Trains.com

Hartland Trolley

1665 views
7 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    June 2012
  • 23 posts
Hartland Trolley
Posted by pirate lynn on Sunday, May 5, 2013 8:06 AM

Hi guys--was at Fullerton Railroad Days yesterday (Saturday) and got to thinking about adding a Hartland Trolley  with auto reversing function to my layout outside.  Anybody out there have one or any thoughts on quality, how you like the product, etc?  Thanks

Lynn Robert Fairbanks

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Smoggy L.A.
  • 10,743 posts
Posted by vsmith on Sunday, May 5, 2013 11:45 AM

Everything I have ever got from HLW has been bulletproof reliable, right up there with old school LGB reliability.

   Have fun with your trains

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: North, San Diego Co., CA
  • 3,092 posts
Posted by ttrigg on Monday, May 6, 2013 7:45 AM

Of all my trolleys the HLW seems to be geared slower then the others. On my auto-reversing section has a low power section at each end. The HLW has smoother transition to speed than the others. Just my observations, no science behind my statements.

Tom Trigg

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Oakley Ca
  • 1,407 posts
Posted by dwbeckett on Monday, May 6, 2013 8:54 AM

I do not have any  HLW but when I was running my DELTON DOOZY I heed the transitions because of the fast start/ stop's .

Dave

   

The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: North, San Diego Co., CA
  • 3,092 posts
Posted by ttrigg on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 12:30 AM

The power supply for the auto-reversing track is set at level 3 (from 0 to 10). The accelerate/decelerate sections have 2 sub sections at about 70% & 35% power thus avoiding the rapid start/stop of a standard A/R unit. Just added 2 isolators on one rail in front of the stop/start section. Added a few resistors across the gaps until I got the slow down I was looking for. It has worked fine for about six years.

Tom Trigg

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Oakley Ca
  • 1,407 posts
Posted by dwbeckett on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 10:03 AM

What size   resistors did you use and were did you place them?

Dave

The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Norton, MA
  • 394 posts
Posted by piercedan on Friday, May 10, 2013 7:47 AM

this is how I slow down with resistors on my reversing straight run.

Bumper, diode track, resistor track, main line (power goes to this) resistor track, diode track, bumper.

I used a 1 foot section for the resistor which was 4 ohms, 2 watt., diode is 3 amp 100 volt, reversing unit is the Aristo.

I use cabooses with lights and have never had any issues for 10 years, and I have used the same engine, the LGB cow with 8 cars with metal wheels.  Only lubed the engine once, clean the brass track once a year indoors.

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: North, San Diego Co., CA
  • 3,092 posts
Posted by ttrigg on Friday, May 10, 2013 9:04 PM

dwbeckett

What size   resistors did you use and were did you place them?

Dave

Sorry, but I don't know. I went to radio shack, told the guy hwat I was looking for and he got on his phone to a friend. After answering all the questions he asked, voltage, amperage, and the like, he reccomended a particular size and that is what I got. Since I spray painted them after installation I cnnnot look up the color banding.

Tom Trigg

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Garden Railways magazine. Please view our privacy policy