Does anyone have the plans for a home made derailer that I could make from the usual stuff around the layout or bench work area. Or do you know of a previous issue of MR that may have a derailer project in it. I have a logging siding that has two cars on it that has a slight slope and I want a derailer to stop the two cars from fouling the mainline.
I did'nt like the looks of the one published in the MR magazine a month or two ago! (For my application)
I thought that the one in the MR article actually functioned as a wheel stop rather than actually acting as a derailer, even though it was called a derailer.
Anyway, do you actually want something to derail the cars, or are you looking for something inconspicuous to keep the cars from rolling? There have been a couple references to folks who have used a nylon brush bristle to act as an anti-rolling device. The bristle is stuck between the rails and will stick up enough to engage a car axle and prevent rolling. It is also flexible enough to allow the cars/engines to pass over when you want them to. The other option I've heard of is a mechanical device, usually home-made, that will shove a metal pin up from between the rails when you want the car not to roll, and then retract the pin when you are ready to go. Obviously, the metal pin will give you the derailment you mention if you forget to retract it.
Ask wedudler.
Well, here's my answer.
My construction. and a video
For general turnout installing look here.
Those derails work! At the last FREMO meetings there were a few guys who run over the closed derail. Derailing! And fun.
Wolfgang
Pueblo & Salt Lake RR
Come to us http://www.westportterminal.de my videos my blog
Let me do your track work, you'll have all the derailments you can handle.
Thanks everyone for various ideas!
Kon
Modelling the BN 1970-1995