In 1903 Bettendorf introduced a truck with a T section.
Introduced in 1903, the Bettendorf friction bearing truck was one of
the first truck designs with one-piece cast sideframes and integral
journal boxes.
The original design used a sideframe with a "T" cross section. T-section
trucks remained popular through the twenties, but were eventually
phased out in favor of newer designs (and ultimately banned from
interchange service in 1953). The Bettendorf T-section truck
has never been modeled in N scale, so here's Kadee's HO version (hey, we
can dream, can't we?) -
Significantly stronger trucks featuring a U-shaped cross section
eventually superceded the T-section trucks starting in the 1920s. This
style of
truck, which is most identified with the modern steam and early diesel
eras, has become generically (and incorrectly) known as the "Bettendorf"
truck. The
Bettendorf Co. widely licensed elements of its design, so many builders
besides Bettendorf made trucks of this type (to the point that
the U-section cast steel truck was eventually adopted as an ARA
standard: the Type Y truck). Although each of these trucks (regardless
of the manufacturer)
follows the ARA/AAR standards, many have varying details (sideframe
shape, spring size and styles, bolster design, journal-box lids, etc).
Starting in the 1930s, these trucks were upgraded with
double-truss sideframes (with parts of the U-shaped section being filled
in, creating
a double-layer effect on the sideframes). Model-wise, these trucks are
indistinguishable from the earlier U-Section / Type Y trucks.
Virtually every N scale manufacturer has offered up some sort of
"Bettendorf" style truck at one time or another (and of varying
quality). These are generally
presumed to be 50-ton trucks, although Atlas does make a 40-ton version
(for use on lighter cars such as reefers).
Athearn, Atlas/China, Atlas/Roco, Bachmann (new), Con-Cor, Fox Valley, Intermountain, and Micro-Trains 50-ton -
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