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Train Elevator

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Train Elevator
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 6:41 PM
Hello all,

Is there such a thing as a train elevator? I think my trains need a lift.
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Train Elevator
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 6:41 PM
Hello all,

Is there such a thing as a train elevator? I think my trains need a lift.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: US
  • 725 posts
Posted by Puckdropper on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 9:13 PM
I remember reading about one in MR a long time ago... My collection is at home (5 hrs from college), so I can't look through them.
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Posted by Puckdropper on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 9:13 PM
I remember reading about one in MR a long time ago... My collection is at home (5 hrs from college), so I can't look through them.
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  • From: Culpeper, Va
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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 9:23 PM
John Armstrong in "Creative Layout Design" has a drawing for a dehydrated canal lock, which could raise an entire train from one layout level to another. Don't know if anyone ever built it.
Enjoy
Paul
If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
  • Member since
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  • From: Culpeper, Va
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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 9:23 PM
John Armstrong in "Creative Layout Design" has a drawing for a dehydrated canal lock, which could raise an entire train from one layout level to another. Don't know if anyone ever built it.
Enjoy
Paul
If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 7:25 AM
Thanks for the information. I will do some looking in these places and see what I can find. Will keep you posted.

Thanks
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 7:25 AM
Thanks for the information. I will do some looking in these places and see what I can find. Will keep you posted.

Thanks
  • Member since
    April 2003
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 8:19 AM
Iain Rice's book "Small, Smart and Practical Track Plans" describes what he calls a "cassette", basically a manually removable, straight, enclosed section of track. You could use this to manually change from one level to another, or maybe automate it somehow.
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 8:19 AM
Iain Rice's book "Small, Smart and Practical Track Plans" describes what he calls a "cassette", basically a manually removable, straight, enclosed section of track. You could use this to manually change from one level to another, or maybe automate it somehow.
  • Member since
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  • From: US
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Posted by BNSFNUT on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 9:29 AM
O Gauge Railroading Magazine Run 195 August 2003 has an story on a train elevator with diagrams. This system is in use on an O gauge layout and is a proven system . It look like it could be use for other scales.

There is no such thing as a bad day of railfanning. So many trains, so little time.

  • Member since
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  • From: US
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Posted by BNSFNUT on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 9:29 AM
O Gauge Railroading Magazine Run 195 August 2003 has an story on a train elevator with diagrams. This system is in use on an O gauge layout and is a proven system . It look like it could be use for other scales.

There is no such thing as a bad day of railfanning. So many trains, so little time.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: US
  • 725 posts
Posted by Puckdropper on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 9:39 AM
Model Railroad Planning 2001 has the story on the train elevator. It's called "Going up"
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Posted by Puckdropper on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 9:39 AM
Model Railroad Planning 2001 has the story on the train elevator. It's called "Going up"
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 9:45 AM
BNSFNUT

Would there be any way you could send me a copy of that artical? Or where on the net I might find it? Thank you.

lane@engraverlane.com
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 9:45 AM
BNSFNUT

Would there be any way you could send me a copy of that artical? Or where on the net I might find it? Thank you.

lane@engraverlane.com
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    April 2003
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 9:53 AM
Thanks puckdropper For that information. I will sure check it out.
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 9:53 AM
Thanks puckdropper For that information. I will sure check it out.
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Posted by mikemore on Friday, July 23, 2004 10:49 AM
Sorry to join this discussion late but I just had a similar idea. There is an article in RMC October 1979 p85. It is actually a vertical staging yard but would work as an elevator as well. I thought that this might be a useful idea for my layout. I have a hidden yard in another room (the basement utility/furnace room); the line then climbs steeply and circles back over the yard to rejoin the main line in the train room but I don't like the way that I have had to work around the appliances. I could also eliminate the steep climb by having access at two levels.

I would like to know if anyone has had any actual experience building a train elevator, particularly the RMC "Train Eater" from 1979. Lessons learned or improvements would really help. Thanks.
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  • From: Ottawa Canada
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Posted by mikemore on Friday, July 23, 2004 10:49 AM
Sorry to join this discussion late but I just had a similar idea. There is an article in RMC October 1979 p85. It is actually a vertical staging yard but would work as an elevator as well. I thought that this might be a useful idea for my layout. I have a hidden yard in another room (the basement utility/furnace room); the line then climbs steeply and circles back over the yard to rejoin the main line in the train room but I don't like the way that I have had to work around the appliances. I could also eliminate the steep climb by having access at two levels.

I would like to know if anyone has had any actual experience building a train elevator, particularly the RMC "Train Eater" from 1979. Lessons learned or improvements would really help. Thanks.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: US
  • 403 posts
Posted by bcammack on Friday, July 23, 2004 11:39 AM
How 'bout that "Ro-Ro" unit advertised in the back of MR?
Regards, Brett C. Cammack Holly Hill, FL
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Posted by bcammack on Friday, July 23, 2004 11:39 AM
How 'bout that "Ro-Ro" unit advertised in the back of MR?
Regards, Brett C. Cammack Holly Hill, FL
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: US
  • 66 posts
Posted by Dbcxyz123 on Friday, July 23, 2004 5:12 PM
I've see some.
Norfolk & Western Railway "The light at the end of the tunnel; is probably that of an oncoming train!" Don't forget, Model Railroading is fun
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Posted by Dbcxyz123 on Friday, July 23, 2004 5:12 PM
I've see some.
Norfolk & Western Railway "The light at the end of the tunnel; is probably that of an oncoming train!" Don't forget, Model Railroading is fun
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 25, 2004 7:33 AM
My idea for a train elevator was to layout a yard likeTony Koester has as one of his staging yards. It is a semicrcle of curved track at equal intervals of spacing. Mine would be laid out on 2 1/4' spacing from center to ocenter in HO to clear long equipment and engines. I'm thinking of using a platform lift with a hydraulic foot pump to raise it. It is made like a two-wheeled dolly, but has small casters on the front Or maybe using a small scissors lift. I have one that is used on bikes and ATV"s I got at Wal-Mart for $99.95. I have a few modules that connect to my train room to extend my mainline. These are on casters and i'm going to make this unit movable on casters similar to them.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 25, 2004 7:33 AM
My idea for a train elevator was to layout a yard likeTony Koester has as one of his staging yards. It is a semicrcle of curved track at equal intervals of spacing. Mine would be laid out on 2 1/4' spacing from center to ocenter in HO to clear long equipment and engines. I'm thinking of using a platform lift with a hydraulic foot pump to raise it. It is made like a two-wheeled dolly, but has small casters on the front Or maybe using a small scissors lift. I have one that is used on bikes and ATV"s I got at Wal-Mart for $99.95. I have a few modules that connect to my train room to extend my mainline. These are on casters and i'm going to make this unit movable on casters similar to them.

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