The DIS Campers Train Thread: From Model Trains Up To The Real Thing

[DL1WDW2]

View attachment 938694

 

[bama_ed]

I've been neglecting this thread. There have been additions and I need to do some updates.

One interesting thing I picked up was a reversing unit by Aristo-craft. It's used on a point-to-point track line to send a powered unit (locomotive, trolley, hand car) back and forth. Get to one end, stop, wait a variable amount of time, then start it up and send it back to the other end (in reverse), stop, wait .... <wash, rinse, repeat>. I have 3 hand cars this would work well with.

Here are the parts:



Here is the package for the parts:



My indoor rail line (120' of main line) is waist-high on wooden tables and white wire racks. The idea for the reversing line is to put it over head along the rafters and beams in a curving (but end-to-end line). <Sigh> It's another project I hope to get to soon.

DS1 went out west this spring on a work project and tacked on 2 days of R&R in San Francisco. During his time there, he went to the Walt Disney Family Museum at the Presidio and got me this pin for my birthday. The Fair Weather Route was the nickname (I guess you would call it) for Walt Disney's ride-on-top train in the back yard of his home in Holmby Hills, CA. It was formally called the Carolwood Pacific Railroad.



Here is the pin:



The gift was very much appreciated. That's all for now.

Bama Ed

 

[4077]

he idea for the reversing line is to put it over head along the rafters and beams

I suppose I could answer this question by viewing the pictures in/of your attic again... but...

If I go outside and look up at a plane going by, I can say, "Cool, there goes a plane!". However, I cam't really see it from the side or top to appreciate any features of it.

I am guessing that the rafters and beams (while higher than the main line) are NOT above your field of vision to view the sides and tops of your hand cars that will traverse this little back and forth bit....?

 

[bama_ed]

I suppose I could answer this question by viewing the pictures in/of your attic again... but...

If I go outside and look up at a plane going by, I can say, "Cool, there goes a plane!". However, I cam't really see it from the side or top to appreciate any features of it.

I am guessing that the rafters and beams (while higher than the main line) are NOT above your field of vision to view the sides and tops of your hand cars that will traverse this little back and forth bit....?

No not much higher at all. And the track is narrow so the sides will be in plain view and tops aren't so important IMO.



A plane overhead (Pilot Jimmy taking the corp execs on a WDW boondoggle, for example) can be nearly 90-degrees overhead (in other words, straight up). But a hand car on a Bama Ed reversing line is AT MOST 45-degree angle looking up. (for the kids and Teamubr; for us taller folks more like a 30-degree angle or less). Of course I won't know for sure until I piece it together (which I will do on level ground first for a proof-of-concept). But I have a plug; I have a power cord; I have a transformer; I have the reversing unit package; I have excess brass track to fill in the line; and I have 3 hand cars to rotate thru the line.

The cross-beams between the roof line is about 6.5 foot over head (and I'm "almost" 6 ft) so it could work. It's only an idea. I have to see what track I have available and what beams the track can fit. Not looking for a LONG line (slow but steady wins the race).

But @4077, you are welcome to give an inspection (and issue a permit) BEFORE we run regular operations on this proposed line.

Ed

PS - and I have an idea for a gold mining rail run too. (a consist on the main line tbh). Excited about that.