09-25-2021, 12:45 AM
(09-24-2021, 11:09 PM)cnrglen Wrote: ...The truck that it came with were heavy duty (possibly 100 ton?) Trucks but with roller bearings. With my layout set in the late fifties, would Friction bearing be more appropriate? Or should I use either of these Trucks:
Well Glen, archbar trucks were banned from interchange after July 1, 1940. On the other hand, Timken introduced the first roller bearing trucks for freight cars on a Wheeling & Lake Erie boxcar, in 1923.
A not-too-quick search showed what I think is an early roller bearing truck, but it's not identified at all, and I can't copy the photo. Whereas a solid-bearing truck has flip-up covers to allow for periodic lubrication, this one has round, bolted-on covers instead, which don't look like they rotate like current-day ones do...they're simply covers to keep out dirt and moisture, and with no need for the frequent maintenance of solid bearings.
Were it my flatcar, I'd put a pair of Dalman 2-level trucks (Tahoe Model Works) under that car and call it good-enough, although it's very likely that those roller bearing trucks which were on the car could have been available in the '50s, especially for cars in special service.
Wayne