Locomotive Test Stand

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’m in the market for a locomotive test stand. Does anyone have any recommendations?

I’ve been consider buying two sets of these:

http://www.micromark.com/HO-and-On30-LOCOMOTIVE-ROLLERS-KIT-UNASSEMBLED-SET-OF-4,8380.html

That would cover a 2-10-2, except for the tender. That’s about the largest loco I’m likely to acquire. Apparently, these rollers are simply placed on top of the rails. I’ m not sure that’s the best approach, though.

Comments, thoughts, anyone?

Thanks.

2

it’s pretty nice, I have a set laying around somewhere (though with all the moving I’ve done recently, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve gotten misplaced…) They work well enough for what you need to do, just have to make sure to keep them clean, as with anything else in the hobby [:)]

Two sets would cover almost any locomotive. I’ve found that you don’t necessarily need to have the roller under every wheel (I just let the pilot/trailing trucks hang free, or remove them). alternatively, you could make a testing bracket such that the difference between the low and high sides is the height of the rollers on top of the lower railhead.

it’d end up looking something like the below:

|______

3

Thanks for the reply.

I looked at your Rail Images site. The photo of the Niagara in motion was very helpful, as the Micro Mark pics convey little in the way of size information.

I noticed dark areas under the roller assemblies. They sort of look like flanges against the rail. I assume that is an illusion due to lighting?

4

The kit consist of a number of L-shaped brackets that support the locomotive. On each bracket, you screw two bearings to support the model’s wheels.

Completing that, you attach a pair of the bearing assemblies to a plastic spacer to form a U shape that keeps the bearings at the proper spacing for the wheels. When you’re finished putting them together, the kit will yield four of the U-shaped assemblies. In the picture you reference, the other two stands are supporting the tender.

5

I have a HO set from Micro Mark. They snap in place on the rails and power is transmitted up through the metal supports and the metal rollers to the loco and tender wheels…

Works very well for setting up sound CV’s at the work bench.

Rich