Hey gang! I’m seeking to replace the old wheels on my Athearn blue box GP-9 and similar models. I’m looking at Northwest Short Line wheel sets. Do I need 40" or 42" for the best fit?
Thanks a bunch! [:)]
I suspect 40" but doesn’t NWSL say which engines the wheelsets fit?
No, the packages just say for Athearn diesels. I’ve went through the catalog and searched online. No luck. [V]
What you need to do is check the prototype. Most first-generation diesels, and I’m PRETTY sure the GP9 was no exception, ran on 40" wheels.
–Randy
The ones that I use are marked as 37139-4 40" wheels and 110 tread. These are marked “fit Athearn (original design geared diesel) outside frame (metal sideframe) diesel.
On the back of the package is marked for newer inside frame Athearn and Likelike with 3/32” axle see #37141-1
For semi fine and finescale wheels see “72” and ‘76’ series
These /110 are “71” series
Mike Dickinson
40" is proto-typical, 42" is direct replacement for Athearn. This gets critical for coupler heights and snow plows. Wheel sets are manufactured by NWSL and Jay-Bee. I’ve had good luck with both. Both have a selection listed in Walthers. Complete listing is available in catalogs direct from these manufactures.
mstein, thanks! That’s the information I needed. I want a direct replacement that will maintain the height of my already detailed engines. [:D]
MichaelWD gives one of the wheel sets available for the metal sideframe.
I suspect you probably have the newer plastic sideframe. Direct replacement for the stock Athearn 42"/110 is NWSL 371424 and Jay-Bee 101. For a more prototypical tread (88) the number is NWSL 372424. It is strongly suggested you have an NMRA HO guage for setting the wheel width correctly and the Kadee coupler height guage. I’ve had to use overset or underset couplers on some locos to get the correct height.