Re: SP 4334 question
Author: Bill
Date: 06-25-2017 - 21:05
The spoked wheels had a habit of getting cracks where the spoke joined the wheel rim. Something about slinging all that iron around in circles, going around curves even with cross counter balancing at 50,60 MPH and the force having to go somewhere. Check out a restored steam locomotive on display with spoked wheels and look for welds where the spokes meet the rims. Hence some of the railroads started using solid center wheels. SP changed out allot of their #2 drivers on their Mountains to solid wheel centers. They did it to some Pacifics too.
Bill