Hello phillyreading......

I used to have soild rail atlas track, i think it is nickle silver rail so it is not magn-traction type rail.  one thing  to be aware of is that the rail joiners are soft metal (thin) and they dont stay on tight to make a good soild connection between track sections.   I believe later  production runs, the rail joiners were harder (thicker) and that it has improved the connections tightness.   The tracks is well made, except maybe the switches but check it out.
the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany

Hello Phillyreading.......

is the lionel # 224 entire wheel is hard steel ? or its zinc wheels with steel tire ?
the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany

Hello PhillyReading.......
thats interesting to know SMILE.  i wonder if that ultra expensive  pre-war 700E scale hudson of 1937,38  with its pot metal (zinc) driver centers and flanges do in terms of wear ? But they do come with nickel plated steel tires.  It is the driver flanges that take the most wear & tear like the lionel 726's berkshires as i have seen alot of them on evil-bay.  but the 736's have harder wheels and flanges so  that helps.  The williams berkshires have harden driver wheels and flanges and nickle plated steels tires with traction tires and without makes them best runners with least amout of flanged wear.  my williams berkshire has been runing on lionel fastrack for 40 hours now and the berkshire's flanges are wearing out the curve sections of the outside rail  and very little wear and tear on the williams berkshire's drivers flanges !!!
the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany

Hello rOgruth.........
I didnt make up these stories, what will i gain from it ? all i know is that when i was bowsing in the E-bay looking at lionel FM and some showed parts and i saw one of the power wheel trucks without the sideframes for the 2321 and it showed the wheels with heavy grooves on it but was missing roller pick up assemblies. it looked like pulleys........SMILE
the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany

Hello Joe Satnik......
i guess so.......... i had grooves on the roller pick ups on my lionel 2383 back in 1974.......LOL. I wish i still had it.

the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany

Hello Joe Satnik....

no, i dont think so because the engine was a postwar lionel 2321 FM, didnt use any traction tires back then i think.......
the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany

hello Joe Satnik.........

doesn't the tube type track wear grooves on the wheels of engines, ? i have seen some heavy wears on locomotive's wheels on evil-bay as they look like pulleys !!!!!  lol
the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany

Hello Phillyreading......
I agree the fastrack switches the remote control ones are super expensive so i use the manuals which they are like 39 dollars a pop and still bit expensive.

the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany

hello Phillyreading......

that is interesting, but with my fixed income i am stuck with fastrack.  what other trackage did you use that didnt have a problem with metal blind wheels shorting out ?  i was thinking of using tube type williams track and run the trains on the carpet as my husband and i live in 850 sq apt.

the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany

Hello 3rail...

you are right, the metal blind wheels DOES short out on the lionel fastrack switches. i had lionel trainmaster that had metal blind wheels and it shorts out on the switches.  then i bought a williams sd-45 and it has the plastic blind wheels and its no longer a problem, i am glad they put plastic ones this time (smart move) I run my sd-45 on lionel fastrack switches no problems at all.  SMILE.   its too bad that you dont have a williams santa fe caboose as i been trying to find one and i gave up and bought a MTH railking santa fe caboose.  whats new for williams 2011?
the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany

hello phillyreading...
I guess mine is the latest sd-45 (made in 2007) with the traction tires and last axle (blind) is plastic, the cab # 5622 santa fe.  it is good idea to wire  2 engines together for doubleheading. did i read you correct that the older ones have metal blind wheel on the last axle ?
the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany

Hello Mr. Satnik............

my goodness !!  190 freight cars ? i will never have that many but least 8.  and even 8 cars is plenty for my tiny layout lol.  i guess williams 6 axle diesels are stump pullers offen more than steamers ?

the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany

Hello DominicMazoch........

my goodness !!, 6 of those 15 inch cars, that must be looooooong train !!! i only have room for least 90 inch train oh well.

the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany

hello Mr. Satnik......

would you happen to have same information like the berkshire about the williams sd-45's in the CTT ?

the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany

Hello rOgruth........

wow 37 cars with single williams berkshire !!! that is better than i expected.

the woman who loves toy trains
Tiffany