One hundred ninety years ago flanged steel wheels became the standard for worldwide railroading.

Trackmobile® subscribes to that standard for the same reasons as the railroads:

• Steel wheels are more durable than rubber or polyurethane
  
• The coefficient of friction for steel on steel is more consistent over a range of conditions (snow, ice, rain, contamination) than the coefficient for rubber or polyurethane on steel
  
• Steel wheels have far superior performance in handling shear force, compression force, and friction between wheel and rail
  
• Steel wheels have far less rolling resistance than rubber or polyurethane tires
  
• Steel wheels are unaffected by raised frogs, switch points, gaps between rails and by material packed into grade crossings
  
• Steel wheels maintain point contact with the rail while rubber pneumatic tires deform over the 2 inch (51mm) width of the railhead
  
• Steel wheels are puncture-proof while rubber tires must be either solid rubber or foam-filled to avoid puncture

For these reasons, steel wheels have always been chosen over rubber in serious railroading.

42,000lbs (19,000kg) Vehicle on standard rail

Wear due to compression and shear

Raised frogs

Rail Gap