Molded plastic T section "BETTENDORF" freight car trucks NOT having wire springs
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Max Robin
Hi folks:
As an ardent modeler of the NYC freight equipment in service from the mid-teens thru the late 1950s, I am actively seeking a significant volume of high quality T section “BETTENDORF” 4 wheel freight car trucks. The NYC was an extremely large purchaser of this style of trucks, especially for use on hopper cars and other high volume mineral hauling cars. If you don’t know of any plastic ones, I’ll gladly take high quality brass trucks (preferably unequalized and equipped with Code 88 wheels sets).
Thanks for any help or pointers.
Max email: m_robin@... smail Cheat River Engineering Inc. Max S. Robin, P.E. P. O. Box 289 Denville, NJ 07834 voice: 973-945-5007 (8:00am – 10:00pm M-F), (11:00am – 11:00pm WE & HOL. ) |
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Richard Hendrickson
On Feb 14, 2014, at 9:22 PM, Max S. Robin <m_robin@...> wrote:
Hi, Max. The best T-section trucks in HO, in my opinion, are Red Caboose. These were developed for their PFE refrigerator car kits, which Intermountain continues to produce and catalog, so you might well be able to get them directly from IM, and they will probably supply them with their code 88 wheel sets (or as frames only so you can supply your own wheel sets - I have good results using NWSL code 88 wheel sets in RC trucks). Their parts people are generally helpful, so it’s worth a phone call to see what they may be able to do for you. Richard Hendrickson |
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Richard Townsend
I agree with Richard about the Red Caboose trucks, but you might want to know that Walthers makes them in plastic, too. Kadee makes them in metal with their unfortunate real springs.
Richard Townsend
Lincoln City, Oregon |
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riverman_vt@...
Hi Max, As I'm sure you are aware, the Rutland having been at one time and NYC Subsidiary it, too, used many Bettendorf T-section trucks, particularly under its 35 ft. and 40 ft. double sheathed boxcars. Thus my interest in these trucks. For some time the Walthers trucks were the only game in town but I have long since changed to the Kadee ones and find them very satisfactory even if mot of a style exactly like the prototype you seek.
Cordially, Don Valentine |
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Mark Drake <markstation01@...>
Walthers makes them too, item #1011 unfortunately non-stock right now Mark L. Drake eBay ID member1108 On Saturday, February 15, 2014 1:22 AM, "richtownsend@..." wrote: I agree with Richard about the Red Caboose trucks, but you might want to know that Walthers makes them in plastic, too. Kadee makes them in metal with their unfortunate real springs.
Richard Townsend
Lincoln City, Oregon |
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riverman_vt@...
Hello Richard, Your comment prompts a question. What is so "unfortunate" about real springs in Kadee trucks? I might like to see them with a few more coils in the smae height but have experienced no problems with them in years of use.
Cordially, Don Valentine |
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Benjamin Hom
Don Valentine wrote:
"What is so "unfortunate" about real springs in Kadee trucks? I might like to see them with a few more coils in the same height but have experienced no problems with them in years of use." I'll answer for Richard: the appearance. Compared to the real thing, way too much open space with springs that are too dinky compared to the real thing. I'm also not convinced that sprung trucks buy you anything operationally, especially if your track is up to snuff. YMMV, of course. Ben Hom |
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Tony Thompson
Kadee is now introducing molded plastic sideframes for all their trucks, so you are no longer stuck with the silly "working" springs. Might be best to buy direct, since many hobby shops don't seem to try very hard to keep up with new products which are like the old products. Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA 2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com (510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, tony@... Publishers of books on railroad history |
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Richard Townsend
Unfortunately Kadee has not yet done the T-section trucks in plastic, except for the leaf spring caboose truck version. I am patiently awaiting them.
Richard Townsend
Lincoln City, Oregon -----Original Message----- From: Tony Thompson To: STMFC Sent: Sat, Feb 15, 2014 8:36 am Subject: Re: [STMFC] Molded plastic T section "BETTENDORF" freight car trucks NOT having wire springs
Kadee is now introducing molded plastic sideframes for all their trucks, so you are no longer stuck with the silly "working" springs. Might be best to buy direct, since many hobby shops don't seem to try very hard to keep up with new products which are like the old products.
Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA
2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com
(510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, tony@...
Publishers of books on railroad history
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Ed Sommer
I asked Sam the answer man at Kadee, probably upwords of a year ago, if or when Kadee would be doing the T-section trucks in the new plastic sideframe line. His answer then was that they had no plans to do those trucks in the plastic line.
As someone else stated the Walthers truck is not available and hasn't been in a long time.
I then emailed Bill McClung at Red Caboose to see if he would be willing to sell me his T-secion trucks (sans wheelsets). He would and did. So I suggest anyone else looking for these trucks might try Red Caboose.
Ed Sommer
San Jose, CA
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Charles Tapper
I bought a whole "bag o'T section" truck parts--a bulk pack, sans wheelsets-- back when Red Caboose first started marketing HO kits. Plastic, no springs. FWIW, Charlie Tapper On Saturday, February 15, 2014 1:03 PM, Edward Sommer wrote: I asked Sam the answer man at Kadee, probably upwords of a year ago, if or when Kadee would be doing the T-section trucks in the new plastic sideframe line. His answer then was that they had no plans to do those trucks in the plastic line.
As someone else stated the Walthers truck is not available and hasn't been in a long time.
I then emailed Bill McClung at Red Caboose to see if he would be willing to sell me his T-secion trucks (sans wheelsets). He would and did. So I suggest anyone else looking for these trucks might try Red Caboose.
Ed Sommer
San Jose, CA
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Tony Thompson
Just be aware that this is how Sam answers ALL questions about the future of ANY Kadee product. I would regard it as only meaning "not right away." Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA 2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com (510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, tony@... Publishers of books on railroad history |
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robertb@smartchat.net.au
Ed,
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Were these trucks one piece or still the three piece snap together type. Robert Bogie On 16/02/2014 6:03 AM, Edward Sommer
wrote:
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Tony Thompson
I agree with Richard Hendrickson's opinion that the Red Caboose T-section truck is terrific looking, but if you operate them, that opinion will fall fast. They simply do not perform well, getting out of tram easily and other defects. I have replaced all the ones I got with the Red Caboose stock cars (partly because Vulcan trucks were far more common on SP stock cars than any T-section replacement trucks) but also just so the cars could run on the layout. I have been told that RC contemplated a better version of this truck, but don't know if that ever happened before the InterMountain takeover.
Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA 2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com (510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, tony@... Publishers of books on railroad history |
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Andy Carlson
Jimmi Booth, the toolmaker who cut the tool for the SP 52 flat car formerly offered by Red Caboose, has a technique useful for any of the 3-piece RC trucks. Jimmi takes a hot soldering iron and over a flat service (such as glass) hold the assembled truck upside down and bearing equally at 4 points on the glass (This assures the correct geometry) and fuse the bolster end to each sideframe. The resultant fused truck accepts wheelsets well, and will track as good as other one-piece trucks. You might use "The Tool" from ReBox to provide better rolling properties. On another note: There has been no takeover of Red Caboose by Intermountain. Bill, faced with changing economics, entered into an agreement with Intermountain in that all future assembled products would be built under the control of Intermountain. Marketing also is handled by Intermountain, as well. Bill has even gone to work for Intermountain, and after a year he was accepted into a Vice Presidency position (Of Sales). Kits are still the providence of Bill's Red Caboose. He wears both of his hats very well. -Andy Carlson Ojai CA
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Richard Hendrickson
On Feb 15, 2014, at 7:19 PM, Tony Thompson <tony@...> wrote:
All true, but it’s a simple matter to assemble the RC trucks, make sure they are aligned exactly right, and CA the side frames to the bolsters. The side frames will still be flexible enough to permit changing wheel sets, and - with wheel sets having the proper axle length - will then track just fine. Loctite 770 primer improves CA’s bond to Delrin, if that’s a concern, and it’s available at well stocked hardware stores. Richard Hendrickson |
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Tony Thompson
Richard Hendrickson wrote:
I'm glad that worked for you. I tried the same idea, but my CA job did not hold adequately (I used a different primer -- could be my problem), and the trucks are now long gone. Can't say I miss them. Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA 2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com (510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, tony@... Publishers of books on railroad history |
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Ed Sommer
Robert, they are still the 3 piece trucks.
Ed Sommer
San Jose, CA
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Ed Sommer
I believe that when Intermountain does RTR Red Caboose PFE reefers, they are putting Accurail "Bettendorf" trucks under them. At least that is the case with cars I have bought.
Ed Sommer
San Jose, CA
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