I started a posting on this awhile back, and find I still need your opinion on the following specific cars…
Which metal wheelsets are best for Athearn freight cars, Athearn streamline and heavyweight passenger cars, and MDC freight cars???
My intent is to convert all of my Athearn and MDC cars to metal wheelsets, and there are about 150 cars in total. All were built from kits, have KDs, light weathering, etc., but of course still have the stock wheels.
I’m ready to buy, but just not sure what brand to use.
I did all my freight with Intermountain, you can buy them in bulk to. The Proto 2000 wheel sets are ok, but not as good as the Intermountain brand. Good luck
Both Athearn and MDC freight cars should accept Intermountain or Proto 2000 33-inch wheelsets. Passenger cars, except the old timers, should take 36-inch wheels.
I purchase Intermountain wheelsets in bulk packs of 100 axles in both sizes. I don’t think P2K wheelsets come in bulk packs.
Cherry Creek Hobbies in Torrington, Wyoming is one source of Intermountain wheelsets in bulk packs for HO scale. Any dealer that sells Intermountain products should have them.
I tried a package of P2K wheels on my Athearn BB cars. I discovered that the axle length was too short and would cause derailments. The axles were dropping down in the truck journals during backup moves.
I vote for Intermountain as well. Nearly all my Athearn, MDC, and Bowswer cars are equipped with them and I have no problems. I buy mine in bulk from the LHS. 33" wheels for most of the freight cars. 36" wheels for the passenger cars, and certain freight cars - 100 ton coal hopper and coil steel cars.
You folks are terrific!!! I was leaning towards Intermountain and ready to buy them, but did not want to mention that company in my original posting as it might sway you all one way or the other.
The best wheelsets are the ones with an axle length that fits properly. Don’t assume all trucks made by a given manufacturer will use the same length axles. And don’t assume the original wheelsets have the correct axle length.
The Intermountain wheelsets are very nice, but the axles may be a little too short for MDC and Athearn trucks (this was certainly the case on the trucks I tested).
IIRC, a few years ago there was an article in Model Railroader which illustrated the effects of using the wrong size axles, one of which is cars listing to the side.