Protocraft and RY Models have imported some great Proto48 trucks. I like them a lot and I use them under a lot of my freight cars. We need a lot more types of trucks to start to get close to the variety of trucks the prototype had.

I can’t afford to place them under all my cars, maybe if I hit the lottery. I have been using two different manufacturers types of O scale trucks converted to Proto48 under a number of my cars.

Intermountain/Protocraft Truck
What a great truck! When you combine the Intermountain truck with their metal wheelsets, it is one of the best rolling O Scale trucks available. But what about Proto48?

Some Protocraft wheelsets will fit into the trucks without any trouble. I mostly have used the 33″ 50-ton, ARA “D” rated axle, double insulated, one wear tread. Some need to have the bluntness filed off the end of the axle to let them fit.

I have also tried the 33″ double-insulated rib-back wheelset in the IM truck. They fit and roll nicely but have a little side-to-side play. I’m not totally sold on them yet. I am testing them under a model currently.

Red Caboose/NWSL Truck
Many O Scale modelers will complain to you, these trucks don’t have the same axle length as the IM trucks. That is actually better for the Proto48 conversion, the NWSL Proto48 wheelsets drop right in and roll great with their pointed axle on Delrin truck side frames. Red Caboose had a Bettendorf and a T-section Bettendorf truck available.

NMRA Proto48 Specification
I measured the wheelsets and find the Protocraft wheelsets are within NMRA spec. Here are the measurements and the measurements are displayed on the NMRA S-4.1 Proto48 Wheel Standards page.

	Check Gauge	Back to Back	Wheel Width	Flange Width	Flange Depth
Specification Range	1.124 1.134	1.100 1.112	0.115 0.120	0.024 0.028	0.022 0.026
NWSL 33″ Freight Wheelsets (no backside wheel detail)	1.132	1.109	0.113	0.026	0.027
Protocraft 33″ rib-back wheelset double insulated axles	1.134	1.108	0.115	0.025	0.026
Protocraft 33″ 50-ton ARA “D” rated axle double insulated, one wear tread	1.129	1.106	0.115	0.025	0.024

Plus and Minus… Opinions
On the plus-side:

• The biggest PLUS I can say about these is they are inexpensive.
• The trucks roll great!
• The trucks do look very nice even without all the brake detail.
• Both have casting marks on the trucks side frames.
• I already had these trucks on the shelf.
• There is no issue with shorting on metal cars because the trucks are plastic.

On the minus-side:

• The NWSL wheelsets are not always 100% within NMRA spec.
• The NWSL wheelsets do not have backside detail on the wheels.
• Both the IM/PC and the RC/NWSL have very little back of journal detail.
• I hate assembling the Red Caboose trucks. I have never been good at inserting them damn springs.
• The Protocraft Rib-Back wheelset does have a little side to side play when installed in an IM Truck.
• Some Protocraft wheelsets need a small point (not really a point as much as knocking off the blunt end of the axle) filed onto the axle.

Overall: The minuses have not held me back from using these trucks for my Proto48 conversions. The cost savings can be even higher if you find some NWSL wheelsets at very low prices at the train shows, since a lot of Proto48 guys dismiss the NWSL wheelsets.

The Red Caboose/NWSL is my standard truck under my converted Lionel Offsets Twins, which currently numbers about 35 cars. The trucks do not have any brake detail at all and the NWSL wheelsets do not have backside of wheel detail either. But they are an inexpensive way to have a great rolling truck. And I feel that is more important under such a heavy car as the Lionel Offset Twin.

The Intermountain Truck was included in every kit they produced. So most O scale modelers should have a good supply on hand from that alone. I was also able to buy 50 pair of trucks for a special price from a local vendor. When combined with the Protocraft Bulk Wheelset Price, it puts the price per truck under $17 each. Compare that to the $52 dollar price for imported trucks. That kind of savings adds up quickly if your freight car fleet is larger than a dozen cars.

Don’t get me wrong, the current imported Proto48 trucks are great! We need more varieties of them. I try to support our Proto48 truck suppliers with my purchases almost every train show I attend. These two truck options help keep the costs of modeling in Proto48 down some. They also provide an easy way for new Proto48 modelers to try proto48 out and see if it is for them.