Will rolling stock equipped with scale wheel sets track well on tubular track or would the trucks need to be replaced?
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It depends on who made the truck assemblies(MTH, Atlas, Lionel or K-Line) and what brand of tubular track; like Lionel 031 style or Gargraves. Your question as is leaves too many unanswered questions, because who made what can throw off the answer.
Lee Fritz
coach joe posted:Will rolling stock equipped with scale wheel sets track well on tubular track or would the trucks need to be replaced?
It may work to some extent but it is likely to be more problematic with sharper curves and switches and longer trains. I used an old 2-rail power truck with near-scale wheels under a Marx loco shell (adapted to 3-rail power) and it has run OK on O27 tubular track and curves, but not on switches.
I'm fairly certain that your use of "tubular" would mean the Lionel, K-Line, etc., variety??
Of course, Gargraves and Ross are 'tubular' in their nature. And I have several cars with scale wheels that track well on my Gargraves/Ross layout. In fact, one of my favorite portions of the O3R hobby is building the old Athearn, All-Nation, Menzies, et al wood/metal kits. Many of those that I pick up at shows have the older version of 'scale' 2R wheels/trucks. They're even better for two reasons: they're much heavier, contributing to a low cg car weight. And, secondly, their flanges are much deeper than today's NMRA standard O2R flange.
However, returning to the Lionel-type tubular of eons and yore....I wouldn't bet on reliable operation of O2R trucks throughout such a layout....too much discrepancy between rail profile and wheel profile.
But that's just MHO.
KD
Thank you gentlemen. I meant Lionel/K-Line type of tubular track. I forgot that Ross and Gargraves were also tubular and the trucks in question are K-line scale. I thought there would be problems.
Scale wheels don't work 100% on any tubular track/switches.
