Source for 12" center plates

Randy Hees · **Posted:** Tue May 16, 2017 9:46 pm

One of our box car/excursion cars has a couple of cracked 12" body center plates... A caboose truck is missing a 12" truck center plates. Is there a source beyond scrape piles?

Randy

Dave · **Posted:** Tue May 16, 2017 10:10 pm

Foundry or fabrication. You can control all the specifics to suit your situation.

etalcos · **Posted:** Tue May 16, 2017 11:30 pm

Both items are commercially available and reasonably priced. No need to reinvent unless you have a true oddity...

http://www.unitforgings.com/uploads/mar ... adcat2.pdf

etalcos · **Posted:** Tue May 16, 2017 11:34 pm

Rings...

https://www.wabtec.com/products/5602/tr ... ment-rings

As usual, your results may vary. Apparently not a real railroader...

Randy Hees · **Posted:** Wed May 17, 2017 1:22 am

The Unit Forgings has the right size center plate but not the right size flange, but may be an option... 12" center plates are found on 40 and 50 ton cars, which are now obsolete so not generally supported.

We are considering a pattern for our specific part, and new castings from that pattern. Wear on old parts may be an issue as well...

Randy

etalcos · **Posted:** Wed May 17, 2017 10:37 am

Too thick, too thin or wrong shape? Granted 12" is not the most common, but we've replaced several over the years in freight car land, and the bolster rings too.