HO Dalman trucks, Tahoe Model Works

Being that I am a confirmed truck geek ..........

Has anyone ever used the HO 50-ton Dalman 2-spring level trucks from Tahoe Model Works for a freight car? I'm going to order a couple pair tomorrow.

The SLSF did not use the Dalman truck, so many of you might not be familiar with them. They had a unique spring assembly - the spring bundle was made up of springs of two different lengths. The idea was that this would help minimize swaying and rolling of the car from the trucks. The Frisco didn't use them - used the ACF A-3 and Barber S-2 instead, but C&O, CGW, IT, L&N, Milw, MKT, NC&StL, PM, Texaco, ATSF, CN, CP, CNJ, CB&Q, CNW, IC, MP, IOGN, StLB&M, NP, RI and SP all saw value in the Dalman trck designs.

The Dalman spring bundle along each side of the center line of the truck bolster were longer than the spring bundles at the outside edge of the bolster. Since the springs were of different length, they tended to dampen oscillations and swaying better than a spring bundle of all equal length springs.

Even though the Frisco didn't use the Dalman design (at least I'm not aware of it!), I'm going to put them on something as they are a neat looking truck, a definite different look. All solid bearings, no roller bearings (at least that's the way the HO trucks are). i'll post review after I receive them.

Ken

 

Are you putting them on a foreign road car? I would like to see how they look, they sound interesting.

 

Yes, but I haven't picked what car yet. Lots of roads to pick from, but I'll have to see what types of cars they used the Dalman on. I know they were used on some tank cars.

Ken

PS - Here's a comment on the use of Dalman trucks I picked up on the internet, FYI:

"Many of these trucks were used under 40' and 50' auto boxes into the 1930s (at which point ARA/AAR trucks became more popular). Circa 1947, Illinois Terminal purchased 40' AAR boxcars using two-level trucks (the last known use under new cars). Circa 1956, ATSF replaced the National B-1 trucks under their 50' steel reefers with Dalman two-level trucks salvaged from retired auto boxes. Although never officially banned from interchange, Dalman trucks eventually vanished from the rails as their cars were either retired from service or retrofit with newer truck designs. As such, it's unlikely that many (if any) of these trucks were still in use by the 1970s."

 

Ken
Is there a ink to see what your talking about? They do sound interesting.

 

Tom -

Tahoe appears to not have a web page. I've also recently heard word they are bankrupt, so the trucks might not even be available any more. I'm going to contact a couple of "pushers" today to see if they can still be had.

Attached below is a pic of the flyer Tahoe sent me about two years ago. It shows the two styles of 50-ton Dalmans, with and without the Barber Lateral Motion device. I should have ordered them then.

This was a good truck idea when it was introduced, but I think the later introduction of the ASF A-3 "Ride Control" truck, which provided even better performance, killed it. Interestingly, ASF built many of these trucks for Dalman. The Dalman truck used eight springs, while most other trucks of the time used five.

I'm still going to try to obtain a pair, as I'm a truck geek and like to see different style trucks roll by, like we used to see on the prototype. They all mostly look alike today.

Ken

 

Thanks. Another source. But, they are only showing the Dalman that has the Barber lateral motion device. They do not show the Dalman without the device, which Tahoe also makes/made. Some roads used the truck equipped with the device, some did not.

Ken

 

Heck, Ken. You've got me wanting to get a pair now and maybe put them under some Westerfield kit of some sort. Maybe a Missouri Pacific car from the early 20s to stay within my era. I need more foreign road cars anyway.

 

Jim - Go for it. Order a pair of the Dalman's with the Barber lateral motion device. That's what MoPac used. Put them under some big boxcar, like a MP 50ft box of the time.

Ken

 

I'm on it. I just ordered a pair plus a pair of archbars for future projects. Now to shop for an appropriate MP box car.

 

Jim -

One possibility .... if you can find one .... would be the Roundhouse 2100 series 50-ft outside braced single sheathed box car, either single door or double door. It's a good looking, early era wood OB box car model that would likely have ridden on Dalman trucks on the MP. I'm pretty sure the MP had 'em - I had the MP model that Roundhouse did, but sold it long ago. The undec double door was #2140, single door was #2100. BTW, they did a Frisco version - #2138, though no Dalman trucks. Look for these on eBay or in hobby shops. Don't know what the MP item number was.

Ken

 

Found one on eBay and it's a MoPac, 2119. Thanks. Much easier than a resin kit

 

Good news Jim! As I recall, it was a pretty decent looking model. Glad you found a MoP. Post pics of it riding on those Dalmans!

I have diagrams that show 1925 and 1927 build dates, ACF. Some of them were not retired until 1966.

Ken

 

50' outside braced Missouri Pacific box car. $10.99. The seller is on vacation so it won't let me "buy it now".

 

Sherrel - I think that's the one I had.

Ken

 

Thanks, I just bought that one.

 

Great day! My mailbox had two packages in it: the trucks and the MoPac boxcar. What a nice coincidence I have to make spacers to adjust the ride height so I'll post a pic later this evening.

 

These trucks are really nice! I painted them by drybrushing a mix of RR Tie Brown and rust. I used the same mix to paint the wheel sets. I love the spring detail and their uniqueness so I just had to very lightly drybrush them with white just to highlight them a bit. The boxcar is huge compared to my fleet of 40 footers so this car will be pulled by my Russian. You see, I want a train for the different time periods of the Zalma Branch and this is for the 1925 end of the spectrum. This was a very fun and quick project. Thanks for the motivation, Ken!