A question of trucks - 1800s passenger car

[Vince-RA]

Finally finished painting up the Labelle open platform coach (Roof: Grimy Black with matte overcoat Body: Vermont Green with gloss overcoat Platforms: Steam Power Black with gloss overcoat). Windows are still awaiting the proper glue (I left the top unglued for now) but it's about time to think about trucks. Thoughts on a period appropriate set?

Labelle has these - https://www.labellemodels.com/wheel-early-passenger-truck-wheels-p-1548.html

They are pricey but look to be about what I've seen on ready to roll stock from this time period.

Tichy has these, which look to be a bit too modern - https://www.tichytraingroup.com/Sho.../3060-commonwealth-express-truck/Default.aspx

Looks like Bitter Creek doesn't make trucks anymore, which is the other place I had bookmarked that had old time trucks.

 

[dave1905]

You can also get Roundhouse passenger car trucks that resemble the Labelle trucks for less than $10 a pair on E-Bay or swap meets. Sometimes you can get a whole Roundhouse passenger car for less than $10.

 

[cv_acr]

Tichy has these, which look to be a bit too modern - https://www.tichytraingroup.com/Sho.../3060-commonwealth-express-truck/Default.aspx

Not only that, but that's a short wheelbase truck meant for express boxcars and refrigerators, not passenger coaches.

 

[MikeGTW]

I don't have that many passenger cars but I did use some old Red Ball trucks on one You might also look at Walthers maybe something there

 

[Vince-RA]

You're right, Walthers has some that look good - https://www.walthers.com/pullman-standard-8-wheelbase-heavyweight-4-wheel-trucks-black-1-pair

Also very pricey, jeez! Might be cheaper to cannibalize another car

 

[Trussrod-2]

Vince, One thing you also need to consider isfromhouse length of the top of the Commonwealth truck in relation to the Trussrods to ensure the trucks will pivot enough to allow the car to negotiate the radious curves on your layout. Also, are they going to hit the coupler pockets?

Most all of my 1800 Era Shortly coaches are from MDC-Roundhouse which are standard gauge where I think your Narrow gauge. Come to think of it I may have a pair of Narrow Gauge trucks but not sure if they are for passenger or logging ?? I'll have look and see ?

 

[Vince-RA]

This is intended for standard gauge use at some point, but I don't have a layout to worry about at the moment. It looks to me like there ought to be plenty of room to clear the truss rods, but I am less sure about the steps and couplers (which also haven't been installed yet)