I’m currently building several of the Branchline coach kits in HO and am concerned about the wheelsets which come with the kits. I’d appreciate comments about them from people who are running the cars with the kit wheelsets. I’d also appreciate comments from people who have replaced the wheelsets with another brand. Which replacement set did you use and how do you like them?
Thanks,
Tom Watkins
Are the wheelsets metal with these kits? I see that Branchline is now offering metal wheelsets in bulk and was considering getting some. If the ones supplied in the kits are their metal wheelsets and are of such cause for concern, I will give them a miss.
I haven’t had any problems with the metal wheelsets in the couple of Branchline boxcar kits I’ve built. I can’t imagine the ones in the coach kits are any different, other than wheel diameter.
That said, to repalce my Athearn and Accurail plastic wheels I exclusively use Proto2000 wheelsets, mainly because of the excellent deal on them from modeltrainstuff.com
–Randy
The kit wheelsets are metal wheels on plastic axles. A good many of them were out of guage when I checked them. I don’t have any experience with Branchline wheelsets so I was seeking the opinions of people who do. They may be fine, but it would be a lot easier to replace them as the trucks are assembled, rather than later.
Thanks again,
Tom Watkins
Am in the midst of finishing a Branchline pullman. The wheelsets are metal with metal axles (1 wheel insulated, of course). Put the trucks together today and tested them out on my layout’s 2% grade. They roll beautifully. If you’re concerned about the coach wheels–which sound as if they’re different from the Pullman ones–I’d suggest getting the P2K 36" wheel sets. Wonderful rolling qualities. However, I think I’ll stick with the wheels on my Pullman, at least for now. Oddly enough, I don’t like the Branchline freight car wheelsets, I always replace them with P2K’s.
Most modelers on the Passenger car list (Yahoo Group) are recommending a specific set of Reboxx or Jay Bee 36" wheelset with a specific axle length (I forget what at the moment). Most of the diehards are recommending NOT using Kadees of P2K wheelsets, since their fiber axles don’t work well with the Branchline trucks. Modifications to the trucks, bolsters, and coupler mounting system are also recommended for the coaches (but not the Pullmans).
I’d strongly recommend joining the Yahoo Group, as well as looking through the archives of the old Atlas forum, where there’s a lengthy thread about building (and fixing) the Branchline coach.
Thanks for the information.That’s what I needed to know. I’ll also check out the passenger car group on Yahoo.
Thanks again,
Tom Watkins
Ray’s suggestion fired a spark.
There was a post on www. Atlasrr.com HO forum, 2/26/04 by Paul Cutler lll, Branchline 80’Heavyweight Coach but I couldn’t pull it up.