I noticed two foot gauge cars, having 18 inch diameter wheels, often had 2-5/8 x 5 journals. Was this pretty much a standard journal size for this wheel size?

Would the axle be turned from 2-3/4 or 3 inch stock? What would be the exact dimensions for the wheel bore and journal surface.

Where would someone find dimensions to fabricate the journal box and brasses or perhaps to create an original appearing journal box with roller bearings?

Regards...

At least for narrow gauge there was no standard journal bearing size. In California we find 2.75"x4" on 10 ton cars (and presumably on 8 ton cars) and 3.5"x6" on 15 ton cars.

I am at work and therefore away from my Car Builder's Dictionary, but it would have the size of the MCB journal bearing, which was used for much of the 19th century on standard gauge cars (while the members of the MCB Association argued if it should be larger for cars beyond 15 ton capacity)

Axles were typically forged (then the journals were turned)

I suspect that you will find a variety of dimensions used on 2' gauge for axles, journal bearings, and wheel bore.

Randy:

Would be interested to know about any existing drawings or prints for MCB 4 x 7. From what we can tell, this narrow gauge size could appear to utilize the wedge size and bronze shell of the 3.75 x 7, with the notable exception of "4 x 7" stamped on the crown of the brass ...

It does not appear in the 1906 MCB Dictionary. We'll end up re-babbitting the shells and flycutting them to the clearance spec of the axle.

I know a little bit about the 4"x7" bearings and wedges.

The D&S uses what the D&RGW used, and there are two basic types, one is called the Mulie" type it was the type that used an axle with no collars on their ends, and the bearing used a brass bearing with babbitt and the wedge had an end bumper on it that was also of the same bearing bronze, the bumper limited that axle travel. It was left over from the old MCB days when the RR was new.


The D&S car shop staff do not like or trust these much and are now only used in the "yard queens". The D&S road worthy equipment gets a more typical AAR "Flat back" Brass & babbitt bearing and a steel wedge that you might see in the 1915 -1950's "Locomotive and Car Cyclopedia".

The 4" x 7" was gone as a standard (that you could build new equipment to) by about 1900 I believe (don't know the exact date) as these were from the old MCB standards. The later common sizes split this size by having a 3+ 3/4" x 7" or the 4 1/8" x 8" bearing.

Interestingly the 3+3/4" x 7" bearings of later AAR vintage will fit the old MCB 4" x7" journal boxes, only the axle diameter is 1/4" off in diameter, all else is the same.

Thanks, loco, for the confirmation.