Atlas Wheelset Replacments for trucks with spinning bearing caps

Hi Matt, NWSL/Oso Railworks has exactly what you're looking for, if you don't mind a kinda' lengthy wait. They are a small company and process orders as fast as they can. I find a phone call to Lynda Rygmar the best way to order. Bill. 

Matt, try jds trains,  it says on his website that he has nwsl wheelsets for atlas, and lionel spinners, for around 16 bucks a set I think.  Good deal, if you get them from nwsl, I believe they are about 25 bucks a set.

paul

Thanks for the tips. Off hand, do you know whether the Atlas wheels are Code 172 or Code 145?

Forgive my ignorance, but what is wrong with spinning bearing caps that some of my cars's wheelsets have?  I've been away from the hobby for about 17 years due to illness and I'm back trying to catch up with some things, actually a lot of things that have changed.  Thanks.

Bill Berresford

Matt, I think the 172 tread is more forgiving of track work. I bought the 145 and had to fix some spots on the layout where the track had dips.

 I believe the stock Atlas, MTH, and others use the 172. Use the 145 if you want more prototypical thinner, smaller rimmed looks. I will need to buy another large pkg of them myself.

 I'm guessing that Matt is changing out the 3 rail stock wheels to 2 rail the cars. I myself, prefer the spinning caps.

That's exactly what's going on. I have several Atlas grain hoppers and five Berwick Excess height cars that I'm switching over to scale wheels and Kadee couplers. Most of them have spinning bearing caps. The complication centers around 12 Santa Fe grain hoppers and I didn't want to deal with replacing the trucks, disassembling them, having to re-paint all of the parts individually, then re-assembling them. I figure replacing the wheelsets saves me the painting hassle.

I'm going to go with the code 172 wheel size as it's more forgiving and works better in my current situation.

 They gave me a good price for a bulk of 100 axles last time. I ended up selling some off here on the forum. I wish I hadn't because I ended up needing more.

 Let me know if you need help making up an order for 100!

Thanks for the answer. I actually never thought of scale wheelsets. I guess in my universe only O scale & three-rail exist. I really do appreciate the fine work ethic true scale modelers have, not that we 3-rail train enthusiasts lack scale precision! (I wonder if I have opened a can of worms with these comments?)

Bill Berresford

Matt, at the 2012 O Scale National Convention Atlas O passed out freebee samples of 2 rail trucks with the spinners and at that point expected to have them in production and generally available by now.  But, with all the problems in the far east they may not be in production yet. 

The are listed as #7065 2R 70 Ton Roller Bearing Trucks.  The package touts "New! 2-Rail Scale Truck Assembly. And 2012 O Scale National Convention Parsippany NJ. Compliments of Atlas O."  So you won't think I'm hallucinating.

The package lists 5 other types in the 706X series.  All with narrower, closer to scale width sideframes.  I was able to find a dozen or so sets of Barber Bettendorf and Andrews trucks before production ceased.  Evidently they had a small production run of about four varieties berfore production stopped.  They look great on my 3 rail to 2 rail converted PFE reefer block behind a set of Atlas O F3 Black Widows also converted from 3 rail TMCC to 2 rail DCC. 

100 axles is 25 cars. Hadn't thought of it in those terms, but I think I'm pretty close to that now. I'll do an exact car count and let you know how many I need to reach 100 axles.

Hi Matt, Thanks for the response

Yes, I'm doing it selectively one consist at a time and am in no big hurry as I still run on the club 3 rail layout and have decided to circle back an install an upper level parade loop with MTH ScaleTrax, 60 inch radius and no turnouts so I can run trains under TMCC and DCS with 3 rail engines or flip a switch and run DCC with 2 rail engines and cars.  Who says we can't have it all. 

For my non-Atlas O freight cars (all steam era) with the correct axle length and pointed ends I'm buying the Intermountain wheelsets, too.  Best deal going.

 It's the Atlas conversions that cost the big bucks. If you find a way around it -- I'm all ears.  Like it'd be great to get under 10 bucks.. 

As you probably know NWSL sells unassembled wheelset components which save some bucks and according to their website result in faster shipping since they don't have to assemble the wheelsets.  I have their pullers and a Sensi Press. So, I can do this.  But, so many opportunities.  So little time.  And they're still expensive.

Rgds