Atlas replied:
Atlas locomotive wheels are machined from brass, which is then nickel
plated. The plating prevents pitting of the wheels due to arcing.
Nickle Prices...interesting that there was an almost triple price increase a few years ago...
http://investinmetal.com/?page_id=4[/QUOTE
Interesting idea, but do you want to run around with bright brass wheels on your locos??Wouldn't Coke clean the corrosion off? I've used that on battery terminals before (remove the wheels from the trucks first).
The wheels have corroded badly to the point that the loco fails to make electrical contact in order to run. It will not run in this condition, and the tracks are clean nickle-silver.
1) Has anyone else experienced this corrosion effect??
2) Is it just confined to certain models, and/or certain periods of production?
3) Could it be due to a change in vendors within China that produced certain models, and/or a change in vendors that supplied the wheels??
4) Could it be a change in the metal materials utilized by the manufacturer??
...an email I sent out to various manufacturers of locos and wheel sets:
Dear Sirs,
I have been experiencing some significant problems with locomotive wheel corrosion on some Broadway Ltd locomotives, one steam loco so far, and several diesels.
I have been trying to do a little investigating on how the best wheel construction is made, and what constitutes the best materials.
I would really appreciate at the very least a short note from each of you as to your preferred construction materials for wheel-sets in HO products.
I have started several discussions on some forums, and included photos of some problem wheelsets for review.
Galvanic corrosion? Copper and iron? While you information is correct, where is the iron, other than the magnets in the motor? A fair distance between the motor and the wheels. And galvanic corrosion is only possible with direct contact.
Bob
No, I do not use a Kadee wheel cleaning brush. In fact when these photos where taken I had not cleaned the wheels at all. The locos were new, and had been run very little, and were sitting on the layout and one on the workbench.You don't by chance use a Kadee wheel cleaning brush do you? If so, throw it away. That thing was designed for Athearn sintered iron wheels, and that's all it's good for. It will take the plating right off anything modern. It may have nothing to do with your problem, but is good advice.
The purpose for my posting of this problem was to try and determine if others had experienced these problems. So far it does not appear to be. Possible some of this lack of experience could be due to the large number of modelers who never run their trains, but have them stacked up in their collections still in their new boxes? Or maybe the large majority are stored/operated in a low humidy/good AC environment. Mine are in the basement (but it does have a dehumidifier running most of the time).Espeefan said:I have not seen this sort of corrosion on any BLI/PCM/Blueline locomotives until you posted your pics. I have asked a few questions and will see what answers I get back.
I tend to agree with you here. I think the plating was insufficent, if at all. I think they got a defective batch from their sub-contractor. As I've said, I'm trying with this posting to determine the extent of the problem, and/or make others aware so that they inspect their models more closely...maybe even unbox a few locos and leave them out on your RR.I would ask a Broadway Limited customer service about this, I think they would replace the wheels. There is no nickel plating even on the sides where there would be no wear. This doesn't seem right to me.
I tend to agree with you here. I think the plating was insufficent, if at all. I think they got a defective batch from their sub-contractor. As I've said, I'm trying with this posting to determine the extent of the problem, and/or make others aware so that they inspect their models more closely...maybe even unbox a few locos and leave them out on your RR.
BTW this is the layout these locos set on.....and it is FOR SALE as I am moving overseas.
...more here
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=93274&posted=1#post93274
I have been in touch with them and they have offered to replace those wheels that present a connection problem.I have heard great things about Broadway service. I think they will do something for you. You might be out $10 to $12 to ship it to them but it will be worth it. Even if you went to the trouble of cleaning and polishing the wheels they will just corrode again. Call them and explain your situation and explain that your other engines are not having this problem.
Jerry
Possible some of this lack of experience could be due to the large number of modelers who never run their trains, but have them stacked up in their collections still in their new boxes? Or maybe the large majority are stored/operated in a low humidy/good AC environment. Mine are in the basement (but it does have a dehumidifier running most of the time).
I have so far run into a number of random references to the 'discoloration appearing corrosion' on the ClassA 2-6-6-4 steamers (at least 6 so far). I have not run into many complaints about the diesels, other than the brass metal showing thru on the thread surfaces in very short order.
You owe yourself a listen to this model..it is super.... Nobody has a Class A though.
This is the second Broadway (BLI) locomotive I've experienced this phenomena with. Look at these attached photos of a Blueline RSD-15 loco I had sitting on my workbench at my layout in the basement of my former house.
The wheels have corroded badly to the point that the loco fails to make electrical contact in order to run. It will not run in this condition, and the tracks are clean nickle-silver.
In contrast look at the photos of the Broadway E7 and AC6000 locos sitting in this same environment for 1 year, and 3 months respectively...clean wheels with no sign of corrosion. (in contrast the RSD-15 had only been there for 2 months).
1) Has anyone else experienced this corrosion effect??
2) Is it just confined to certain models, and/or certain periods of production?
3) Could it be due to a change in vendors within China that produced certain models, and/or a change in vendors that supplied the wheels??
4) Could it be a change in the metal materials utilized by the manufacturer??
At any rate this is a totally unacceptable situation to experience, particularly since I intend to take a lot of my trains to a hot, humid environment in Thailand.
And I am even more concerned now about the fair number of Blueline locos I've purchased recently that are still stored in their original packaging. and not exposed to the open air.
You're not likely to get an answer to an eleven year old thread, especially since railandsail is no longer a member here.Where are the attached photos mentioned in this posting??