A collection of stupid questions...
- Thread starter jbartus
- Start date
Using standard American terminology, rim and tread would be two different aspects of a railroad wheel. See pic below, which I referenced earlier.
narrowgauge
92 year oldTrainz veteran
Nobody has said anything about building a steam engine.
Peter
Peter
This is getting convoluted because:
(a) terminology varies from country to country, and;
(b) technology has changed how a railway wheel is made.
Irrespective of either of those issues, the nominal size of a wheel be it passenger or freight (or steam driving wheel for that matter!) is across the running surface on the front (outer) face of the wheel. Irrespective of age or terminology the nominal diameter of the wheel allows for a fair bit of wear...
(a) terminology varies from country to country, and;
(b) technology has changed how a railway wheel is made.
Irrespective of either of those issues, the nominal size of a wheel be it passenger or freight (or steam driving wheel for that matter!) is across the running surface on the front (outer) face of the wheel. Irrespective of age or terminology the nominal diameter of the wheel allows for a fair bit of wear...
jjanmarine3
Active member
Dermmy has mentioned valid points in a & b.
There is more to wheels , axles and tires than one would think. From what I remember : The flange angle is not allowed to wear less than 15 degrees, and radius of the flange not less than 1/4 inch then the danger exists that the flange can climb on top of the switch blade or cut in between the switch blades.The there is thin flange limits ,high flange limits and hollow wear limits, as well as rail crown and other rail wear limits . I have seen that flanges run on the fish plates either because the crown of the rail has worn or the tires have worn beyond limits.
The gibson ring locks the tire in place on the wheel . I have seen many loose tires flopping around on wheels either from having cracked or the gibson ring came loose.The wheels are pressed onto the axles and they also come loose sometimes from overheating caused by brakes that are set too tight etc. Wheels do crack right through too, from where the flange fits on to the wheel to the axle.( Very important job those wheeltappers with their hammers )
There are also limits to difference in distances between wheels on the same bogeys and axles and to the next bogey on the same truck measured crossways and long ways and all ways...
I am not sure about the latest technology regarding wheel manufacture and specs , been out of it too long I think.
There is more to wheels , axles and tires than one would think. From what I remember : The flange angle is not allowed to wear less than 15 degrees, and radius of the flange not less than 1/4 inch then the danger exists that the flange can climb on top of the switch blade or cut in between the switch blades.The there is thin flange limits ,high flange limits and hollow wear limits, as well as rail crown and other rail wear limits . I have seen that flanges run on the fish plates either because the crown of the rail has worn or the tires have worn beyond limits.
The gibson ring locks the tire in place on the wheel . I have seen many loose tires flopping around on wheels either from having cracked or the gibson ring came loose.The wheels are pressed onto the axles and they also come loose sometimes from overheating caused by brakes that are set too tight etc. Wheels do crack right through too, from where the flange fits on to the wheel to the axle.( Very important job those wheeltappers with their hammers )
There are also limits to difference in distances between wheels on the same bogeys and axles and to the next bogey on the same truck measured crossways and long ways and all ways...
I am not sure about the latest technology regarding wheel manufacture and specs , been out of it too long I think.
Illustration (below) showing standard American naming convention from White's The American Railroad Passenger Car, Vol. 2. Click to view enlarged.[TABLE="width: 1186"]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Link goes to an error page.
Thank you!
narrowgauge
92 year oldTrainz veteran
Note where it says "Tape Line. The diameter is measured there. You measure the circumference and calculate the diameter. I spent my apprenticeship in a firm who made very large hydraulic presses and the rams (upto to 5 feet dia) were measured with a tape. Nobody made a micrometer that big in those days. Notice the 'Gage Point', this illustrates the size of the radius on the inside of the rail. Interesting stuff.
Seems I was right about the 5.5" width of the wheel tread and flange.
Peter
Seems I was right about the 5.5" width of the wheel tread and flange.
Peter
Yeah I found that at one point last night its great but didn't help me with the 36 inches bit
As far as the link goes, new one definitely works, perhaps the old one is in a private album somewhere?
Awesome, so that gives me what I need then.
We need a karma system on this forum so I can thank you guys for helping clear that up.