Atlas 60' passenger cars shipping!

[peteski]

This is to confirm my earlier post that the FVM 0.563 36" axles are the correct ones. With these axles the cars are VERY free rolling.

So what exactly causes the stock Atlas wheels not to be free rolling?

[Mark5]

So what exactly causes the stock Atlas wheels not to be free rolling?

I did not actually check before putting the FVM wheels on. So, just because I'm curious, I put the stock (plastic) wheels back on and tried rolling it - my combine (4-wheel trucks) rolled fine (though not as well as the with the FVM wheelsets). So, at least for me - this is a non-issue.

Mark

[Maletrain]

I did not actually check before putting the FVM wheels on. So, just because I'm curious, I put the stock (plastic) wheels back on and tried rolling it - my combine (4-wheel trucks) rolled fine (though not as well as the with the FVM wheelsets). So, at least for me - this is a non-issue.

I think there is more to it than just wheels.  I put some of those same Atlas plastic wheels in Microtrains trucks, and some MicroTrains wheels and some Fox Valley wheels in 2 other cars with MicroTrains trucks (in order to get rid of pizza cutter on 3 identical cars I picked up at a train show).  They all rolled pretty well, but the Microtrains rolled best, by a small amount, and the Atlas about as well as the Fox Valley.  I am still trying to figure out how to make a good test rig for this issue, because I suspect that there is something to do with the truck frame material, and possibly the qualities of the dimples the axle points ride in.

[peteski]

I did not actually check before putting the FVM wheels on. So, just because I'm curious, I put the stock (plastic) wheels back on and tried rolling it - my combine (4-wheel trucks) rolled fine (though not as well as the with the FVM wheelsets). So, at least for me - this is a non-issue.

Mark

Ah, so in your case you simply wanted metal wheels.  Thanks!

Maletrain: it will be interesting what you find out.

[draskouasshat]

I got an rpo a couple days ago.
They're a great Santa fe stand in with a little work.  Next to it is a previous river brass model. Ill be pulling up one more to give it the shadow line treatment and be numbered 75.

Drasko
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[thomasjmdavis]

Drasko- out of curiosity, what trucks did you use under the Atlas? (mine came with 6 wheel, but is undec)

[draskouasshat]

Drasko- out of curiosity, what trucks did you use under the Atlas? (mine came with 6 wheel, but is undec)

They're some extra MT 2 axle passenger trucks i had laying around. They're incorrect but will work until i get something different with journal boxes.

Drasko

[Cajonpassfan]

They're some extra MT 2 axle passenger trucks i had laying around. They're incorrect but will work until i get something different with journal boxes.

Drasko

Oh, so the Atlas ATSF RPO comes with six-wheel trucks?
Otto K.

[CBQ Fan]

I really want to like these but there is just something in all the photos that scream toy trains to me.  Like the proportion is off somehow.  It would be interesting to see what they look like next to MT heavyweights.

[Mark5]

Oh, so the Atlas ATSF RPO comes with six-wheel trucks?
Otto K.

Yes. It is (according to one of my Chicago area passenger train nut friends) very close to several prototypes including this CB&Q RPO:

http://transport.castlegraphics.com/albums/railroad/rollingstock/passenger/cbq_rpo-2346_01.jpg

C&NW, presumably the prototype for the Atlas car:

http://www.cnwhs.org/memberphotos/albums/userpics/10007/RPO-9425.jpg

Mark

[thomasjmdavis]

I really want to like these but there is just something in all the photos that scream toy trains to me.  Like the proportion is off somehow.  It would be interesting to see what they look like next to MT heavyweights.

Up the thread a bit, I have a post where I compared measurements to a MT RPO, and they are VERY close.  But as they say, a picture is worth....(quick pic on yard module I am working on- sorry, best I can do on short notice)

[Mark5]

Another pic.

One thing I noticed when I was putting the FVM wheels back on is that the tread on the stock plastic wheels is rough.

[bbussey]

Looking at the photos of the model, and the artwork on Atlas website https://shop.atlasrr.com/c-1468-n170.aspx, and comparing to prototype photos http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/47977/rv/singleitem, it appears that the 4 wheel trucks are too far inboard.  My guess is that this was done to facilitate using a 6 wheel truck as well.  Prototype photos show the trucks within a foot or two of the steps.

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Except for The prototype the MTL model is based on, all New Haven RPOs ran on four-wheel trucks.  I drilled new bolster holes and swapped in WOT trucks with FVM wheelsets, and body-mounted MTL 1015s in the inner coupler holes.  In hindsight, I probably could move the trucks out a little farther, which I may do after consulting the railroad's specs.

[jargonlet]

So I take it that the RPO has six windows on each side? Is this correct for C&O? I ask because I have only seen pictures of one side and would like confirmation before I buy.

[thomasjmdavis]

So I take it that the RPO has six windows on each side? Is this correct for C&O? I ask because I have only seen pictures of one side and would like confirmation before I buy.

Quick check of photos indicates that the 110-112 series (made by Bethlehem Steel in the 1920s) would be a good fit for the Atlas car (give or take some rivets and details). Two views of 112

 https://archives.cohs.org/repository/archives/thumb/cohs/cohs-3355.jpg
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4057961
inside view (note the 110-112 reference at bottom of photo) https://archives.cohs.org/repository/archives/thumb/cohs/cohs-43820.jpg

The C&O historical society archives page has a ton of railroad photos and probably some drawings if you can figure out where to look- a great deal of it is available online, and it looks like they are adding more all the time.

C&O had several designs for RPOs, and I think the MT car is also pretty close to one of the earlier series, and I think they also had some with 5 windows together, and one series had 7.  But confidence is high that 110-112 had 6 windows on each side.