I just talked with Doug Peck of Port Lines Hobbies and he says people who bought the hoppers are unhappy because they won't run on Gilbert AF track. Yes, they didn't read in the catalog description that they have scale wheels. Has anyone tried to insert Gilbert wheels in the trucks?
The 2013 catalog does show replacement high flange wheels on page 23. Could these be wheels to convert to high rail?
Thanks
Unfortunately, problems using scale flanged wheel sets on Gilbert track in a Gilbert operating environment are not unexpected. Early in 1946, Gilbert briefly fitted their new S gauge rolling stock with near scale flanges. This practice was discontinued very quickly in favor of using the large flanges we all know because the trains had chronic derailment problems. Lionel personel were informed of this possibility about 9 months ago.
The election to fit wheels with scale flanges on rolling stock also fitted with traditional Gilbert-style knuckle couplers is a strange one. It would be preferable to fit the new cylindrical hoppers with wheels with hi-rail flanges and offer the extra cost option of obtaining trucks fitted with scale flanges, a la S-Helper/MTH. It is my understanding is that the whole truck needs to be swapped to go hi-rail because of the simulated roller bearings modeled on the new non-traditional rolling stock, but my information may not be up to date
By the way, serious Gilbert collectors keep an eagle eye for early 1946 Gilbert rolling stock, because finding examples fitted with wheels with scale flanges is very unusual.
Bob
