Tips - Wobbly Car Fix

by Fred Mills

Have you ever noticed that with some rolling stock, it seems to rock back and forth as if it is off the track or the wheels are lopsided? Yet other similar equipment runs smooth and steady. If so, it might be that your trucks are not properly bolstered and supported. This is particularly true with older USA Trains and Aristo equipment.

Here is a simple little idea to solve the problem. Mount the car on its trucks with one end supported only by the truck center screw, but the other end built up with bolsters that almost, but not quite, touch the trucks.

The process is illustrated using an old wooden boxcar in the following picture.

The bolsters are just styrene strips built into a triangular tube. Notice also the body mounted Kadee #1 coupler.