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Does your railway prefer stock with plain or roller bearings?

Discussion in 'Heritage Rolling Stock' started by windytinker, Apr 6, 2018.

  1. windytinker

    windytinker New Member

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    Good evening all. While visiting preserved lines I notice some seem to prefer running BR mark 1's on Commonwealth bogies and suchlike with greased roller bearings, while others seem to seek BR1 bogies with whitemetal bearings.

    I was wondering whether individual lines have their own policies of standardisation or is it a case of running what you have. Do you find the servicing the greased bearings is easier, or do you find it easier and cheaper to set yourselves up for whitemetaling your own bearing crowns?

    Back when I was involved with loco's I remember being told roller bearings were supposed to be moved at least once a week to stop the rollers sinking into and damaging the inner and outer rings of the bearing? With today's sometime's intermittent use is this found to be a problem?

    Sorry for all the questions! Pete
     
  2. olly5764

    olly5764 Well-Known Member

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    It's a matter of running what you have
     
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  3. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    In the earlier days of BR disposing of Mark 1's they wanted any Commonwealth and B4 bogies back so the coaches had to be swapped to Mk.1 bogies. Later acquisitions were sold with the more modern bogies.
     
  4. 240P15

    240P15 Well-Known Member

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    Hi there :) Just a question from me.
    One (or two?) of the GWR coaches located at SVR has blue painted axleboxes and I just wondered if it has something to do with this topic (plain/vs. roller bearings)?

    Knut
     
  5. ady

    ady Well-Known Member

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    I remember a guard at Swanage preferring coaches with BR1s as it was easier to check the brake blocks.
     
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  6. olly5764

    olly5764 Well-Known Member

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    Not really, the GWR only used plain bearings.
     
  7. 240P15

    240P15 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for your reply olly5764:).
     
  8. olly5764

    olly5764 Well-Known Member

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    I can't remember what the exact reason was behind it, I'll have to ask again when I get chance.
     
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  9. cav1975

    cav1975 Member

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    When we bought the ballast hoppers for the Isle of Wight from London Underground about 30 years ago we chose the two with roller bearings for the lower rolling resistance of these heavy vehicles.We left the 12 or so others with plain bearings for the scrap man to have. We have not been disappointed.
     
  10. Hunslet589

    Hunslet589 New Member

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    AIUI the blue axleboxes were introduced in 1927 to indicate to those who needed to know, that the boxes involved should receive a different oiling regime due to the type of plain bearing within. These were a mod to what had been used before and needed a change in the maintenance applied.

    Mike
     
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  11. 240P15

    240P15 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks a lot for your information Mike! :) The "mysteri" is solved and I can sleep again at night:D

    Knut
     

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