I volunteer at a trolley museum, where we have a 3-rail layout with which to entertain 'children' of all ages. In order to avoid nonstop running, or an overheated transformer, the layout is set up so that there is a pushbutton in front of the layout, and pressing this button will turn on the transformer, which has the throttle pre-set to a safe running speed. We have a Bachmann 'Peter Witt' trolley that I've long wanted to see running on the layout. The trouble is, of course, that any train on the 3 rail layout must be locked in forwards. And the Peter Witt car has no visible reverse-lockout switch that I could find on the underside of the car. And I gave it a good look too!
So here's what I'd really, really appreciate- it seems like Bachmann just didn't put a lockout switch on this car, so I would need to do it the 'hard way'. if there is anybody who might be able to help me out with a wiring diagram that could show me how to bypass the reverse board, or better yet, how to instal a switch to toggle the reverse board on and off, that would be brilliant! It's a really nice looking model, and as nice as it looks on one of our many display shelves, it would be very fun to give it a spin on the layout now and then.
"Unless bought from a known and trusted dealer who can vouch otherwise, assume every train for sale requires servicing before use"
I don't know if Bachmann makes the Peter Witt cars anymore, but you might try contacting them direct for advice.
https://www.bachmanntrains.com
If this car uses a permanent-magnet "can" motor, you can get motion only in one direction by replacing the reversing module by a bridge rectifier rated for at least about 5 amperes. Connect the ~ terminals of the rectifier, one to the outside rails, the other to the center rail. Connect the + and - terminals to the motor. If the resulting direction is not what you want, swap the + and - wires.
Bob Nelson
Don't find much info on the trolley online. Could you post some pictures of the motor, wiring and electronics.
One solution would be to disconnect the circuit board and wire in a full-wave bridge rectifier to a Single Pole, Double Throw switch, then to the motor. This will give you the capability to operate in either direction, and stay locked in that direction.
Larry
Thanks for the replies everyone! Sounds like the consensus is bachman doesn't really offer any easy way to wire a lockout switch, and I should just wire the car through a full wave bridge rectifier for forwards only operation. I'll run it by the museum folx when I next get a chance.
Out of curiousity I took a look at the Bachmann on-line catalog pertaining to Williams O gauge products, and no, they don't make the Peter Witt cars anymore.
There's a whole slew of the Williams line they don't make anymore either, the whole product line's been well and truly gutted.
Maybe it's just business, maybe they were slow-movers, maybe Bachmann got the line and didn't know what to do with it. Who knows?
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