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5' wheelbase Andrews trucks in HO? Locos and rolling stock
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Prolific poster 3,069 posts DKRickman Prolific poster 3,069 posts
DKRickman

Before i start digging through my scrap bin and carrying a ruler around the hobby shop, I'm hoping maybe somebody can point me in the right direction.

I need some Andrews tender trucks with a 5' wheelbase.  Actually, all I need are the side frames, as they're going on a loco that already has wheels (tender drive).  Yes, I know it's short.  They should be 5'6, but I cannot easily change the mechanism so I want a compromise.

My first thought is that some of the old toy train trucks look awfully short, so maybe they're 5'.  I think I can convert pretty much any friction bearing freight car truck into something resembling an Andrews without too much work, but I need the truck to start with.

Worst case scenario, I'll have to scratch build some side frames.  I wonder if anybody makes journals or journal lids in styrene...

Ken Rickman

Danville & Western HO modeler and web historian

http://southern-railway.railfan.net/dw/
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dfandrews Prolific poster 1,037 posts
dfandrews

Old stuff

Ken,

I just read your post, went across the room, and measured some old Athearn and Roundhouse Bettendorf trucks:  the Athearn styrene boxcar has 5'-6" trucks, the Athearn metal flat has 5' trucks, and the Roundhouse (MDC) metal caboose has 5' trucks.  I think I have some Andrews trucks somewhere, so I'll look.

Edit:  Found 'em:   Tichy trucks - Andrews 5'-6" wheelbase

http://www.tichytraingroup.com/index.php?page=view_product.php&id=230&category=Freight+Car+Parts

 

Don - CEO, MOW super.

Rincon Pacific Railroad, 1960.  - Admin.offices in Ventura County

HO scale std. gauge - interchanges with SP; serves the regional agriculture and oil industries

DCC-NCE, Rasp PI 3 connected to CMRI, JMRI -  ABS searchlight signals
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Eric Hansmann Eric H. MRH Contrib. Editor 901 posts
Eric Hansmann Eric H.

Hmmm....

I'm unaware of a prototype 5-foot wheelbase Andrews type of freight car truck, which minimizes the possibility that a model has been produced. 

How about a 5-foot wheelbase arch bar truck? These were more common and some freight cars ran on these into the 1930s. Additionally, it is more common for many older locomotives to have arch bar trucks installed on the tenders. Tahoe Model Works produces a very nice 5-foot wheelbase arch bar truck. I just picked up a few pair for some ventilated box cars that need to move from boxes to layout ready. Here's a listing of the Tahoe products with images of each product.

http://www.sunshinekits.com/tahoe.html

I hope this helps!

Eric

 

 

 

Eric Hansmann
Contributing Editor, Model Railroad Hobbyist

Follow along with my railroad modeling:
http://designbuildop.hansmanns.org/
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