Roller-turnout idea

[FJ and G]

In March CTT, looking at Benjamin Nigro's solution to the problem with his Beep stalling on turnouts. He wires up a flatcar w/roller truck he installed.

At best, this is a stopgap measure. For shorties like Lionel's 0-6-0, Beep, and K-Line's Plymouth switcher, the whole idea is to switch cars! To permanently attach a flatcar would only benefit those who do circle running, not dedicated switching, which these loco's are intended to do.

One idea would be to reposition the roller on the truck or reposition the truck, if possible.

Another solution would be to study the plastic sections of the turnout at the frog and at the control rail. Is it possible to extend the metal contact rail farther out into the plastic portion?

To find out, run each locomotive, passenger car, caboose and any other roller-equipped car over both ways of the turnout to see EXACTLY where contact is made and lost.

If the plastic portions can be extended, you could either cut away the plastic portion and replace with a rail (the rail may either need to be ground down or shimmed up to fit), or, you could dig out a vertical ditch in the rail and install a copper wire that makes contact with the conductive rail.

Dave V.

[cnw1995]

I know Dave! One just has to model a car-float or a pier where a flatcar would be prototypical. I know some of these units are used for just running short trains - instead of switching. As a quick fix, I like extending the roller-pickup - even on both sides of the engine - I've watched the UP do this with an old transfer caboose in their North Ave. yard here in Chicago.

[jimhaleyscomet]

I just received 2 beeps in the mail. I did notice some switch stalling at very slow speeds across my K-line 027 switches. I used an old (heavy style) transformer lockon wire and cut just a tiny hole where the plastic frog leg (2 legs per switch, one for turnout and one for straight through) )meets the center rail. I stuck one end of the copper (no insulation) wire into the center rail (one for turnout, one for straight through). The other end of the copper wire I "melted into" the plastic of the frog leg using a sodering iron. Now my beeps can crawl through the switch without loosing power.

Jim H

[FJ and G]

Jim H,

Glad to hear that! Did you get the idea before I did? Melting the wire in was something I should have considered. That's how some put wire grabons on their plastic boxcars.

Dave Vergun

[cnw1995]

Great fix, guys. I didn't think of that.

[jimhaleyscomet]

I saw your idea about "extending" the rail and then added the thought of using a thick transformer wire and melting it in. My solid copper wire is a bit thicker than modern Lionel transformer wire but a bit smaller than a dry cleaner coat hanger (tried that, it was too thick). I think it is a 20 year old transformer wire. Anyone know what that gauge would be?

Jim H

[lionelsoni]

The gauge would depend on the power rating of the transformer and therefore on the model number, not that I could tell you if you gave me the number.

O27 track pins are 3/32-inch diameter, or .09375 inch. AWG10 wire is .102 inch, which is pretty close.