Silverado model #90050

[diztrek]

Hi, just purchased this set while my layout is now being built. I put the engine on the piece of track and noticed all the wheels are touching except the middle wheels. Anyone else notice this? Still runs okay? Thanks!

[Hunt]

The gap between wheel and rail should be slight. Also observe those middle wheels do not have a flange (known as blind driver).  This permits the locomotive to run through tighter curve.

Click Here to view video about lubricating the large scale Bachmann 4-6-0

[diztrek]

Thanks Hunt!

[ebtnut]

Just by way of background, a lot of real steamers often had blind drivers for the same reason - to better negotiate tight curves.  The flangeless tires were a couple of inches wider than the flanged ones to that they would not drop off the railhead on those tight curves.  Just as a for-instance, the Pennsylvania RR's big I-1 2-10-0's were originally built with three of the five driver sets blind.  In later shop work, most were left with only the center driver blind.