Accessory Tracks

[luther_stanton]

Hello.

I have no experience with the tubular Lionel track (I have used MTH RealTrax, Lionel Fastrak and Atlas) and I have a few questions. I did a quick search of the forum and did not find any similar posts. Most of these questions came up around the Lionel Operating Milk Car. I have seen the accessory on Ebay and am interesting in potentially adding one on my layout.

It looks like the car has a shoe on one of the trucks to activate the guy inside of the car to start sending the milk cans out. Is this a correct assumption? It also looks like it needs a remote control track, which looks different than the uncoupling track. It seems that there is a fourth and fifth rail slot on the remote control track vs. a simple electro magnet on the uncoupling track. Is this correct?

And finally, I am just finishing my layout up with Atlas track. I have planned for / installed a few un-coupling track pieces (i.e., the electro-magnet in the center). If my assumptions are correct on the milk car and the remote control track, is there any hope for using Atlas track with accessories such as the milk car as I did not see anything resembling the remote control track for Atlas? I have also seen the K-Line milk car set. Does anyone know if it will work with a simple uncoupling track?

I am relatively new to the hobby so I appreciate the information. I am not sure why it has taken me a year to discover all the cool Lionel accessories :)

[Anonymous]

on the ends of my uncouplong track are small lengths of the extra rails you are talking about to operate tha cars. I also have the other track with the extra rails the whole length. they both work the same. check for the short rail sections on your track
John

[mpzpw3]

Atlas makes "control rails" which work perfectly with their track. You can buy them from atlas, and the kit comes with the control rails, wire, and push-button. No need to bother with tubular track to make the milk car work. The beauty of the control rails, is you can put them about anywhere on the layout, and don't have to have the round magnet with them. I use these rails with Gargraves track, but as I stated earlier, they are designed for the Atlas track system, and as I read your post, are exactly what you are looking for.

[jefelectric]

Here is a link to just what you are looking for.

https://secure.atlasrr.com/ato1/itemdesc.asp?CartId={6A45FB17-E1DA-42EA-89D7-CBD94BEVEREST7410EE}&ic=6097&eq=&Tp=

John

[jefelectric]

Clicking the link probably wont work, you may have to copy and past.

John

[luther_stanton]

Thanks again - this is always a great place to come for answers!

- Luther