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Where to buy flanged wheels

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      Trainguy01 Station Master

    Location: Casino
    Hello everyone.

    So I have this rail bike that needs flanged wheels to stay on the tracks (for use on an abandoned railway of course). Im basically looking for some relatively cheap and small, flanged wheels. These can be second hand. Does anyone know where one can obtain 4 items of this description?

    Any help would be greatly appreciated.


    Cheers, Wayne
    Posted: 17 Feb 2016 18:58

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      QSB6.7 Chief Train Controller

    Location: Going off the rails on a crazy train.
    When you find some, please let Victoria know.
    Posted: 17 Feb 2016 18:59
      Newcastle Express Chief Commissioner

    So I have this rail bike that needs flanged wheels to stay on the tracks (for use on an abandoned railway of course).
    Trainguy01

    It may be abandoned, but have you got permission from the rail company to use the track?
    Posted: 17 Feb 2016 19:59
      Bills_Billboards Chief Commissioner

    go to a engineering shop give them dimentions you need and size for axles etc etc and get them made up to suit , even draw up a diagram of what you require made
    Keep in mind just because a rail line has been disused for any amount of time to use it you still need permission from the owners of the line be it government or private
    you can be charged with tresspass at the very least
    Posted: 17 Feb 2016 22:30
      TomBTR Chief Train Controller

    Location: near Sydney
    The Americans buy fiberglass wheels for trolleys that are light enough to go on the roof of a car. However their rail bikes often do not use flanged wheels. A rollerskate size block runs ahead of the bike and forces the front wheel to follow the rail. There is an outrigger to a small unflanged wheel that rolls on the far rail. The rear wheel of the bike is unguided and just follows along. both bike wheels are normal road tires. The guide block is able to be swung upwards to allow the bike to be manually steered when ridden on the road.

    Then there is the Philippine approach of using ball bearings to provide guidance and to carry the weight of the trolley. Just replace one carrying wheel with a driven rubber wheel. Here's how they do it, motive power is cheap there:



    https://youtu.be/w2LlWKgMNAQ

    Seriously, some disused railways are technically just "service suspended" while others are formally closed but still owned, while others are truly abandoned. So whatever you build, use it carefully.
    Posted: 17 Feb 2016 23:06

    Last edited by TomBTR on 17 Feb 2016 23:12; edited 1 time in total
      Bogong Chief Commissioner

    Location: Essendon Aerodrome circa 1980
    It was always my dream to mount a small electric engine and a few car batteries on a basic frame like a 2 metre ladder with flanged wheels and run it along the 2 foot gauge Rubicon Aqueduct tramway system near Marysville. But it was abandoned about 15 years ago and there are now a few spots where the rails are missing, so a couple of portages would be neccesary.

    But 7 km of the 3 foot gauge Bogong Creek Aqueduct built for the Kiewa Hydro System is still in good condition. There are stories (probably apocryphal) about adventurers running lawn mower engine powered trolleys along it to take in stores for winter assaults on Mt Bogong.
    Posted: 17 Feb 2016 23:39
      Trainguy01 Station Master

    Location: Casino
    Thanks for the replies everyone.

    I've thought about the unflanged wheel approach, but from other projects I've found on the web, the guide wheels seem to require a lot more materials to get them to stay in place, and then you have the issue of wear, plus the flanged wheels tend to stay on the rails better. However if I cannot get some flanged wheels, my last resort will have to be the unflanged wheels.

    Any other suggestions in the mean time?

    Oh and this is the design of bike I  am going for (credit to the people at bike blender http://bikeblender.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/rail-bike.html)
    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6qZ04kP4NlM/ULzcBUHW2nI/AAAAAAAAEU0/IkkPff5IGN4/s1600/DSCF7122.JPG
    Posted: 18 Feb 2016 07:07

    Last edited by Trainguy01 on 18 Feb 2016 08:12; edited 2 times in total
      ssaunders Train Controller

    So I have this rail bike that needs flanged wheels to stay on the tracks (for use on an abandoned railway of course).

    It may be abandoned, but have you got permission from the rail company to use the track?
    Newcastle Express

    Maybe he does, but the OP wasn't asking for a moral answer, just a technical one of sorts.
    Posted: 18 Feb 2016 08:48
      gordon_s1942 Chief Commissioner

    Location: Central Tablelands of NSW
    Technically the flange is only to stop the wheel face from slipping off the head of the rail with the Tire riding on a very narrow strip providing traction.
    Providing you only propose to travel at a walking speed you shouldnt need too much of a profile of the tyre/flange but speed up and you'll soon find it will derail, even on a straight.
    The 3 wheel Pull 'Trikes' were notorious for getting the outrigger wheel  out of alignment.
    Riding on long sections of welded rail is like roller skating on a rink but on older smaller 30 foot rails that have been 'crowed' to make a curve and where each rail joins is a potential hazard if the wheels are not correctly aligned and in good condition.

    One afternoon many years ago I rode home with a rerailing gang on a 3 man each side seating one cylinder water cooled 'Fairmont' engine gang car between Brewongle and Locksley at an unknown (but BLOODY fast) speed on newly laid welded rail and it was FANTASTIC !!!!
    Posted: 18 Feb 2016 13:51
      TomBTR Chief Train Controller

    Location: near Sydney
    Ok Wayne, I see that you have done your research. My next suggestion is to contact someone connected with the link you posted and to find where they bought their wheels and then import some from the same place. The combination of Paypal and USPS flat-rate boxes works well.

    When I was very young I dreamed of running down the closed reserved track tram line from the zoo towards Athol wharf. By the time I could persuade my dad to get me flanged wheels for my billy cart we had moved away from Mosman and the road had been widened over the track.
    Posted: 18 Feb 2016 15:55
      Trainguy01 Station Master

    Location: Casino
    Ok Wayne, I see that you have done your research. My next suggestion is to contact someone connected with the link you posted and to find where they bought their wheels and then import some from the same place. The combination of Paypal and USPS flat-rate boxes works well.

    When I was very young I dreamed of running down the closed reserved track tram line from the zoo towards Athol wharf. By the time I could persuade my dad to get me flanged wheels for my billy cart we had moved away from Mosman and the road had been widened over the track.
    TomBTR
    That sounds like a great idea Tom. Oh and sorry to hear about the last part of your comment, governments sure do hate railways, eh? (the Newcastle line is a great example)
    Posted: 18 Feb 2016 16:19
      Spinner5711 Train Controller

    I would desist from such a venture because you will fall foul of rail legislation and you could end up with some very hefty fines.  Any abandoned line is most likely to be wider than 60cm (easier than than say 1' 11½") gauge so legislation covers those lines.  Additionally, you could get done for trespass.  Be very careful.
    Posted: 19 Feb 2016 03:24
      Trainguy01 Station Master

    Location: Casino
    I would desist from such a venture because you will fall foul of rail legislation and you could end up with some very hefty fines.  Any abandoned line is most likely to be wider than 60cm (easier than than say 1' 11½") gauge so legislation covers those lines.  Additionally, you could get done for trespass.  Be very careful.
    Spinner5711
    Yeah, I am aware of this. As long as I stay hidden and in the more rural parts of the track I will be fine.
    Posted: 19 Feb 2016 06:49
      KRviator Moderator

    Location: Up the front
    Right up until the time you're not, said just like every other twit who knowingly breaks the law.

    Have you considered what happens if you injure someone on one of your illegal sojourns? Or you hurt yourself? Or even something as simple as damaging your car while driving to your ontracking point?

    Do what you want, but don't solicit help on here for your illegal antics.
    Posted: 19 Feb 2016 10:35

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