Reversing handcar

[dsmith]

Hi,

Does anyone know if there is an O scale handcar (with normal looking workers pumping away)that has reversing bumpers or some way of reversing when it hits a track bumper?  All the ones I have seen only go in one direction.  Or is there a way to get them to reverse, perhaps by modifying the motor and using DC?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

dsmith,

           MTH has made reversing handcars.  They reverse when the strike a bumper or other solid object.  The MTH website is: www.mth-railking.com

Go to the Product Locator and search for "handcar" (without the quotes), and it should give you items that match your search.  There will also be a link (on an items info page) that will tell you who has the item in stock.  Hope this helps.

[njalb1]

[laz 57]

MTH has the only reversing hand car that I know of.  But for scale people on a regular hand car you can't beat the Industrial Rail ones. Check on Ebay for about $25.

laz57

[dsmith]

Thanks for the MTH advice.  Would you know if the MTH or Industrial Rail Handcars use a traction tire on one of the wheels?  I am having trouble  with a K-Line Speeder with traction tire that hangs sometimes as it goes over track sections that have an insulated rail. 

[laz 57]

DSMITH,

  I have had the same problem and used the smallest of rubber bands that they sell in one of those all types rubber band packs and it worked great, just put one on.

laz57

[jprampolla]

Hi Folks,

     Lionel has a Denver and Rio Grande Western handcar

 

in their new catalog.  I have removed the little rectifier in a Lionel handcar and run it on DC so it will reverse when reversing polarity.    If the DC is filtered, the handcars run very smoothly.

     CTT has a free PDF on improving handcar performance and adding a reversing unit: http://www.trains.com/ctt/default.aspx?c=a&id=720

Take care, Joe. 

[lionelsoni]

It is possible to reverse a DC handcar automatically with a single two-pole relay:

Connect one side of an incandescent lamp to the positive side of a DC supply.  Connect the other side of the lamp to a control rail (isolated section of outside rail) at one end of the track and to one side of the relay coil.  Connect the other side of the relay coil to a control rail at the other end of the track and to the anode of a rectifier diode.  Connect the cathode of the rectifier to the outside rails generally.  Wire up the DC supply to the track through the relay contacts, so that the contacts reverse the polarity to the track, with the outside rails negative when the relay is operated.

The relay coil and the lamp should be suitable for the DC voltage used.  The lamp should be large enough that the coil gets almost all of the supply voltage when the two are in series across the supply.  A lighted bumper or signal might be a nice touch, since it will light when the handcar approaches it.

[Anonymous]

It is possible to reverse a DC handcar automatically with a single two-pole relay:

Connect one side of an incandescent lamp to the positive side of a DC supply.  Connect the other side of the lamp to a control rail (isolated section of outside rail) at one end of the track and to one side of the relay coil.  Connect the other side of the relay coil to a control rail at the other end of the track and to the anode of a rectifier diode.  Connect the cathode of the rectifier to the outside rails generally.  Wire up the DC supply to the track through the relay contacts, so that the contacts reverse the polarity to the track, with the outside rails negative when the relay is operated.

The relay coil and the lamp should be suitable for the DC voltage used.  The lamp should be large enough that the coil gets almost all of the supply voltage when the two are in series across the supply.  A lighted bumper or signal might be a nice touch, since it will light when the handcar approaches it.

   I couldn't find what you charge to make this minor modification (in kit form with accompanying  diagram), on your website. 

Did I miss it?            

 

[spankybird]

Here is a pic of the MTH hand car. I have had it for several years with no problems

Here is a pic next to a K-line

tom

[lionelsoni]

Well, I screwed up.  David built the circuit I described, and it didn't work.  It can be done with switches at the ends of the track, but not as simply as I claimed, with control rails.  I have sent him a schematic for that version, which I would post here if I knew how.

[msacco]

I have the same exact mth/railking handcar as Spankybird. Again no problems. It's made well and works very nicely. Can't go wrong with this one.

Mike S.

[Anonymous]

Well, I screwed up.  David built the circuit I described, and it didn't work.  It can be done with switches at the ends of the track, but not as simply as I claimed, with control rails.  I have sent him a schematic for that version, which I would post here if I knew how.

Bob email it to me and I'll post it for you.

Brent

[warner brook]

  hi 

  jim`s train shop in homer city pa has them for sale this week.

                                          dutchman