Do Metal Wheels, Axles and Couplers = Metal Trucks?

@Mannyrock posted:

Guys,

I am looking at several Lionel single bay ore cars.   One in particular is described as having metal wheels, axles and couplers.  Does this usually imply that that the truck and axle housing unit is also metal?  Or, is there no implication?

Thanks,

Mannyrock

Why not ask the seller that question?

Typically, die cast truck sideframes are indicated by a " die cast trucks and operating couplers" description.

When a seller specifically describes just the wheels axles and couplers there's a good chance the sideframes are plastic.

An item # for the ore car in question would be helpful.

Of course ask the seller, and, as stated above, most say "metal trucks" when such is the case. When there is no mention of it, especially by the manufacturer, plastic should be assumed.

He could have Weaver plastic trucks on which someone has replaced the plastic couplers with Weaver metal couplers, as they are separate and interchangeable. On all other brands with which I am familiar, "metal couplers" implies metal trucks.

Plastic trucks can be fine, of course.

"Wheels"

"Axles"

"Couplers"

"Trucks"

4 different things.

I have to wonder sometimes about your questions...

Mark in Oregon

Yes Strummer my friend I know they are four different things.  My question was whether there was a general rule about the fourth item, the trucks.  (By the way, I just ordered my second Gibson ES 335, the Memphis model.  :-) )

Thanks for the advice from everyone.  The product is only about a $35 Lionel car, and in the pictures, the trucks look plastic, but I was hoping that when the other three items are metal, the trucks are automatically metal too.

Folks who list  several NIB cars on Ebay are often more ignorant than I about O gauge (yes, I know its hard to believe), and retailers who lists lots of cars don't want to take a unit out of the box to answer an isolated question about one car.

There is no mention of die cast, so I guess I'll live with plastic.  :-)

Thanks again,

Mannyrock

Manny,  I have a pile of these (14, I think)... 10 have unique numbering (again, I think).  Lionel describes them on the box as:

Die-Cast  Metal Body, Die-Cast Trucks, Magnetic Coupler and no mention of wheels or axles.   Labeling seems to be somewhat inconsistent across the industry so the rule thumb is that there is no rule of thumb.  These came in at about 35 each... 'including shipping and tax' ...so around 25 each.  That's dollar cost averaged over 3 separate purchases.  They are quite heavy and never seem to derail.

"Do Metal Wheels, Axles and Couplers = Metal Trucks?" to me, no.

Some other options - a) search for the same car (on fleabay) that may have better pictures [my go to] b) try to find the original catalog or web page and see what is says.  MTH is great for details. Weaver, you just don't know, they sold cars without trucks, and I have converted Weaver cars with with plastic side frame trucks to metal side frame trucks. Lionel is all over the place. Can't speak for Altas, K-Line you can use that legacy site but I don't recall if they go into that much detail.

"Do Metal Wheels, Axles and Couplers = Metal Trucks?"

No.