I've been looking at MTH Premiere engines and many of the locomotives are offered with Hi-Rail Wheels or Scale Wheels. Scale is usually $20 higher in price.
What is the difference?
George (G3)
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Hi-rail wheels have larger-than-life size flanges just like all traditional and most three-rail locos like Legacy, etc., so they really hang on to rails. Without these they haven't a chance of going around O-72, 54, 36 inch curves, etc.
Scale wheels have, well, scale size flanges. They are more accurate to the prototype but they won't run well on most layouts. These locos (and its offered on running stock too) will de-rail on Fastrack, etc. curves. Usually they run on on radius 54 to 72, not diameter 54 to 72, curves - i.e., O-108 and wider. r
Also note that the Scale Wheel models are setup for 2-rail by default (i.e. no center rail rollers and no couplers so the owner can add the scale couplers they prefer). The Scale Wheel diesels also have fixed pilots.
The scale wheel versions also have fixed pilots, which is the reason I buy them. I swap the 2 rail wheels back to hi-rail wheels, and install Kadee couplers. Yes you will need 072 curves, especially for 6 axle diesels and large steam engines.
See the difference here:
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I now understand. Thanks everyone.
George (G3)
