Rapido August 2024 - F59PHs and BiLevel Commuters

[Dwight in Toronto]

So far my only two experiences with inside bearing trucks are Kato's Amfleets, which roll as well as outside-bearing trucks and have flawless electrical pickup; and Athearn's Bombardier cars, which roll like that one really terrible shopping cart at the supermarket. You know the one.

At one point I experimented with adding pickups to the Athearn bi-level cars, but the only result was a car that only occasionally lit up, and rolled about as freely as a cinder block. I am hoping the professionals at Rapido can do better.

OMG … those Athearn Bombardier trucks … deplorable.  I too am hoping for acceptable rollability with the upcoming Rapido product, as I will probably order a loco and 6 more coaches to add to my GO train get-up.

[jwaldo]

LOL!
If you think Athearn trucks roll poorly, you never tried Bachmann Amfleet trucks (original and new versions).

But unless you removed all the yellowish lubricant from Kato Amfleet trucks, they will not roll anywhere as good as Kato's standard outside bearing (pointy axle ends) trucks (unless you filled those bearing cups with automotive axle grease).  Yes, I compared them too.

Well, if Rapido used the same design as they did in the Comet cars, then don't hold your breath.

Oh man, I had totally purged the Bachmann Amfleets from my memory. Those things rolled like pyramids.

Kato's inside-bearing trucks may not be as free-rolling as their outside-bearing counterparts, they're still far from "render a normal-length commuter train un-pullable by a single locomotive" bad. The same can't be said for the competition.

[Narlie]

Oh man, I had totally purged the Bachmann Amfleets from my memory. Those things rolled like pyramids.

Kato's inside-bearing trucks may not be as free-rolling as their outside-bearing counterparts, they're still far from "render a normal-length commuter train un-pullable by a single locomotive" bad. The same can't be said for the competition.

Final order date coming. They claim they will be free rolling. I hope so!

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