OSH tread brake trucks for MTL Business Cars - a 3D Print Opportunity

[MRLX1020]

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

My son received the MTL Amtrak business car for Christmas yesterday - and it came to mind while I was inspecting it that Amtrak wouldn't haul it as presented - with bolted pedestal and plain/friction bearing trucks.

I found in my email a series of drawings that I had from the late Columbus Castings, successor to General Steel Castings/Industries for a 9" pedestal triple axle, outside swing hanger tread braked truck.  This is different from the Kato UP truck, and unlike anything currently available aftermarket in N scale.  The prototype can be found under New Haven office cars, grill diners, PVs America, Georgia 300, and the IC/IPH parlor observation cars.

I have the general arrangement - shown here, as well as the truck frame and bolster drawings available in PDF. 

These trucks would be much more appropriate for most of the modernized MTL business cars, as well as some that were just mechanically updated by their respective roads.  I have no CAD or 3D rendering skills myself, but would be happy to provide these drawings to anyone who does.

Thanks for your consideration!

Justin Sobeck
MRLX1020

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[MRLX1020]

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Trucks shown here under L&N Kentucky at KRM - with later Timken AP-D rotating end cap bearings in BX type boxes. 
There would have originally been Timken "Quad" type bearings installed with 36" wheelsets. 

[Mark5]

That L&N photo looks remarkably similar to the Kato GSC Commonwealth 61-RDO trucks (ATSF, UP, etc) - though the RB caps are different:

PIC: http://www.spookshow.net/trucks/katosuperdome.jpg

http://www.spookshow.net/trucks/gsc61rdo.html

I use the Kato trucks under various modernized business cars.

Mark

[MRLX1020]

That L&N photo looks remarkably similar to the Kato GSC Commonwealth 61-RDO trucks (ATSF, UP, etc) - though the RB caps are different:

PIC: http://www.spookshow.net/trucks/katosuperdome.jpg

http://www.spookshow.net/trucks/gsc61rdo.html

I use the Kato trucks under various modernized business cars.

Mark

Those trucks work fine for some business cars, as they are indeed used, but that disc brake conversion is pretty arduous.  The UP trucks are several feet longer because of the wider pedestal openings, 9" versus 15".  I have drawings of the UP trucks as well, and they are beastly.

You are correct about the bearings - Kato did a grease Timken K box on their trucks, and perhaps if anyone picks up this 25900 truck, they can be offered with sealed grease or AP rotating bearing options.

This tread brake truck would be a great addition to the current N scale lineup, either OEM or aftermarket.  I have 3 office cars that would get them ASAP.

Justin

[Ike the BN Freak]

Also, could anyone do roller bearing type truck for the business cars? I honestly have no clue what are under some of the BN business cars, but in a similar boat

[Ike the BN Freak]

That L&N photo looks remarkably similar to the Kato GSC Commonwealth 61-RDO trucks (ATSF, UP, etc) - though the RB caps are different:

I use the Kato trucks under various modernized business cars.

Mark

Were any of these on the MTL cars, or other types? And if MTL, got any photos of the modifications needed, assuming you needed new bolsters.

[Mark5]

No pix right now (sorry) - obviously new bolsters are needed to use the Kato truck as the bolster hole is centered (as opposed to offset on the MTL trucks). MTL could make it easier for us by tooling up some correct trucks. 

When N&W shopped (re-shopped in some cases) their own business cars in the 1950s, many ended up with trucks like this on #300:

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nw/nw-bc300dsa.jpg

#300 is the number MTL did on their N&W release (of course the body is inaccurate), but the Kato truck is much more accurate than the trucks MTL shipped the model with.

http://www.tophobbytrains.com/14400730mtlheavyweightbusinesscarballoonroof-norfolkandwesternroanoke300-nscale.aspx

Those trucks work fine for some business cars, as they are indeed used, but that disc brake conversion is pretty arduous.  The UP trucks are several feet longer because of the wider pedestal openings, 9" versus 15".  I have drawings of the UP trucks as well, and they are beastly.

You are correct about the bearings - Kato did a grease Timken K box on their trucks, and perhaps if anyone picks up this 25900 truck, they can be offered with sealed grease or AP rotating bearing options.

This tread brake truck would be a great addition to the current N scale lineup, either OEM or aftermarket.  I have 3 office cars that would get them ASAP.

Justin

Agreed!

[nickelplate759]

Would the Rapido Trains 6-wheel truck work? You might want to remove the generator (I think that's what it is) detail from the end though.

https://rapidotrains.com/products/n-scale/accessories/n-scale-super-detailed-6-wheel-cast-passenger-trucks

[Ike the BN Freak]

Looks like the GSC truck is closer to what I'd need for my BN cars, but looks like I can either do the Kato route like Mark, or hope for MTL to do one, or someone to do a 3d.

[Ike the BN Freak]

So this is older, but curious if anyone has looked at drawing up a 3D printed version of the GSC truck to use on the modernized MTL cars.

[thomasjmdavis]

Would the Rapido Trains 6-wheel truck work? You might want to remove the generator (I think that's what it is) detail from the end though.

https://rapidotrains.com/products/n-scale/accessories/n-scale-super-detailed-6-wheel-cast-passenger-trucks

Not certain, but I think the thing hanging off the end is a brake cylinder.  It looks like the one that is usually seen mounted on the truck itself on many GSC trucks. Canadian practice? While the package reads "for heavyweight cars", it is based on the 6 wheel trucks used under some of the 1954 vintage CN baggage cars (and thus on the Rapido models of those cars). I have several to use on Monon coaches (which were rebuilt from hospital cars).