Graham Hoffman
New Member
Can anyone tell me where I can get leaf springs to replace the coil springs in a set of sprung trucks for a caboose. I have searched Walther's catalog with no success.
Thanks.....GH
Thanks.....GH
Caboose leaf springs
- Thread starter Graham Hoffman
- Start date
hudsonelectric
Member
Hey, Graham...
I've looked at trucks from a wide variety of manufacturers and use trucks from companies like Kadee, Tichy, Bethlehem Car Works, and Eastern Car Works. I can honestly say that I have never seen trucks with working leaf springs, only the little coil springs. The leaf springs are always a molded detail.
Russ
I've looked at trucks from a wide variety of manufacturers and use trucks from companies like Kadee, Tichy, Bethlehem Car Works, and Eastern Car Works. I can honestly say that I have never seen trucks with working leaf springs, only the little coil springs. The leaf springs are always a molded detail.
Russ
Graham, Walthers used to make them but I don't know about now. They were nothing but a bent piece of copper strip with a hole in each end to fit over the boss in the truck frame where the coil spring went. It would be easy to fashion some in the same manner.
If they have the correct wheelbase that you are looking for MDC/Roundhouse tender trucks have cast plastic leaf springs. They look very similar to caboose trucks and in fact I think MDC uses them on their older cabooses.
One other source that you might check is Nothwest Shortline www.nwsl.com. they have all kinds of springs.
Also check Precision Scale.
Also check Bowser....they used to have tender trucks with a leaf spring similar to the ones Walthers had.
If they have the correct wheelbase that you are looking for MDC/Roundhouse tender trucks have cast plastic leaf springs. They look very similar to caboose trucks and in fact I think MDC uses them on their older cabooses.
One other source that you might check is Nothwest Shortline www.nwsl.com. they have all kinds of springs.
Also check Precision Scale.
Also check Bowser....they used to have tender trucks with a leaf spring similar to the ones Walthers had.
Graham Hoffman
New Member
Russ.....Thanks for the reply. You're probably right. I have an old (40+ years) Silver Streak caboose that has them, but apparently no one wants to fuss with them any longer.
GH
GH
Graham Hoffman
New Member
Vic.....Thanks for the good tips. I'll follow up.
GH
GH
Graham Hoffman
New Member
Thanks again Vic. Actually, the ones I have on my caboose are a brass stampings with quite a bit of detail...ribbing, slots, a little tab on each end, and two holes on the top and bottom to fit over the nubs on the side frame. They really look like a spring. I'll keep looking. I'm sure they're out there somewhere.
GH
GH
A couple years ago, I bought a pair of Bowser caboose trucks that had one leaf spring and one coil spring that were part of the casting. You may have to compromise and use them. Here's their site, if you want to look for them: http://www.bowser-trains.com/
George
George
Central Valley made them, with flexible ,detailed copper springs, and you probably can get them from the dealers that specialize in out-of- production models. Jay Cohen and Nixons are on the www as( Jaystrains.com) and (nixonenterprises .com).
They are both reliable, and accurate in their product descriptions.
These are the products of the original Central Valley Company(not current firm using moniker) , that made the best trucks ever produced in 'HO' , and they command premium prices as you might expect. They have RP25-101 wheelsets, with blackened brass wheels on brass axles.
Good-Luck, PJB
They are both reliable, and accurate in their product descriptions.
These are the products of the original Central Valley Company(not current firm using moniker) , that made the best trucks ever produced in 'HO' , and they command premium prices as you might expect. They have RP25-101 wheelsets, with blackened brass wheels on brass axles.
Good-Luck, PJB
Graham Hoffman
New Member
PJB.....Thanks for the info. I'll check into these websites.
I agree, Central Valley did have the best trucks available. I have several sets from a couple of decades ago that are in daily use on my layout. One of our club members has a whole drawerful of them still in the original packaging. He's one of those guys that collects stuff like that but never uses it. Pity.
GH
I agree, Central Valley did have the best trucks available. I have several sets from a couple of decades ago that are in daily use on my layout. One of our club members has a whole drawerful of them still in the original packaging. He's one of those guys that collects stuff like that but never uses it. Pity.
GH