Thank you Simon, it is indeed a bit of a problem! Up until now I have managed not to burden anyone else with pleas for assistance, but these wheels in particular are going to be an exception.
I have an experienced model engineer friend who lives locally, (barely a ten minute walk away) and he has offered help with the machining. He too felt that grey iron was preferable over any other material - and I rather churlishly agreed that it would "look" right into the bargain! He also suggested that I have a look at Kennions website for anything that might be practical for turning to the required maximum of 5" (over flange) diameter. I quite agreed with his reasoning that it didn't matter what the centres were like, even whether they were of a conventionally spoked design - as for my purposes they could readily be disguised with a hard filler!
I went ahead and searched, including Reeves and all sorts of other loco parts suppliers and builders, but the trouble turns out to be that everything available in the right diameter was cast with only enough metal for turning down to gauge "Standard" in tread width/flange profile. Our wheels are a very close match for 7 1/4" (Narrow Gauge) profile, with an absolute minimum of 3/4 inch clear tread width required to match our other wheelsets and existing flangeways!
So far I have found nothing remotely appropriate available out there!
There is however one solitary company that offers a bespoke CNC wheel machining service. It produces all in EN8 bright mild steel. I approached them with an enquiry, and fairly promptly received a quotation. While I am quite sure that the price was an entirely fair one - and indeed I might be convinced that in the overall, grand scheme of things, is small change by comparison with many "essentials" in our particular hobby... but £380 in a single hit (including VAT and delivery) is just too far to stretch my pension allowance at any time - let alone within a month of accepting the current quotation!
Besides, my wife's "Non" was clearly spoken in full blown, unequivocal; "Don't you dare" mode; so I would be an even greater fool to challenge that!
The only other business that advertises 5" diameter 7 1/4 NG profile, CNC milled disc wheels in EN1, has obviously been badly bitten in the past - and emphatically refuses to do bespoke in less than minimum quantities of two dozen!
However, he does offer plain, "off the shelf" ones of that size at £20 each (including the VAT!), and I am happily reassured that they are much more affordable... (this time the good lady guardian of accounts and other wellbeing went "Mmm", accompanied by a familiar slight turn of the head and raised eyebrow of the "Oh well, that's still too much for my liking - but I suppose you will go ahead and buy it anyway")!
Unfortunately, the latter fine gentleman declared that he has cleared all his remaining stock... due to being otherwise occupied at present, and was politely vague about when he might produce a new run.
The big worry for me now is that for whatever reason, good or bad, he might not... and that would leave me completely scuppered... unless in the unlikely event that someone just so happens to have already purchased some - and don't want them any more... and that by pure luck I chance upon the advertisement?!
I would really like to be able to trust everyone in our business and hobby, and am sure most are entirely worthy, but I'm painfully well aware of how easy it is to say "yes" and make all sorts of promises - only to utterly fail in fulfilling them. I have caused way too many decent, good hearted people completely inexcusable and totally unnecessary anguish over so many years, so I clearly don't deserve, nor expect anything better of anyone else.
Pete.
