HD 3 axle RB trucks?

Decent tricks that don't cost too much are the missing link in O scale 3r or 2r IMHO. Coming from HO where about every truck is made and available for under $10 die cast frame metal wheels.....VERY nice. I just bought some Kadee trucks for $4 a PAIR and they are fantastic. (for On30)

I'd build more from scratch if trucks were easier to come by at a lower cost.

If you find them...let us know!

Joe,

most of the prototype photos show either 3 axle Buckeye trucks, or 2 axle 100 ton ACF trucks, all with roller bearings.

so acquiring a set of buckeye trucks should do the trick. many tenders had them so finding a used set should not be difficult.

For what it's worth, there were/are different sizes of Buckeye three axle trucks, i.e. those designed for locomotive tenders, and those designed for heavy duty flat cars. I recall PSC used to list/carry both sizes, in either roller bearing or plain bearing styles.

PSC has kits.  Last ones I bought were $23 - a true bargain for what they were.  No wheelsets.  They have Commonwealth and about three flavors of Buckeye.  The roller bearing set went under a Greenbrier tender, replacing some shorty sand castings.  Easy to assemble.

$23 would be a reasonable price IF it had wheel sets.  I am not overly familiar about 2 rail.....but metal wheels alone in 3r are tough to find....at least for me. You end up buying another set of truck to get wheels....then you are back where you started!!! 

Man, that must have been a LONG time ago. The pair of PSC 3 axle, plain bearing, trucks I purchased last year, included wheel sets, but was about $60, if I remember correctly. I'm pretty sure all the various 3 axle truck kits from PSC now include wheel sets, according to their catalogue listings.

Are you familiar with Northwest Short Line? They have pretty much the best METAL wheel/axle sets on the market, both 2-Rail and 3-Rail.

I had forgotten about the various sizes of Buckeyes, thanks for the clarification Jack.

 I was looking at my tenders and they had outside brake shoes. On the DODX pictures, their trucks did not. Most tenders don't have RBs I believe?

Not true. THAT depends on the railroad. For example, SP locomotives did not have roller bearings (except for the only 2 GS-5 Daylights), while many other railroads did indeed have roller bearings on all axles, i.e locomotive AND tender.

PSC makes four different Buckeye truck styles (that I know of) of different wheel bases, journals and wheel size.  PST 9061 is roller bearing with 36 inch wheels and 10 foot wheel base.  They were $33.50 for a kit...don't know today's pricing.

Allan

Thank you for that number. Only trouble now is, I can't find it! At least, I can keep looking.

http://www.precisionscaleco.com/

here's an older one:

http://brasstrains.com/Classic...ille-Well-Flat-80996

Wheelsets are no longer cheap.  I believe six axles new will be around $25.  I also believe that NWSL has made Hi-Rail wheelsets, and would make more if there were a market.  Everything is more expensive - but $60 with wheelsets for the trucks I bought is about right.  If they were selling by the thousands, they would be half that price.

Joe;

Give PSC a call...406 642 3901 (Mon - Thur).

Allan

Thanks Allan. I sent them an email. I found the trucks. I was trying to add some mu hoses and there's no way to do it on their site?

 I will call if they don't respond in the morning.

 I have a couple of their catalogs. Only trucks in the one I have are the DD40's and the PA's.

Their site is lacking in being able to order specific items.

PRR Man,

Tell me are you really John Galt as I am reading "Atlas Shrugged" for the 3rd time.

Dick

You need the steam catalog.

Dick,

any of us, who stand on their own worth and not on the effort of others, who use their skill sets to produce and are not takers or looters, can be that man.

I just happen to subscribe to that canon.

Not me - everything I am/have is because of others, back for centuries, but including my educators and friends who pointed the way.  One needs to read "Anthem" critically to understand this rather obscure philosophy.

One could create masters and have his own Buckeye trucks cast, but the difficult work has already been done.  The "Heavy" Buckeyes are unsprung Kemtron castings, and. Are acutally shorter than the standard Buckeyes.

Even Isaac Newton recognized his indebtedness to the efforts of others when he wrote "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."