Will all Rivarossi locos run on both Code 83 and/or Code 100 track?
Art Gordon[D)]
Mine work fine on Code 100. I don’t have any 83 so I can’t say about that one.
Depends on when they were built. They’ll generally run on code 100 but code 83 and definitely code 70 can present problems for the earlier versions w/ oversized flanges.
They recognized the problem a few years back and corrected the flange size problem but I don’t know exactly when. The only way to be sure is either inspection before purchase or get a return if not satisfied from the mail order seller.
Their older engines from the 1940’s to the 1990’s had very large flanges that only ran on code 100 track. When they upgraded to can motors in the boilers in the mid 90’s, they also fixed the flanges so they would run on all track and match the NMRA’s RP-25 recommendation.
Bottom line is if you have code 83 or 70 track don’t buy any of the old Riv/AHM loco’s.
Bob DeWoody
You can usually tell oversize flanges just by looking closely. Since I use Code 70 rail and model turn of the century (which frequently means older or used models) in HO, flange size matters to me. Rivarossi started converting to smaller flanges in the '70s; their first model with RP25 flanges (I believe) was their Heisler. From then on, any US prototype made with all new tooling got the smaller flanges. By the '90s, I think just about all their US prototype had RP25 flanges.
IHC, which had some sort of relationship with Rivarossi (I’m not sure what the relationship was) still has deep flanges on much of their line.
Many other manufacturers, including brass, used (and some still use) deep flanges on pilot and trailing truck wheels on steam locomotives. This is done in lieu of a more sophisticated springing/equalization set up to keep these wheels on the track. Pilot and trailing truck wheels with deep flanges can usually be replaced without too much trouble (but may need improved springing/equalization regardless). Drivers are usually turned down. I’ve heard of modelers turning down the flanges with nothing more than a file and running the locomotive under power on its back.
I’ve got a couple that my father-in-law gave me. I’d like to be able to run them as a novelty item, but the flanges are so big that they don’t even make contact with the rails on Code 100 track.
Trainworx LLC does flange-turning on N-scale locomotives. You could try contacting them and asking if they can do HO as well.
http://www.wic.net/trainworx/wheels.html
Ray