton hoppers had 36'' wheels.
The 34' hoppers have 33'' wheels right.
I was thinking about changing my cars to metal wheels.
Glad I waited to do this.
But, are these the same 36'' wheels as the passenger cars have?
And how does one know if the cars had ribbed or smooth backs, were they used by
any Road or did certain roads use different one's?
Larry
----- Original Message -----
From: Karl L Rethwisch
To: BRHSlist@egroups.com
Sent: Sunday, 29 October, 2000 10:44 AM
Subject: Re: [BRHSlist] Wheel size on Hoppers
It became standard for high capacity cars, such as grain and coal, to be
equipped with 36" wheels. The 36" has given way to 38" in recent times. The
larger wheel was seen as a "fix" to the shelling problem which currently
represents the single biggest cost of car repair.
When one considers the work that a wheel must do it is easy to understand the
high cost of doing business. Besides "merely" supporting the weight of the car
it must guide the car and, at the same time, absorb the mechanical shocks
associated with operation over tracks of widely varying quality. Vertical and
lateral moments create high levels of energy transfer within the wheel. So much
for support and guidance. Also listed among the duties of a wheel is the one
related to STOPPING the vehicle. As much as 40 horsepower worth of braking
energy may be applied to each wheel on a car. The by-product of this energy is,
of course, heat, LOTS of heat. The greater the "length" of the wheel tread
(increased wheel diameter) the more area is provided for dissipating the
braking heat which is generated every time the automatic air brakes are used by
the Engineer.
Also of potential interest to "wheel fans" is the CURVED PLATE wheel design
introduced many years ago. The "PLATE" is that part of the wheel extending from
the hub to the tread. In early designs it was "straight" and resisted lateral
deflection. This resistance resulted in a substantial number of plate failures
which lead directly to complete wheel failures. I believe we all understand the
ramifications of a wheel failure. The "CURVED PLATE" allows a certain degree of
flexibility during high stress moments of the wheel in both lateral and
perpendicular (to the axle) planes and, thereby, drastically reduces plate
failures. Use 36" wheels under all of your high cap. bulk commodity cars.
Does this help John?
Karl
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----- Original Message -----
From: JOHN J. OLSON & DEBBIE NIESS
To: BRHS
Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2000 8:44 AM
Subject: [BRHSlist] Wheel size on Hoppers
BRHS Members,
I have a stupid question that I have been trying to find an answer for.
Did the CB&Q 100 Ton Quad Hoppers, like the ones Walthers made in a single &
6 pack, ride on 36" wheels or 33". I have looked at photos in the Morning
Sun Color Guide to Frt & Pass Equip and can't tell for sure although they
look like 36". I know 36" wheels are the rule for most 100 Ton coal and
grain cars but was that the rule back in the 60's as well? I just want to be
sure. The 'Burlington Bulletin' on Hoppers doesn't say- or I just overlooked
it. Thanks,
John Olson
Jim's Junction
Billings, Mt.
<http://www.jimsjunction.com>
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