What commercially-available rolling stock are you equipping with ESM wheels?

[bbussey]

As I posted in an earlier thread — if folks are willing to list the commercially-available ready-to-run rolling stock (freight and passenger) they are equipping with ESM wheels, I will create a reference page on the website to make it easier to choose the proper wheel/axle combination for a model.  Please state the manufacturer, the model name, and the ESM item#.  Discontinued items are fine, but it should be limited to items that were offered ready-to-run in the stores.  Example:

• Atlas Master, 40' PS-1 Boxcar, 920100

Thanks.

[peteski]

• Atlas Master, 40' PS-1 Boxcar, 920100

Thanks.

Bryan, could you also include axle length for easier reference (rather than having to remember what part number is what length)?

[bbussey]

I will on the webpage, but I need the stock number here.

[High Hood]

ExactRail Autoflood II, 920200

[bigdawgks]

Here's what I know works well:

• ESM, Magor/PC&F XIH Boxcar, 920100 (no surprise there probably)
• Micro-Trains, 39' Single Dome Tank Car, 920100
• Micro-Trains, 50' Troop Sleeper, 920100
• Micro-Trains, 52' Riveted Steel Express Reefer, 920100
• Micro-Trains, Heavyweight Pullman Paired Window Coach, 920200
• Micro-Trains, Heavyweight 60' RPO, 920200
• Wheels of Time,  70' Clerestory Steel Baggage & Express Car, 920200

I have also tried the following with mixed results. Some fit fine, but others feel a bit loose:

• InterMountain, 40' 1937 AAR Boxcar, 920100

[thomasjmdavis]

Here's what I know works well:

.....

• Wheels of Time,  70' Clerestory Steel Baggage & Express Car, 920200

I have also tried the following with mixed results. Some fit fine, but others feel a bit loose:

• InterMountain, 40' 1937 AAR Boxcar, 920100

I wonder if WoT has used different axle lengths over the years.  My baggage cars '(from early runs) axles measure .554 (just double checked with caliper), and while I haven't tried ESM axles in them, other .540 axles don't fit well.

On the IMRC boxcars- no surprise that it would be hit or miss.  My old cars' axles measure .549, while newer cars (new run 2020 or 21) that came with IM metal wheels measure about .542-.543.

Not meaning to be argumentative, but there may be variations between production runs for various manufacturers' cars that needs to be taken into account in listings.

[samusi01]

I’ve placed the 36” wheelsets in all my JTC well cars. Part numbers are in the 7720## range.

[bbussey]

I have also tried the following with mixed results. Some fit fine, but others feel a bit loose:

• InterMountain, 40' 1937 AAR Boxcar, 920100

Sidebar — I change the trucks on the InterMountain AAR boxcars to either (Atlas) Barber S-2A or (Atlas/BLMA) ASF A-3, depending on the prototype.  I never was fond of the original trucks that came with the boxcar and reefer kits.  Most of my 1937 AAR boxcars are New Haven, and as with the PS-1 they rode on A-3 trucks.

[bbussey]

I’ve placed the 36” wheelsets in all my JTC well cars. Part numbers are in the 7720## range.

I need to know the item# of the ESM wheels used, not the JTC item# of the well car.  Thx.

[bbussey]

Not meaning to be argumentative, but there may be variations between production runs for various manufacturers' cars that needs to be taken into account in listings.

True, and I will make note of early/late production run variances.

[bigdawgks]

Sidebar — I change the trucks on the InterMountain AAR boxcars to either (Atlas) Barber S-2A or (Atlas/BLMA) ASF A-3, depending on the prototype.  I never was fond of the original trucks that came with the boxcar and reefer kits.  Most of my 1937 AAR boxcars are New Haven, and as with the PS-1 they rode on A-3 trucks.

Counter sidebar - has anyone tried ESM wheels in the BLMA trucks? The metal wheels they come with look nice but I've had issues with them derailing on occasion. The very narrow tread width seems to make them derail more easily.

[samusi01]

I need to know the item# of the ESM wheels used, not the JTC item# of the well car.  Thx.

ESM920200

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Counter sidebar - has anyone tried ESM wheels in the BLMA trucks? The metal wheels they come with look nice but I've had issues with them detailing on occasion. The very narrow tread width seems to make them detail more easily.

It's funny, that's the reason my BLMA gons are in my "torture test track" train that includes my ESMC G32c, Bryan 

[bbussey]

Counter sidebar - has anyone tried ESM wheels in the BLMA trucks? The metal wheels they come with look nice but I've had issues with them derailing on occasion. The very narrow tread width seems to make them derail more easily.

BLMA upgraded their wheels after the initial release for that sole reason - the tolerances of commercially-available turnouts were too loose and the wheels would fall in the gaps.  Later releases of BLMA rolling stock should not have that issue.  The ESM wheels are based on the BLMA design but with tighter specs and the "tire" is slightly thicker to represent a newer wheel with less mileage on it.  Yes, they will fit in BLMA trucks.  But unless a specific piece of BLMA rolling stock is derailing, there's no advantage in swapping in ESM wheels.  I haven't compared "rollability" so I don't know if the ESM wheels generate less friction than the BLMA wheels.  But I've never had a problem with BLMA wheels and still use them.

Note that the first two or three X58 releases were equipped with BLMA 70-ton trucks with BLMA wheels.  I'd have to check records to see when the model was changed to ESM trucks and wheels.  The X65 and X72 always have been equipped with ESM trucks and wheels.  The last XIH run was Trainworx trucks and FVM wheels.  The GSC Well Car to date has been equipped with Barber S-2A trucks (Atlas PS-1 Boxcar) and FVM 28” wheels.

[Sokramiketes]

BLMA upgraded their wheels after the initial release for that sole reason - the tolerances of commercially-available turnouts were too loose and the wheels would fall in the gaps.  Later releases of BLMA rolling stock should not have that issue.  The ESM wheels are based on the BLMA design but with tighter specs and the "tire" is slightly thicker to represent a newer wheel with less mileage on it.  Yes, they will fit in BLMA trucks.  But unless a specific piece of BLMA rolling stock is derailing, there's no advantage in swapping in ESM wheels.  I haven't compared "rollability" so I don't know if the ESM wheels generate less friction than the BLMA wheels.  But I've never had a problem with BLMA wheels and still use them.

Note that the first two or three X58 releases were equipped with BLMA 70-ton trucks with BLMA wheels.  I'd have to check records to see when the model was changed to ESM trucks and wheels.  The X65 and X72 always have been equipped with ESM trucks and wheels.  The last XIH run was Trainworkx trucks and FVM wheels.  The GSC Well Car to date has been equipped with Barber S-2A trucks (Atlas PS-1 Boxcar) and FVM wheels.

The story at the time was they (Robbman) drew up an N scale wheel profile, and the factory ignored it and scaled down the HO scale profile to N.  It looked really good, but no track was Proto:160 standard...  Hence the drop in.  It was only the first batch, and was fixed in subsequent runs as you note.