Currently I am designing my a multi-level HO train layout. I have a space issue so I can not use a helix. I have been reading about using a elevator. The problem I have no knowledge on how to pick a motor type or even how to connect the motor to the elevator. I do understand how to build the elevator it self but anything about the motor and connecting it to the elevator. Can someone point me to the information I need to learn how to use the motor for this application?
Thanks
I’m considering the same issue. My brother and I believe that we can build one from either one or possiblly two track actuators. The 200 lb. capacity actuator has an available braket for attaching an angle to hold the roadbed. We thought you’d also [if only using one actuator] need some sort of track mechanism on each end to stabilize it.
Here are the actuators we found:
http://firgelliauto.com/default.php?cPath=104
BTW…it comes with a remote!
Dan
The usual elevator uses wires and pulleys connected to a motor. You don’t have to have a big powerful motor that can lift the whole thing. By using pulleys you can have a smaller motor. The trade off is that the more pulleys you add, the more line the winch has to take in which also makes it slower. If you have a DCC system, you could use a motor attached to a decoder and you should be able to operate the elevator like a locomotive. For more power and faster operation, you could add more motors (maybe 4, one for each corner), just speed match them and consist them like locomotives. For a DC layout, you could use a RC car motor. If you want to be cheap, check eBay for locomotives/RC cars that have broken gears or something, but perfectly fine motors and/or DCC decoder. Your local Hardware store should sell small pulleys. To keep your elevator aligned, you could use wheel sets on the sides of the elevator, and track on the side of the elevator shaft.
Or you can make a scissors jack from wood and use a threaded rod like a car jack. Either way you will be spending a lot of time getting the travel limits to allign properly and constant checking. Access will be critical and more trouble then I would want
Something to check out would be an automotive power window mechanism. Most newer units run the gear reduction to cable/ pully system. May be work to check out a wrecking yard. At the least, you could use the motor assy that has the gear reduction and cable attachment. Part of the mount assy as well as the cable layout to the pulleys and slides, can be used as a guide to retrofit to the lift section. Full extension drawer slides may be used to guide the lift portion.
I think there was an article in MR a few years back with a train elevator in it. It’s worth a search.
I would use a screw mechanism rather than trying to deal with pulleys and cables. Visit an auto supply place or web site and look at either mechanical or hydraulic jacks.
A simple alternative would be to use a hand-activated lever to lift the track, which would need to be controlled at each end, possibly with a vertical metal shaft through a low-friction hole in the moving part.
I don’t know which issue of MR in was in , but I believe the article on train elevators called in a “train eater”. This might make searching easier.
Dave
The article was by Steve Harris in the June 2009 MR.
But I think there have been other articles or sidebars to articles, probably in Model Railroad Planning but perhaps in Great Model Railroads, that are not indexed because the train elevator was not the main subject of the article.
If the elevator was properly counter-weighted, why even have a motor? Moving it my hand would seem to be as smooth and accurate, again assuming it is counter-weighted.
In the latest 2014 Model Railroad Planning Tony Koester proposed a sort of removable chunk of layout that could be moved to a different level or to an entirely different layout, so the same town or station can appear on both. I have mental images of trying to balance a tray of freight cars and not doing it very successfully – and Koester himself admits that an unnamed MR staffer has called this the worst idea ever. The drawing that accompanies the article – I assume therefore that Tony K has not actually DONE this – does not show anything as large as a train elevator however.
Dave Nelson
In issue 45A of the Small Layout Scrapbook on the late Carl Arendts site (www.carendt.com) you can check out Gilbert Gribis “Draversaz” a micro layout featuring an elevator for a mining scene. Elevators were not uncommon in micros and our European cousins have done some great work in that regard. As to Tony Koesters suggestion of moveable elements many micro modelers use Peco LocoLifts as moveable cassettes. Of course we’ve all seen things like “ferries” and so on function in that way. None of the engineering calls for the reinvention of the wheel and most of the stuff to make it work you could find at www.mcmaster.com. Have fun and let us see what you come up with.
Lou
This sounds like a real challenge. Building a layout is a big project in itself. Designing it around a key piece of machinery that you’re not sure about being able to construct seems to be something that might result in the sort of frustration that makes you want to drop the whole thing.
My recommendation is to work on building the elevator first. Either it works or it doesn’t after a suitable interval for setup, adjustment, and troubleshooting. If it doesn’t, better to face that before building a layout. Then you can live with whatever compromises a significant change like that requires in layout design.
I’m with others saying look into a screw drive. One way to get a robust system is to use an automotive scissor jack – or better yet, two of them. Then drive them from the same motor, if possible, so you don’t need to worry about coordinating speeds between two motors. Good luck.
If you don’t mind spending the money, you can buy one ready made.
I’d say it would work if you used a pair of heavy duty drawer slides, one at each end, with just one of those actuators in the middle.
Hmm, neat idea for a staging drawer, too. Using the actuator plus a sensor strip (like used on the movment of a CNC machine), you coukld have a simple panel where you push button 5, and the drawer moves in or out to line up track 5.
–Randy
Randy:
Have you thought htat a drawer would save on length (no turnouts), but add to the width required?
Dave
To the OP:
How long are the trains you will want to elevate? Even a relatively short HO scale train with a couple of engines, 8-10 cars and maybe a caboose will be quite long, and the weight will not be evenly distributed as the heavy locos will be on one end. This should affect the design.
I’m considering staging that would use a drawer in combination with a normal ladder of turnouts. The idea would be to have the staging just below the layout surface. The drawer would only be pulled out to re-rail or manipulate the trains in staging. The gain would be in being able to reduce the vertical spacing of the layout and staging because “hand space” would be eliminated.
Our club used this along w/ full extension drawer slides for the elevator section. The “rough” video for now
This unit is square and quite stable from all the braced/ supports, lifting a long “tray” may require a pulley system to aid in the stability of uneven weight.
have you considered the dehydrated canal proposed by John Armstrong
The Dehydrated canal lock is my personal choice, powered by a lever controlled by ye olde 0-5-0. The one in the drawing above was designed to handle a N&W transition-era train, powered by an O-scale Y6b.
My elevator, designed for my standard (Japanese style) unit train, is 56.5 inches of narrow steel stud. The length is a variable, but I would suggest a heavier gauge stud for anything over 72 inches.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with an empties-in/loads out elevator)
The plans for a elevator that match closely to what I need comes from Model Railroad Planning 2001. The artical is The helix Killer. The design of the elevator closely matches what I hope to accomplish but it will be for going around a corner… The linear Actuator seems to be the solution to the motor and rails. I am going to build the elevator first to determine how the layout will fit with the elevator. Thank you for all you suggestions. I will keep everyone posted on my progress.
Indeed, drawer staging saves a lot of length, no ladder. It doesn;t really cost much in width - the tracks with a ladder would take up just as much width, and the ‘extra’ width used by the drawer is only in use while a train enters or leaves staging. At other times - it’s no wider than if you had the same number of staging tracks with a traditional ladder.
And it does save height, you just need enough clearance for the maximum height cars and locos you will put in there, if something comes off the rails, just slide the drawer all the way out and have full access.
–Randy