Video showing the operation of the Lionel Gantry Crane

[wrmcclellan]

Very cool! Smooth operation on the gantry movement!

[dsmith]

Earl,

At first I also used washers glued to the top of loads and had the same problem that you described, the electromagnet would be attracted to the side of the washer and would pick it up crooked.  The best solution I found was to use round head upolstery tacks.  The magnet would then be attracted to the center of the curved head. 

[EIS2]

How did you attach magnetic material to your loads? I tried gluing on metal washers to a load, but every time the magnet was energized, the magnet would move to the side of the washer. As a result, when the load was lifted, it was cocked to one side and did not hang vertically.

Earl

[bobhwalker]

Very nice video. I added back and forth motion to my gantry crane in an article in the TTOS magazine The Bulletin in July, 2008. I used a gearbox located in a small shack. Still working today.

[dsmith]

Here is a video showing of my Lionel 6-2316 operating magnetic gantry crane.

  This is a reissue of the Lionel postwar 282 that uses two motors instead of a single motor with a clutch.  The crane cab rotates and the hook moves up and down.  Detailed instruction on how to move the Gantry Crane back and forth are in the November 2009 "CLASSIC TOY TRAINS" magazine.