Erik C Lindgren posted:Thanks Richard and Rheil. I wasn't sure. I would certainly start buying P48 equipment if offered. I don't have the courage to take on converting anything I have now.
The change in gauge is not the significant visual change, for locomotives or rolling stock, for someone that already has OW5 track, it's the change in the treadwidth that is huge. Changing the treadwidth from .145 to .115 allows you to pull the sideframes in more than 1/8" (in some cases more than 3/8" for repurposed O Gauge trucks) and is very noticeable; at least to me. It allows all those things that interfere with truck rotation, stirrups, pilots, etc, to get out of the way.
Some of Gary Schrader's Youtube videos regarding the Key cab forwards discuss this. The Midwestern SD45s will be available in both gauges with .115 wheels and Erik says the difference is not noticeable, the truck sideframes are spaced the same distance apart on both. The same is true for Protocraft trucks.
Of course if you don't already have OW5 track... The track is noticeably different to me too for less than 1/10" difference.
