I have been in N-Scale since 1973 and have learned to make almost any loco run as well as today’s Kato’s. My problem in trying to switch from Code 80 to Code 55 is the depth of the wheel flanges on the early locomotives. Have any of you found a soulution to this? Does anyone, OEM or third party, make replacement wheelsets? Can ypu chuck these in a dremel and grind down the flange enough that the loco is no longer riding the ties without the width of the flange binding in turnout frogs? Anything made in last 5 years seems to handle code 55 without any problems.
Filing down the flanges is your best bet, and just the way you mentioned: in a Dremel tool. Check the Model Train Magazine Index for references to articles about techniques.
Thanks for the tip. I built a test track with turnouts using the new Atlas Code 55 and was very excited about its more prototypical look and price differential against PECO. The most recent Atlas and Kata locos ran smooth as silk, but comparitively recent LL and Rapido (S-2’s) had lots of problems. My old Rapido/REVELL FA’s and Geeps don’t even touch the rails. This ia a shame because with shims and the right lubricants I have dialed them in to run as smooth as anything KATO has built. Moreover, I think I could smother the track in peanut butter and they would plow right through it.
That is a shame. Of my regularly operated locomotives, my first release RS3 c. 1984 runs fine. The only locomotive that doesn’t run on the Atlas track is the Rapido S2. Fortunately, my main yard area is being laid with ME that I have on hand. This will enable it to operate in a small area. I had a lot of trouble getting it to run well initially, so I’d be very reluctant to pull it apart now to turn the wheel flanges down. I have a feeling that would be the end of it.