I assume you mean as an axle bearing not a complete block. Oilite bearings need to be soaked in oil to replenish not fed from an oil point, also they like to work in a clean environment. They may be ok but I think you would be better off with something like a Glacier bearing or solid phosphor bronze. Glacier bearings or whatever they are called these days are steel shells with a bearing material on the bore. They are available with a bronze type bore with dimples for holding lubricant. Having said that with the right design any bearing could be used.

Would needle roller bearings be an option?

Personally I think a plain bronze bearing with an oiling system would be better. The ability to run oil through will get rid of most of the dust that will be around when working. Needle roller bearings would need a hard and ground shaft with seals both sides. I am not saying you would need Ra 0.4 or 68Rc but it would need a good finish and fit to ensure that the needles rotated correctly. Sealed needle bearings have a more substantial outer ring than a simple drawn cup type which would need separate seals. Also you have to take into account out of alignment both static and when moving. Plain bearing would allow the easiest way of modifying the clearance between the shaft and bearing bore to correct the running clearance.

I would suggest that cast iron would be a good way to go. On an electric loco needle rollers should be ok, there is no ash, there might be water off the track, but that will effect any bearing.

Ian S C

At least 2 locos (steam) in our club use oilite, and have run for years and years. Don't plan on machining them, certainly not the bore as it closes up the pores and makes the self oiling ineffective. The hole you press them in to should be slightly undersize, then the bore closes down to the right size. Plenty of info on fitting on the interweb. Press them in, not hammer!

this is probably nit picking, but don't take the oil hole right through the bush. The highest pressure is at the top. A long time ago some railway engineer arranged a test rig of an axle and axle box. He had a felt pad at the bottom, and a feed hole in the top. When the axle was rotating it pumped oil off the pad and out through the feed hole. If you want to feed oil to the bearing/axle interface, move the feed hole so that it is tangential to the joint line, preferably at the back in the normal direction of running

joint between axle and bush, hole is tangential to axle would have been a better way of putting it