Erie Express Trucks
in Proto:48 and OW5 (2-Rail)
Erie RR's unique trucks
The Erie Railroad run this General Steel Casting Corp. express trucks under their milk tank cars. In later years they were used under the company’s cabooses. The trucks feature a triple bolster configuration with a leaf spring package suspending the truck frame from the bolster. Additional coil springs control the journals. I had the opportunity to work with the railroad’s drawings for a very accurate model.
My files do not feature a working suspension, I don’t find it necessary with this relatively short wheelbase. The journals have a cone on the inside that fit pointed axles.
How to support
The triple bolster / sping plank configuration is very complex to support and print. That’s why I’ve divided the files into components that can be printed and then assembled. I printed the first test truck in one piece and it can be done, but it’s difficult to support all the corners and levels.
OW5 Verison (O Scale 2-Rail)
The download package contains different stages of combined components to make supporting easier. Optimized for NWSL O Scale Wheelset, 33″/145, 1/8″ x 1.690″ Pointed Axle, Red Caboose (4/pkg). With these relatively short axled wheelsets the trucks will look very prototypical.
NWSL Wheels
North West Short Line has a variety of wheelsets both in P:48 and OW5. There could be a bit of confusion about axle lengths here. I have several P:48 axle sets that are pointed 1.690″ long. Currently this product is not listed, the P:48 axles being a bit shorter. However, their OW5 axles are available at a length of 1.690″ to replace Red Caboose plastic wheels.
