Passenger Car Trucks

Steven M Harvey · **Joined:** Fri Aug 24, 2007 12:27 am **Posts:** 24

Need some help from the group on a question about passenger car trucks.

I have always been told to stay away from the bolt on pedestal binder type as shown in Picture 1.

I have been told you should always go with a cast type truck as shown in Picture 2.

Can someone help me understand if there is a issue with the bolt on style from a running point of view or that a railroad will not take it at interchange?

Thanks!!

Steven Harvey
Photo Credits: Ozark Mountain Railcar

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File comment: Bolt on Style

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File comment: Cast type Truck

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Dale Grice · **Joined:** Wed Jan 12, 2005 4:55 pm **Posts:** 86

IIRC, the issue is with Amtrak and high speed running. Bolt ons will only be certified up to 90 mph. Cast can go higher. I am sure someone else knows more and will certainly pipe up.

dfg

Steven M Harvey · **Joined:** Fri Aug 24, 2007 12:27 am **Posts:** 24

Besides the Amtrak speed limit of 90MPH is there any other issues that people have run into with the bolt on style? Any roller bearing change out issues from Friction bearing when using bolt on vs cast trucks?

Thanks!!

Steven Harvey

Newriver400 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 22, 2010 4:27 pm

Roller bearing conversions have nothing to do with cast vs. bolted pedestals and everything to do with bearing centers, journal sizes, and pedestal widths. If you do not wish to certify a car for high speed service on Amtrak (above 90), there is absolutely no reason to shun bolted pedestal trucks. As far as interchange on the freight RR's for moving cars to different locations, the standard is generally as long as it's roller bearings, they're good to go, except on CSX, which has the ridiculous requirement for NFL (no field lube) rotating end caps. They certainly seem to have no issues with Hyatt equipped locomotives.

Best,
Mike

Ryan Scott · **Joined:** Wed Aug 25, 2004 10:46 pm **Posts:** 149

I had several cars with bolt on pedistals at the Smokys. I had a hard time keeping bolts from breaking on them. I think much of this due to the fact that they had been converted to rollers which removed some much needed lateral for the 10-15 degree curves they were going through down there. I had accelerated wheel/box/liner wear on the cast trucks too, but no bolts to break on those. I'd have bought four axle cars had I been around during the early years.

If you are going to be on a railroad that has curves less than 10 degrees, this shouldn't be an issue.

Ryan