Model Train Journal

My good friend, Australian Bob Comerford, sent me several of these ore cars just before Christmas:



The trucks are held in place by split push pins:











I think the RMT cars are identical, not sure:



I'm in the hunt for a couple of trucks to replace 2 that are in need. If I can't find them, I'll attempt to modify the mounting system and get some new trucks.

Does anyone know if the RMT trucks are the same or where I can get some Atlas/Roco replacement trucks?

Oh...Atlantic Coast Line had a number of these and used them at rock quarries here in Va and elsewhere:

Bob:

I know Bob C from the Gauge 0 Guild; small world it is.

Anyway, to point. A piece of wood dowel pressfit into the holes for those pins, secured in place with a plastic solvent like Tenex or Plastruct solvent, then drilled for a screw will convert those easily. Worth doing to all of them as the rolling friction was pretty high in the Roco truck, pretty as they are.

Similar can be done using Plastruct or Evergreen rod, then tapped 2/56.

They were designed by Ted Stepek; he chose a Bessemer and Lake Erie prototype for those cars. The taller ACL cars like the one closest to you in your last photo are indeed ex-BLE cars matching the model, although it looks like a couple gussets vary in those cars.

Bob those are really nice looking cars I must say. Friends like that are few and far between.

Robert

sarge wrote:Similar can be done using Plastruct or Evergreen rod, then tapped 2/56.

If you pick the right Evergreen tubing, you and insert that directly and tap it for 4/40,

Bob

PM your address. I found a handful of these trucks. I'll send them to you.

WoW!!! Sarge, you're "The stuff"!!!

will do sir!

I have been "speaking" with BobC for a few years now, mainly on the FreeRails forum but he's now posting mainly on the O Gauge Guild you spoke of (I think I even joined, but haven't posted yet). He's also posted a few times on the OGR forum, not sure if he's ever posted here.

A pair of the trucks he sent me were ones he had done some work on and as a result the wheels I want to use will not fit.

These are nice cars, the claw couplers come right off and there seems to be a pad for Kadees. I'll get on these soon (need to get some decals too).

Sarge,
Got the trucks TODAY!!! Thanks again!

Outstanding!

Now, you do have to show us what you make of all the bits, right?

I'm looking forward to seeing the results one day too. (Hi Brian).

I have been very impressed with BobD's efforts at using available 3-rail equipment to run 2-rail by using battery/radio. Saves big time on insulating wheels.
And by removing the ugly centre rail he has rail for half as much track again.

Like me, rather than whingeing he can't afford the real deal, he makes do.

cheers
Bob Comerford

WELCOME BobC!!!

I owe what little I’ve done to too many people to mention, and you’re included in that group.

Sarge, I’ll have to clean out a spot before I can get back to rr’ing, it’s a mess up there

Ore cars are tempting. These plastic cars are extremely well done - but mine would have to be metal. No, I will never have a 2-8-8-4 and 110 die cast ore cars. A string of five would do. I heard Lionel die casted some - have never seen even a picture.

I did capture my share of K-Line and Atlas die cast hoppers. If they ever do GS gons I am on them!

Anytime I can find a car that is prototypically correct for either SAL or ACL I feel an urge to at least get one, now I have three! They would be nice in metal though.

The cool thing is there was/is a rock quarry in Skippers Va that used these. My dad was born in Skippers.