Does any one make one in a kit form that works rather than a static model
i have the makings of one but using an old set of wheels for the puller seems too large
only this part would show above board
The one car puller I saw in use looked like the upper part of a ship’s capstan. The pulling line was a loop with hooks on pendants that were connected to the car(s) to be pulled, it went one turn around the capstan, and took up tension when the free end was pulled by a yard hand.
You might want to take a look at nautical model suppliers for a capstan of suitable size. I haven’t built a ship model in half a century, so I can’t help with links.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
You could scratch build the drum with brass or styrene tube, plus ends. 1/8 diameter should be very close. An operable gear box could be made as well.
Richard
C&O Fan,
Awhile back Model Railroader did an article about kit bashing a soybean processing plant. It was in a special issue on How To Build Realistic Layouts, Industries You Can Model, in mid 2007. Page 31 has the pictures and instructions on the car puller. The article itself starts on page 25.
Good Luck,
Bob
here’s a video of it in action