Kadee couplings are a popular choice for railway modellers, particularly those modelling in HO and OO gauge....
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What are Kadee couplings?Read more -
How can I protect my track from oxidisation ?Read moreOxidation, also known as rust, can be a common problem for model railway tracks, especially if they are exposed to...
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.jpg "What is a 'Crab' steam locomotive?")
What is a 'Crab' steam locomotive?Read moreThe name 'Crab' is a nickname given to a type of 2-6-0, mixed-traffic, steam locomotive built by the LMS between 1926...
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What are the benefits of incorporating an electromagnetic decoupler on a layout ?Read moreAn electromagnetic decoupler is a valuable addition to any model railway layout. It provides several benefits that...
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Where is the best place to store my layout when not in use?Read moreOne of the trickiest issues with operating a model train layout is where to store it when not in use. There are a...
What is an A1A-A1A wheel arrangement?
In the UK, an A1A-A1A wheel arrangement was used on some early designs of diesel railway locomotives, most notably the Class 31.
A locomotive with this type of wheel arrangement has two bogies (one at either end of the loco) and each bogie has three axles. The outer axles of each bogie are powered by traction motors, leaving the middle axle unpowered. This setup is what is known as an A1A-A1A wheel arrangement.
One reason for the unpowered axle is to spread the weight of the locomotive across more wheels to give it greater route availability. Another reason is to make the locomotive more stable at higher speeds.
The extra stability provided by an additional axle is achieved thanks to the cone-shaped wheel treads on railway rolling stock. Such wheels naturally find the middle of the rail, so the more wheels there are, the greater the force keeping the locomotive where it should be on the tracks.
Posted in: Rolling stock
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