Who made these truck frames?

Discuss park gauge trains and large scale miniature railways having track gauges from 8" to 24" gauge and designed at scales of 2" to the foot or greater - whether modeled for personal use, or purpose built for amusement park operation or private railroading.

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Glenn Brooks
Posts: 2929
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 1:39 pm
Location: Woodinville, Washington

Who made these truck frames?

Post by Glenn Brooks »

These ‘barn find’ 12” trucks recently were donated to the Hawaiian Railway Society on Oahu. Iam hoping someone can recognize them and advise something of their origin. They appear to be quite old, fairly detailed cast iron truck frames, cset up for 12” gauge rolling stock, and having 5 1/4” OD wheels. The frames show heavy tropical rusting on the springs. Similar rusting appears on the full size OR&L 36” Narrow gauge trucks and springs placed in service in 1905. There are no discernible casting marks anywhere visible on the castings or wheels. The bolsters are made from 3” channel and are welded solidly to the side frames. These bolsters could possibly be a latter modification. The dual springs are fixed in place by the welded upper plate, and provide no suspension. It’s possible the original bolsters were inserted through the side frames and were discarded at some point. The axle grease boxes appear to be intergal with the side frames, and are clearly equipped with modern style Zert grease fittings on each axle box.

Can anyone help identify who made the truck frames and how they might have been used in Hawaii?

I know of no 12” gauge miniature train being operated on any island in Hawaii. although many private commercial NG railroads were built in all the islands to serve sugar harvesting operations on individual plantations, most were 30” gauge, and none reported in miniature gauge. So it is possible these were/are early vintage, potentially turn of the century or earlier, thru 1930’s. However, they did find their way to Oahu, and have been here a while, so quite the mystery! Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much,
Glenn
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Moderator - Grand Scale Forum

Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
rkcarguy
Posts: 1730
Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:33 am
Location: Wa State

Re: Who made these truck frames?

Post by rkcarguy »

I'd guess the channels were welded to the castings at a later point in time, maybe the original bolsters failed from corrosion?
Other than that I wouldn't know who made them, etc. They are pretty nice trucks compared to others I've seen from the same time frame.
Glenn Brooks
Posts: 2929
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 1:39 pm
Location: Woodinville, Washington

Re: Who made these truck frames?

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Never did discover who cast these side frames. But did take a plasma cutter to the welded on bolsters and old skinny axles. Cut up the rigid trucks in preparation for rebuilding with proper sprung bolsters.

Here’s a couple of pics of the very nice 30 ton hydrolic press -ex Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard equipment - now at the Railway Society back shops, making quick work of the old axles pressed onto the wheels.

Next step, ship them home, de rust in the electrolysis tank, cut out the “ fixed in place for looks springs” and work up some decent bolsters and new heavy duty axles.
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Glenn
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum

Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
rusty69
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Jan 14, 2018 5:27 pm

Re: Who made these truck frames?

Post by rusty69 »

Glenn Brooks wrote:Never did discover who cast these side frames. But did take a plasma cutter to the welded on bolsters and old skinny axles. Cut up the rigid trucks in preparation for rebuilding with proper sprung bolsters.

Here’s a couple of pics of the very nice 30 ton hydrolic press -ex Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard equipment - now at the Railway Society back shops, making quick work of the old axles pressed onto the wheels.

Next step, ship them home, de rust in the electrolysis tank, cut out the “ fixed in place for looks springs” and work up some decent bolsters and new heavy duty axles.
79A721FD-B87C-4B76-BC24-E577A81E23B4.jpeg
D5574CED-881D-494F-84F3-0C2C6A501F96.jpeg
DA6A3001-EACE-4BD9-B351-7CE69719B6E4.jpeg
84657F98-FE93-48CD-B873-122F81DD9475.jpeg
Glenn
I think I have one just like it. I bought it from WA State surplus maybe 5yrs ago. It's just sitting in my other garage since I brought it home.

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Glenn Brooks
Posts: 2929
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 1:39 pm
Location: Woodinville, Washington

Re: Who made these truck frames?

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Rusty, want to sell it? After using this one, would love to pick one up.

Thanks
Glenn
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum

Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
Glenn Brooks
Posts: 2929
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 1:39 pm
Location: Woodinville, Washington

Re: Who made these truck frames?

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Finally discovered where these trucks came from. After derusting, cleaning them up, and cutting the old welded bolsters off the side frames, discovered a cast mark with the letter “M” in the middle of an outline of the state of Illinois. I think this means they were made of cast steel by the Mountain Car Company. Probably at least 50 years ago.

Also, embarrassingly, after many hours slaving over a hot plasma cutter and grinding wheel, I discovered why they looked vaguely familiar. After studying the grease fittings and axle boxes, I realized that I gave them to a RR Society member 25 years ago when we lived in Kailua! They were 7.5” ga at the time. He, or some subsequent owner fabricated 12” trucks with the welded rigid frame, and they eventually got donated to the Society in Ewa Beach, where I stumbled on them this winter, so the Oddesey comes full circle.

Here they are more or less cleaned up and awaiting new bolsters, and some new car bodies.
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Moderator - Grand Scale Forum

Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
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