Is there any need for side control springs on loco bogies and pony trucks?

[Will L]

Isn't the first issue actually keeping the things on the rails?

True and ensuring they carry sufficient weight is the key, but the thought which was behind this thread was whether side control springing was of value or even worth fitting. Such springs aren't there to transmit weight, though they may do that too.

[Tim V]

I'm going to comment, but then I am a heretic - I don't use CSB!

No.

I use rubbing plates and sprung trucks. No side control.

[stephenfreeman]

It's been a while since I did any loco building but when using the Perserverance kits, I always found the side control spring to work quite well and the loco certainly looked to go round the curves more realistically than if the spring was omiited.