Plastic wheels vs Non-Plastic (metal?) wheels.

[lionwing]

Is there a thought process that metal wheels are better than plastic wheels for rolling stock?

[oscar]

Good site! http://www.nmra.org/beginner/wheelsets.html

[Paddy]

Great site, really useful.

Personally, I have replaced the shiney old metals wheels on my rolling stock with newer blackened Graham Farish sets.  These look much better IMHO and run well.  One thing though, you could do with getting a B2B gauge if you have not got one.  The wheels on these sets are not fixed on the axle and can move.

The only "plastic" wheels I have left are on PECO rolling stock.  I really like their wheels as they look good, seem to be quite fine and have a fixed B2B.  One thing I tend to do though is to remove the white line of wagons wheels when they have added it (fibre glass pen).

Hope this helps.

Paddy

[elmo]

Some  people go with metal wheels as they say that they do not pick up track dirt so easily.
Years ago I was shocked to find 'dirt tyres' around my metal carriage wheels. I was surprised at that time as to the shear quantity of muck that you pick up.
Since this time I carry out regular wagon wheel cleaning by putting a meths soaked cotton sheet over some old track and push my wagons along to clean the wheels off. Each wagon is done about twice a year, or more if extra running causes the wheel to lose its shine.
As an 'add-on' I have ben doing this N gauge thing for some time. I have a peco open wagon which I purchased second-hand in 1982. I had to replace an axle 2010-11ish as the point on the end of the axle had formed a lump/burr. I dont know what mileage it has done but a good innings for any axle.

Elmo

[scotsoft]

For me it's just pure choice, I prefer the look of metal wheels 

cheers John.

[GrahamB]

All my stock have metal wheels. They are easier to clean and don't seem to pick up dirt so easily.