Ever have this happen?

I guess it must be extremely uncommon since nobody has said anything.

Bob,

How thick is that?

I've had wheels on freight cars that had some flaking of material, plus a few that looked like they were chewed up around the flange, but nothing like this.  Of course I'm still 3-rail but that shouldn't make any difference.

How hard was it to peel the rest away?

What engine (GP9, F3, etc) was it and what radius curves do you have?

Does the truck now sit uneven, is it making good contact on all wheels?

I'm assuming that's the flange of the wheel? I have never seen that happen before. Does the engine have a lot of run time? What type of track do you use?

 No, I haven't. I only have two or three Atlas engines and they look fine. None of my others have that problem. First time I've seen that. Metals do go bad when it's a bad run so others must have been made. Unless the wheel was pushed on too far or run dry so that it over heated???

I knew someone would have some input on this.

Bob, it’s an RS-1 Road Switcher. The material is almost foil like, a couple thousandths perhaps. What was not already peeling off came free with a gentle tug using tweezers. My curves are 50” radius as a rule, and number 5 and 6 turnouts. This material came off the side wall so it never impacted how the truck sits on the rail and once removed runs fine again.

Joe, no it’s definitely not flange as noted above. It came off the edge of the wheel almost as if it were the “Whitewall” of the wheel if that gives a better visual sense. This engine has perhaps 5-6 hours run time…essentially new although it has been some time since Atlas released these as I recall.

Again note the surface affected definitely doesn’t contact the rail unless during a derailment…and I have very few of those. My track is Micro-Engineering code 125.

I really do not know how this may have happened.

Thanks

Bob

Bob,

Though not Atlas, I've had numerous plated wheelesets lose some amount of their tread plating, usually caused by just running a train. Once when painting wheelsets the plating came off with the tape I put on the tread.

I'd just rather builders left it off altogether.

Chris, try using a garden hose washer on the tread when painting.  They come in a few different sizes. 

Commercial pressure washer service shops should have 3/4" i.d. washers in addition to the 5/8" + 1/2" everybody else has.   Commercial units require a full 3/4" supply line.

True i.d. of any size hose washer will vary.  Check for fit.

If the side frame is in the way snip the washer and mount it like a "E" clip.

Tom,

Buzz told me that trick a while ago, which was before the peeling plating incident. Thanks!

However my peeling was not on the thread surface which would have be more understandable.

It was surely an uncommon defect.  The wheel was dirty when plated, or left in the tank too long, or something.

I agree with PRR - a good steel wheel beats a plated wheel hands- down.  They have to plate them so they make the trip over the big pond without corroding.  Once you wear off the plating on the tread, assuming steel wheels, you will get better traction.