456 Coal Ramp. Early version with the wire rail. ??????

[Anonymous]

Does anybody know how the wire rail on the early version ramp get secured in the upper, (tower) part of the ramp? And second, what is a close match to replace the wire? I know that the string on the later version is spring loaded and has an eyelet crimpt on the string line behind a small fiber washer, but on the early version, I can't remember if it is the same. The repair manual shows for string line version only. Thanks in advance. Ric

[nitroboy]

I used aluminum welding wire for my coal ramp. I just bent the ends in the tower part to secure it. I guess you could use any small diameter stiff wire that's the right length.

[nitroboy]

Pictures didn't work. I'll tray again.

[Chris F]

Ric,

FWIW, the Lionel reissue of the #456 Coal Ramp (6-14005) uses wire rails. The tower ends are bent at a 90-degree angle and inserted into small holes in the tower.

The wire itself is silver-colored (stainless?), very stiff, and has a diameter just small enough to fit through the holes in the supports.

[SPFan]

I don't know if the original used a single strand of music (spring temper) wire or stranded but you can get either type from http://www.smallparts.com/ They also sell aluminum crimp connectors to terminate the stranded wire.

Pete