I'm in the market for an operating coal dump car that does not "throw" coal all over the place when the dump function is activated. My cheapo Lionel car made in the early '90s does just that. I seem to remember a discussion in this forum several months ago about a MTH car that dumps the coal in a more gentle manner, but the forum search engine did not find that article. Also, I don't remember whether the car was a Rail King or Premier version.
My apologies if this subject has been beaten to death, but since I have not been successful in finding the info, am asking for info here with hat in hand for help.
I'm open to suggestions about any and all brands.
The Lionel PW # 3469 works good for me.
I have one of the postwar Lionel 3359 twin bin dump cars.
It dumps with a very gentle ratchet action. Each press of the dump button raises one of the bins incrementally until it dumps, and then that bin returns and the other dumps in the same manner.
The only problem is it can be difficult to line up on a UCS, and it might not even work on the O27 operating track. A set of OTC contacts work great if you use O27 track.
Post war coal dumps like the one Chuck chows above are the best.
The work best when operated on tubular track.
BEN,
Thanks for the info. I like the ratcheting function which would prevent the mess from an all at once dump. I am using Gargraves track. See any problem with that?
Regards,
Bill
Chuck: does your unit have a ratcheting function which serves to allow the gradual dumping of the coal vs dumping the load all at once?
BILLBOBBOY1 wrote: Chuck: does your unit have a ratcheting function which serves to allow the gradual dumping of the coal vs dumping the load all at once? Regards, Bill
No, Bill. It dumps all at once. BUT...I have the UCS track #3 post wired direct to an adjustable terminal on the transformer. I have it adjusted to dump slowly but effectively. It works great.
Chuck
The 3469 ore dump car as pictured by Chuck uses a solenoid and plunger to dump the load - very fast, either all the way up (energized) or level. The dumping "force" can be adjusted by varying the voltage going to the operating track - if I recall correctly, mine require @ 8-10 volts to reliably dump - increase the voltage and the dump action tends to get more "robust" and the coal starts flying. Push the button once to dump the load.
I don't have any direct experience with the 3359 twin dump car, but according to the book, it works like the 3361 log dump car - there's a geared cam that turns slightly with each press of the op track button, raising the body up a notch at a time until it dumps and falls back, then the second body starts going up. Down side of these cars is that you have to keep punching the button something like 8 or more times to cycle completely thru the dump sequence (per bin).
The MTH cars you're thinking of look like this:MTH # 20-98292 (from the MTH website)
I've got the WM in a Premier box, and a CSX in a Railking box - they're identical except for the color. The cool thing about these cars is that the dump body slowly rises up to dump, drops back a little, tilts fully a second time, then slowly drops back to level. You have to hold the op button down for the entire cycle - maybe 10 seconds or so? A pure guess as I haven't had them out in a while. They're also on the long side and have to be centered perfectly on 027 op track to make contact - better suited for the longer O sections. MTH also makes a similar log dump car (got those in WM as well).
GPJ68 wrote: The MTH cars you're thinking of look like this:MTH # 20-98292 (from the MTH website)
I have that MTH car. It does not work well with coal. When the car tilts to dump the coal, the coal gets caught in the hinge line of the open door and jams the mechanism. I use mine for logs only.
Earl
On the lighter side, I grew up with postwar Lionel. It was kinda neat to launch coal from the coal car, and milk cans from that car. I don't think I ever got either worked out perfectly, but with the idea of adjusting the track voltage, and a bit of tinkering, I hope to have it done right this time.
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
"I have that MTH car. It does not work well with coal. When the car tilts to dump the coal, the coal gets caught in the hinge line of the open door and jams the mechanism. I use mine for logs only. "
Interesting, I haven't run mine enough to really notice a problem yet. Could be the type of coal - how much fine particle material is there. The Rotary Dump requires the Lionel plastic coal that looks like rabbit pellets - no fines, just big rounded lumps. Might need to go that route, or sift the fines out of the more realistic looking stuff and use the larger particles. I'll ponder that once I get them back on track.
GPJ68 wrote: "I have that MTH car. It does not work well with coal. When the car tilts to dump the coal, the coal gets caught in the hinge line of the open door and jams the mechanism. I use mine for logs only. "Interesting, I haven't run mine enough to really notice a problem yet. Could be the type of coal - how much fine particle material is there. The Rotary Dump requires the Lionel plastic coal that looks like rabbit pellets - no fines, just big rounded lumps. Might need to go that route, or sift the fines out of the more realistic looking stuff and use the larger particles. I'll ponder that once I get them back on track.
Earl,
Try using black aquarium gravel as coal instead of the Lionel stuff. It's heavier, has rounded edges, and is supposed to have a reputation for working much better in accessories than toy train plastic coal.
Jim
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
Blueberryhill RR wrote: The Lionel PW # 3469 works good for me.
I have 2 of em.
laz57
I have one of the new versions of the PW 3469 coal dump car (a 2006 C&O model). Well constructed, solid metal car with very nice C&O blue paint and graphics. It works very well and, though somewhat abrupt in operation (it makes a BRAAAAP sound when it operates) it does seem somewhat smoother than the PW version, which I also have.
Some folks like the Kline one, and it is a nice looking car and perhaps(?) more 'scale' looking, but the separate remote turned me off. I already have to keep track, no pun intended, of enough stuff.
RaleighTrainFan wrote: Some folks like the Kline one, and it is a nice looking car and perhaps(?) more 'scale' looking, but the separate remote turned me off. I already have to keep track, no pun intended, of enough stuff.
You don't need the remote to operate the KLine car. It will operate on the 5-rail track sections just like the Lionel and MTH dump cars. It is nice to be able to use the remote to operate the car anywhere on the layout without having to relocate 5-rail track sections though.
EIS2 wrote: RaleighTrainFan wrote: Some folks like the Kline one, and it is a nice looking car and perhaps(?) more 'scale' looking, but the separate remote turned me off. I already have to keep track, no pun intended, of enough stuff. You don't need the remote to operate the KLine car. It will operate on the 5-rail track sections just like the Lionel and MTH dump cars. It is nice to be able to use the remote to operate the car anywhere on the layout without having to relocate 5-rail track sections though.Earl
Interesting you should raise that issue. About a year ago, based on a representation from a LHS owner that the KLIne would operate on the 5 rail section, I took one home. And it did not operate, on either the Fastrack or tubular 5-rail section. I returned it and came home with the Lionel car I discussed above.
Funny that we should have different experiences on this, but I tried every method I could think of to get that car to work - and I wanted to, as I liked the car - but no luck.
RaleighTrainFan wrote: EIS2 wrote: RaleighTrainFan wrote: Some folks like the Kline one, and it is a nice looking car and perhaps(?) more 'scale' looking, but the separate remote turned me off. I already have to keep track, no pun intended, of enough stuff. You don't need the remote to operate the KLine car. It will operate on the 5-rail track sections just like the Lionel and MTH dump cars. It is nice to be able to use the remote to operate the car anywhere on the layout without having to relocate 5-rail track sections though.Earl Interesting you should raise that issue. About a year ago, based on a representation from a LHS owner that the KLIne would operate on the 5 rail section, I took one home. And it did not operate, on either the Fastrack or tubular 5-rail section. I returned it and came home with the Lionel car I discussed above.Funny that we should have different experiences on this, but I tried every method I could think of to get that car to work - and I wanted to, as I liked the car - but no luck.
I was quoting from the description from KLine when I said it would dump with the 5-rail section. I had not actually tried it. (The car actually only needs an uncoupler section to operate.)
After reading your post, I went in and tried it. At first, it would not dump. After looking at the car, I realized that I would need power on the track in addition to power to the uncoupling magnet. Then the car dumped as advertised. If you try it with only power to the uncoupling magnet, it will not work. It is a very nice car both visually and operationally. Give it another try.
RaleighTrainFan wrote:Interesting. I will do that. But if you will pardon the neophyte question, I am confused by the two situations you mention. When I tried the car, I had power to the track through the transformer. Are you speaking of another kind, such as wire direct to the uncoupling track? If I can figure out how to work it I might well pick another up, for as you say it is a nice looking car.
You need power both to the normal track rails and power to the electromagnet in the uncoupling section. Center the car over the electromagnet and activate the electromagnet with the push-button for the uncoupler track section. The car will then proceed through a normal dump cycle.
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