June 1, 2004

Im going to start out with 3 pieces of rolling stock. (to be built..eventually! ;)
an engine, Sandy River Railroad #5
(which is also: SR&RL #6 - KCRR #4 - WW&F #9)
Today she still exists as WW&F #9, the only surviving Portland Forney.

A SR&RL Boxcar, and a caboose..and eventually a passenger car too..

The trick here is finding trucks of the corrct style and size!
eventually I might try scratch building trucks, but if I can find suitable
trucks, I would prefer to use them for now..
I need 2 main types of trucks, passenger and freight.

the passenger-style truck (also used on the SR&RL cabooses)
looks like this:

the prototype wheelbase is 4 feet, with 20" diameter wheels.
thats 1.65" wheelbase, and .69" wheels in 1/29 scale.

there isnt really anything in the "Large Scale" world that fits that style
and dimension..so I went looking at other scales..
found it! :)
This is a passenger car truck by American Models,
nearly perfect size! and..its already S-scale! no re-gauging necessary!
the wheelbase of this truck is 1.56, only 2mm off.

A few minor tweaks to the shape, and it should be perfect!
 

Found an excellent source for correctly sized wheelsets:
size is perfect, and nice small flanges.
they would have to be re-gauged, but thats not a big deal..
NWSL
 

Freight car trucks are proving to be more problematic so far..

Same wheelbase and wheel size as the passenger trucks.
4' wheelbase, 20" diameter wheels.
there are several beautiful trucks made in 1/20.3 scale, but they are all too large.
On3 trucks are too small!
The closest I have found so far is the "small bachmann truck" in Large Scale.
I think these cars are supposed to be 1/24 scale.

the wheelbase is actually a little bit short!
and they are a little too tall...not ideal, but somewhat close.
they might look ok with better wheelsets.
 
 
 
 

Locomotive wheels..
I found PERFECT wheels for SRRR #5!
From Slater's
it is their:  F9836Y8 3'0" 9 Spoke Driving Wheel  (LNER Class Y8)
its a 1/32 scale 3-foot driver. thats 1.125"
I need 33" drivers in 1/29 scale - 1.137"
thats a difference of .3mm! (thats POINT three mm!)
essentially perfect!

have to re-gauge the wheelsets from 45mm to 22mm.

Its a start!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Background image of KCRR #2  is © Gary Kohler collection, used by permission. Maine 2-foot Quarterly
 

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