On this site, in the right hand column, is an advertisement from MTH for the HO SD70ACe. Since I have been pondering buying one, I saw the add and “clicked” on it. As I was looking at the images they have posted, I noticed the left wheel is out of gauge. I see many posts regarding derailments and the first thing that is always stated is “check the wheels and track for proper alignment”. Maybe today I’m just paying attention to details, otherwise it’s easily overlooked. Well, here’s a perfect example of a minor mis-alignment that could cause problems. This, by no means is intended to be negative towards MTH or the loco, it could happen to anyone. (I copied this from their ad):
Since we can’t see the opposite wheel,there’s no real way to know.The loco may have just been installed on the track for the picture,and this detail has been overlooked.It does look strange indeed.
True, there’s enough axle side play within the truck that just placing the engine on the track can show this. The flange of one axle can be tight to one rail while the other opposite and still be in proper gauge. It does look rather strange though.
Funny you noticed that. I have an MTH SD70Ace and that exact same wheel was out of gauge. I had to send it back to MTH for them to repair it under warranty.
It’s got to do with railroad heritage, really. Penn Central guys are very sensitive to the quality of their rolling stock. Anything that needs maintenance is more money that they can avoid spending to pad their bottom line. [:D]
Seriously, though, while i agree that this might be an issue, we need to be very careful about reading too much into an advertising photograph. I’ve seen ones where the loco wasn’t even railed on the track correctly.
I have found it interesting that I can look at a scene, or rolling stock that I want to photograph, and see no problems. Then when I take the picture and look at it, something out of place just pops out.
Some of you may remember Pacific Mail, a brass importer in the 80s. The cover of one of their catalogs was published with a well composed picture of a shay locomotive, except one of the drive axles had disconnected and one end was laying on the ground.
You’re right about that. The camera certainly brings the warts front and center.
I’m a terrible photographer, so I don’t often photograph my work, but the last time I did, there were about a thousand little white spots where the latex paint I had used on the landscape didn’t fill in the tiny holes. Sheesh.
That is a great point, I can set up a scene, get it perfect, looking great in the view finder, & shoot it! Then when I crop & size it, I see all sorts of calamity!
A grab rail popped out of the cab or pilot, kitty donated the biggest hair or whisker, the cab lifted up, my scenery is obscuring something I put real effort into, & the shiny scraped spot on the wheel face gives a real nice glare! Ha hah…
I enjoy spotting ads & shots from shows that show all the ‘ding ups’ like bent railings, folded sunshades, misaligned brake pipes, etc. I guess they have some of the same issues I do…
To the OP to me if you told me to check that truck & wheel fit, I would have guessed that the truck is warped, or that the bolster fit needs to be massaged a bit. However, I’d be happy to have that moster & tune it up, heh heh…
