Brawa track compatibility?

[Baronjutter]

I've been eyeing a Brawa made train to run on my layout, the problem is that I use a combo of micro-engineering c55 and peco "c55" and someone told me that european trains will most likely not run on my ME track due to different wheel standards.  Does anyone know for sure? Is there any way to find out other than spending $200+ and just seeing if the wheels hit the ties or not?

[peteski]

I own few recent Brawa releases (locos and I think a boxcar).  I could measure flange depth. What item are you looking at?

[Baronjutter]

I was thinking of picking up a TALENT or two and re-painting them to use as diesel commuter trains on my layout.  I assume any similar Brawa train would have the same wheels?  I'm not sure it's something that could be measured, or at least not accurately.  We're probably talking about tenths of millimetres making the difference and I'm just not set up to measure such things

[peteski]

I use a caliper which has a resolution of 0.0005" or 0.01mm.  If the flange depth is 0.020" then it will have no problem on Atlas c55. But if it is 0.035" then it will probably ride on the molded spikes.

[Baronjutter]

That would be great, thanks!  For some reason I have this vague memory of someone having this problem with atlas track but not ME track due to tiny tiny tiny difference in tie spike shape or something. 

[peteski]

Correct, Atlas c55 flex track has larger spikes than either ME or Peco c55 track. That is why the flanges on the old MT "pizza cutter" wheels hit the spikes on Atlas track.

Also, in general models of European prototype have deeper flanges than US models.  They also still use Rapido coupler as a standard coupler...   European modelers mostly use c80 track, so that deep flanges are  not a problem. I also think that manufacturers aare still stuck with the notion that N sclse is a toy which needs deep flanges not to derail when going 300 scale miles per hour over uneven track or sharp curves. 

I don't have any Atlas c55 flex track but I measured the flanges of some of my recently issued Brawa models.
A boxcar has flanges with depth of 0.76mm (0.030").
Another model locomotive has flanges with depth of 0.78mm (0.031") and yet another is 0.82mm (0.032").

For comparison, the troublesome "pizza cutters" have flanges depth of 0.89mm (0.035").  Older Kato loco's (P42) flanges are 0.75mm (0.029") and newer Katos are 0.54mm (0.021").

I would guess that the Brawa flanges are probably pretty close to hitting the spikes on Atlas c55 flex track.

[Baronjutter]

I'm just going to go for it,  from what I've gathered I might be ok with my peco turnouts and ME flex.  If not, sanding down the flanges is something people do and I have access to a full metal shop with a bunch of metal working pro's so someone could probably help me take a hair off the flanges.

Thanks for all the info!

Oh I also have 2 japanese trams from Tomix, they have huge huge flanges but are a-ok on my ME flex.

[mark.hinds]

That would be great, thanks!  For some reason I have this vague memory of someone having this problem with atlas track but not ME track due to tiny tiny tiny difference in tie spike shape or something.

FYI, I have some recent ME code 55 flex examples, and "pizza cutters" *do* hit the spikes, athough less than with Atlas code 55.  IIRC, the "old style" ME track was the one where you could run "pizza cutters".

Mark H.