Tyco actually made glow in the dark ("Nite Glo") trains (and slot cars). And the trucking sets used a similar method to activate the accessories - you'd back the truck up and the wheel would turn on a roller with a one-way pawl in the gearing so in reverse it would spin the shafts and operate the accessory and when you went forward again the truck could drive off.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
AlienKingFound a video of it in action.
Hi AlienKing,
Thanks for the video. If I was a 10 year old kid I could do that all day long! Heck, I could do it all day long today!
The sound of multiple gears grinding is a reminder of just how far we have come in terms of quality. I can just imagine how noisy the whole thing would be once the kids had added a few bends to the drive shafts!
Gotta love the 'glow in the dark' locomotive shell and the jack rabbit starts too!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Outstanding detective work!
And modelers don't understand why Bachmann can't get no respect. That setup is an engineering marvel
Do I smell traction tires burning? Glad I'm not the guy that has to push the cattle into the stock car from the backside. The view is always the same
Cheers, Ed
Found a video of it in action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER8c-zX8cHk
It's from a trainset from the mid 80's (probably Tyco or Bacman). If you stopped your engine on the right spot, it would turn the wheel, which turned the gear. A peice of piano wire with a loop on the end went into the slot on one of the round ends. The other end would go to an industry or a turnout to activate them.
This was the part first train set I had as a kid. I'm pretty sure the engine was red and silver Sante Fe GP7 or GP9 highhood, with a yellow UP stock car (that had some kind of automatic feature to unload cows), and a Southern gray gondola.
doctorwayne That there thingy is wunna yer comby-nashun track cleaners an' wheel tread scraper-offers. She does two o' yer jobs at once, then ya taker offa that there rail she's on, an' put 'er on the other rail. Don'tcha go spikin' down yer track, though, cuz I'm purty sure that there wheelie-looking thingy is what drives 'er along. Probly do the whole dang layout fer ya, long as ya ain't got none o' them turnout thingies to confusalate it. Wayne
That there thingy is wunna yer comby-nashun track cleaners an' wheel tread scraper-offers. She does two o' yer jobs at once, then ya taker offa that there rail she's on, an' put 'er on the other rail. Don'tcha go spikin' down yer track, though, cuz I'm purty sure that there wheelie-looking thingy is what drives 'er along. Probly do the whole dang layout fer ya, long as ya ain't got none o' them turnout thingies to confusalate it.
Wayne
Hi Wayne,
Thanks to your explanation. I will share with my friend later.
Enjoy Model Railway
Well there ya go! Puzzle solved.
agoneBut the point is the track. do you know how to use it?
I wonder if it is some sort of sensor. Is the 'wheel' part soft or hard, and does it move in and out when pressure is applied? It has to be able to move or flex somehow. Otherwise nothing could get past it without derailing.
Your friend could hook it up to a power source and a multi-meter and run a car past it to see if anything happens.
hon30critter Hi agone, Imgur is free and quite easy to use. The only odd bit is that even after you sign in you have to click on your name to get to your own images. https://imgur.com/ Dave Edit: OK, now your pictures are showing!
Hi agone,
Imgur is free and quite easy to use. The only odd bit is that even after you sign in you have to click on your name to get to your own images.
https://imgur.com/
Edit:
OK, now your pictures are showing!
Thanks. I just copy all detail on the post and the photos are coming. But the point is the track. do you know how to use it?
Hi Dave,
Thanks to your reply. I'm trying to find a free space to upload my photos and share again later.
Unfortunately your pictures don't appear on your post unless you click on them. Getting the actual pictures to appear in the forums is a bit more complex than usual. You have to use a photo hosting service like Imgur, and then link the pictures to your post. There are detailed instructions at the top of the General Discussion forum.
I don't have a clue what the device is for. Sorry.
One of my friends sends me a photo. But I haven't seen it before. Have anyone know this track and device function? Thanks.