Q: I have some N scale cars from Micro-Trains. Recently, I swapped out the factory-installed plastic wheelsets with metal wheelsets, but now the cars don’t roll freely. What can I do to fix this? — Kelly Walton-Harper
A: Metal wheelsets aren’t one-size-fits all. The first thing you’ll want to check is wheel size, as it’s possible the flanges are rubbing on the bottom of the car. Here are the general rules for freight car wheel sizes:
- 28″ diameter — modern auto racks
- 33″ diameter — 70-ton capacity or less (and most cabooses)
- 36″ diameter — 100- and 110-ton capacity cars
- 38″ diameter — Intermediate wheelsets on articulated 125-ton capacity well cars (end trucks have 33″-diameter wheels)
Wheel size is only part of the equation with metal wheelsets, though. The other is axle length. Most manufacturers specify the axle length on the packaging or list the brands of trucks the wheelsets are designed for (Fox Valley Models does both). If the axle length isn’t specified, use calipers to measure the distance between the axle tips on the plastic wheelsets. Then replace them with appropriately sized metal wheelsets.
Here are some of the model railroad manufacturers that produce metal wheelsets in N scale: Athearn Trains, Atlas Model Railroad Co., Con-Cor, Eastern Seaboard Models Corp., Fox Valley Models (now ScaleTrains), InterMountain Railway Co., Micro-Trains Line Co., NorthWest Short Line, Rapido Trains, and Tangent Scale Models.
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