I had thids crazy idea; you could make a scale rail grinder train that cleans the track! It would be realistic, with powered discs that clean the track. You could also put LEDs on random flicker underneath, to make it look like sparks. It would also add another train and hazard to an op. session. Has anybody built one?
I know someone made a track cleaner with rotating discs commercially. I beleave it used a roundhouse boxcab loco and had two rotating cleaning/grinding discs (track ereaser type) on the front end that were driven by gears off an unusually large can type motor.
It ran slowly and did a questionable job of cleaning the track.
Tilden
Oh yeah. I was thinking something like that, except it would be protoypicly correct and painted for a rail grinding company.
I’ve heard a number of people propose this, but I’ve never even seen one actually get modeled…much less the ability to clean the tracks. I have pictures of two different brands of rail grinders if you want pics. One of them is even really up close. Let me know if you want them or if you have any progress actually building one.
I don’t think I will build one just yet, but I just thought it was an interesting idea. I would be interested in photos though, thanks.
Please post those pictures here if you would. I would like to see them, even if I don’t model the rail grinder. Very good idea though, If you can fit it inside one.
Thats something to consider building in the near future. Anyone else have an operating Athern Rotary snow plow too?
In the past, MR has run some articles on how to power them. The stock rotary uses rubber bands attached to the axles to spin the blade as it’s pushed along. Doesn’t spin very fast though. I don’t remember the article dates though…but I think they were in the late 1970s to early 1980s. I’ve toyed with the idea of powering my rotary, but for now it sits on a disused spur in the storage cabinet.