Model Railroading > Athearn 'blue box' 57' reefers

I have a Tropicana 12 car set and about ten other Athearn blue box 57' reefers.  I have updated the couplers on them, but would also like to do so with the wheels.  Are the stock wheels 33" or 36"?  And should I stick with the size they came with, if they were 33s?   

I run 33's om my Athearn Mechanical reefers.

Paul B
Canton, GA

 The prototype were 70 ton cars and therefore used 33" wheels.

If the cars have the older plastic wheels, may I suggest you replace them with metal wheels? There's quite a few brands to choose from and you'll be happy you did!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/19 14:59 by ghemr.

Thanks for the confirmation on the wheel size.  This will help me start the process of replacing the plastic wheels with metal ones.  

Since I was changing wheels anyway I've used 36 inch wheels on a few Blue box freight cars so I wouldn't have to add two shims on the truck to raise the car to the proper coupler height. They run fine.

Posted from iPhone

6432 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Since I was changing wheels anyway I've used 36
> inch wheels on a few Blue box freight cars so I
> wouldn't have to add two shims on the truck to
> raise the car to the proper coupler height. They
> run fine.
>

Whatever floats your boat.... the only reason wheel size matters at all with models is the appearance. The size difference is noticeable if you care to look.