Some thanks to everyone and a couple more questions please.......

[Anonymous]

I want to let you guys know that the help on here has really paid off. Thanks to the replies I now have a new gear in my 3927 track cleaner car, and with the modification to the brush it cleans great. I took a look at my Lionel Hudson and indeed the fan was running counter clockwise. With the instructions of changing the wiring (all I did was rotate the white plastic socket and plug the motor back in now facing the other way) and modifying the heating element (removed the cover over it) and repacked the wadding. This engine will set off the smoke detector now! I've gone to TMCC control thanks to advice as well and upgraded my Dockside switcher with the TAS kit. All the information here and the replies truly has changed the hobby of railroading at my house. I even checked my MTH Railing Mohawk smoke unit and found the packing was wedged between the two elements and had gotten hard. Repacking it was all it needed and now it blows smoke out. I would of never known how to do any of this without the help here. I have so many more questions and I hope they get as much help as I've seen already. Like......

Why on a real steamer does the smoke come out Black on some and white on others? Is it due to load? Also...

I have the Lionel IAD units and when my train passes by it activates them fine but when I stop next to it, the sensor "times out" and switches back off, but if I put a piece of cardboard right in front of the photo sensor it will stay activated. I've increased the sensitivity to the max. I can activate it from almost 8-10" away but even with a car parked inches from it, it still goes off. I've got 4 of these sensors and two will work that way and the other two will stay on with a train parked directly beside it at all times. Anyone had any experience with these?

[thor]

QUESTION:- Why on a real steamer does the smoke come out Black on some and white on others? Is it due to load? Also...

On a real steam locomotive, the amount of smoke - from combustion processes - varies according to the fuel used, there are various kinds and grades of coal and wood, according to how hard its being worked, whether or not the blower is on and what kind of injector system they use.

All steam engines that I know of inject steam directly up into the funnel to increase the draught and make the fire burn better and its the combination of all these various options that makes the 'smoke' change colour.

[Anonymous]

WOW, learned something new today! Thanks
George

[mickey4479]

On the IAD unit, I had a problem with an MTH unit, and part of the problem was the lighting around the area of the sensor for me. In addition, I had placed the unit so the light would go across 2 tracks. One of the tracks was perpendicular to the unit, and the other track was at a 45 degree angle. The sensor only activated when a train was on the perp. track. This is probably because the reflected from the unit light would never go back to the sensor on the 45 degree track because of the angle. I do not know if this helps or not.

[jefelectric]

Those IAD units are notoriously erratic in operation. A lot of the problem is the room lighting. Just have to experiment till they work to suit you. I have had good results shading them behind buildings or trees. Just a thought, It is probably good if they do time out when the train stops. Don't know what you are controlling but if you use it to control crossing gates and they are held down for a long period of time the solenoids will burn out. Sounds like you are enjoying railroading, that's what it's all about. [:)]

John