Track width of Model Locomotives

[Dave Powell 2Participant @davepowell2]

Hi folks, after a bit of advice here – I am currently rebuilding a 7 1/4 inch model locomotive. I thought things were going along nicely until I measured the distance between the wheels. Being a 7 1/4 inch gauge I expected the distance between the outsides of the flanges to be a tad over 7 1/4 inches. It's actually quite a lot less than that at about 6 7/8. The wheels are wide enough so that it's not going to fall through the track but is this likely to cause me any problems? It's a pretty big job to make new axles and to sort the quartering, which I would rather avoid as the loco is now well progressed. I wish I had checked it earlier but took it for granted that it would be ok as it is a very well run loco. Thanks in advance.

[Dave Powell 2Participant @davepowell2]

[nigel jones 5Participant @nigeljones5]

it might be spot on already! you need to measure inside edge of flanges as this is what matters.

[MichaelRParticipant @michaelr]

Standards for 71/4" gauge Here click to enlarge on page.

Mike.

[Dave Powell 2Participant @davepowell2]

I should have said – I compared it with another loco, which is where I got the measurement reference points from. With the bit of test rail that I have there is a good 3/16 or more between the inner edge of the rail and the flanges on the wheels. I also have a 040 Romulus and the distance between flanges on that is a generous 7 1/4. For interest the distance between the inside edges of the flanges is approx. 6 5/8 inches.

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

That does sound to be a bit narrow. The European standard gives inside dimension as 172 mm minimum and distance from the inside of one flange to the outside of the other as 176 maximum, with the flanges between 3 and 4 mm thick.

Russell.

Edited By Russell Eberhardt on 27/02/2016 09:48:01

[Dave Powell 2Participant @davepowell2]

Thanks for the information , gentlemen, looks like I have some extra work to do….

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