Well, I just got off the phone with a manufacturer and found out why my new engines and cars derail all the time.
According to the manufacturer, the problem is the RP25 wheel standard by NMRA. They said they get returns all the time now because the RP25 standard has the wheel flanges too shallow.
The manufacturer told me they warned NMRA about this, and NMRA went ahead and changed to the RP25 anyway.
My choice is to rip out all my code 100 track and go to a code 83, and to pay particular attention to the types of turnouts I buy, or just not buy newer rolling stock and engines. The fellow on the phone said the new RP25 stuff is a headache no matter how careful the layout when it is code 100 rail.
What a bone-headed move by NMRA. I'll have a garage sale and go find something else to do before I spend hours on end machining my own wheels. What the heck were they thinking?
So now I know. With code 100 track and Atlas turnouts, I'm just shafted for ever buying something new if the wheels are made to NMRA RP25 standards. At least that is what the manufacturer says, and that is what my own measurements and test on my track also show.
In a small market like this, a bone-headed move like RP25 is a big problem. I wonder how many people were working like crazy to fix problems caused by new wheels?
Where can I buy old wheels with taller flanges in a 1 inch axle width?? Anyone know??
Tom
According to the manufacturer, the problem is the RP25 wheel standard by NMRA. They said they get returns all the time now because the RP25 standard has the wheel flanges too shallow.
The manufacturer told me they warned NMRA about this, and NMRA went ahead and changed to the RP25 anyway.
My choice is to rip out all my code 100 track and go to a code 83, and to pay particular attention to the types of turnouts I buy, or just not buy newer rolling stock and engines. The fellow on the phone said the new RP25 stuff is a headache no matter how careful the layout when it is code 100 rail.
What a bone-headed move by NMRA. I'll have a garage sale and go find something else to do before I spend hours on end machining my own wheels. What the heck were they thinking?
So now I know. With code 100 track and Atlas turnouts, I'm just shafted for ever buying something new if the wheels are made to NMRA RP25 standards. At least that is what the manufacturer says, and that is what my own measurements and test on my track also show.
In a small market like this, a bone-headed move like RP25 is a big problem. I wonder how many people were working like crazy to fix problems caused by new wheels?
Where can I buy old wheels with taller flanges in a 1 inch axle width?? Anyone know??
Tom