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Proto Heritage 2-8-4 - Low Hanging Harness

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  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
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Proto Heritage 2-8-4 - Low Hanging Harness
Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 2:18 PM

I have three of these little beauties.

I am concerned about the low hanging harness catching on something between the rails. 

It actually is not a harness in the sense that the wires are not contained within some sort of cover.  The wires are simply strung from the engine to the tender.

I am looking for suggestions on how to contain the wires within some sort of harness.

Anyone?

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Pa.
  • 3,361 posts
Posted by DigitalGriffin on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 2:22 PM

richhotrain
I am looking for suggestions on how to contain the wires within some sort of harness.



Why not just tuck them back into the tender?

You could put heat shrink wrap around them.  But that will make the wiring "stiffer"

Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions

Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 2:42 PM

DigitalGriffin
 
richhotrain
I am looking for suggestions on how to contain the wires within some sort of harness.

You could put heat shrink wrap around them.  But that will make the wiring "stiffer".

Thanks, Don. I have thought about heat shrink tubing. I will give it a try.

I need to see if the wires can be tucked back into the tender.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • 1,519 posts
Posted by trainnut1250 on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 2:45 PM

Rich,

I use a piece of fine wire to tie the wires to the drawbar between the tender and loco. You do have to watch out that you don't make the coupling too stiff..

I have had low hanging wires snag on switches from time to time, not fun...

 

Guy

see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
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Posted by selector on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 3:39 PM

You should be able to slide some of the slack back into the tender shell.  Keeping it there is another matter entirely. If the shrink wrap tubing doesn't seem to work, or you feel it won't and decline to try it, I would try something as simple as painting a cotton ball flat black and then stuffing it around the tether, thus clamping it...sorta...in the aperture into which it enters the tender.  Or a gob of acrylic caulk, or even some paintable silicone caulk. 

I think the shrink wrap should work, though.  It's a good idea.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 5:09 PM

 I say - heat shrink without shrinking it. Then it won't be stiff, but it will contain the wires.

                              --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 7:34 PM

I will consider the heat shrink tubing idea, but the comments about pushing the wiring back into the tender got me looking closely at the underside of the engine and the tender.  I had never noticed this, but on both the engine and the tender, there is a slot into which the wires can be placed so that a piece of tape over the slots will hold the wiring higher about the track.

Great ideas, guys.  I really appreciate the help.

Rich

Alton Junction

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