I am curious what material is currently used to make the shoes and wedges for a steam locomotive? I have heard that shoes and wedges should be made from bronze. I have also heard of cast iron being used. I understand that the theory is to have the shoes and wedges wear rather than the driving boxes and frame.

Ed

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Unless something is very wrong, frame wear should be negligible.

Boxes, OTOH.......might consider machining the worn boxes out to provide the correct dimension after welding on a hard steel liner. Cast iron shoe and wedge will then be the sacrificial components in the system - and the easiest to replace.

dave