Anyone built an operational one for model trains?
I am planning on build one (or two) to represent the dumpers at Lamberts Point (Norfolk VA) circa 1950. I am looking for ideas, on technique. I have a Walthers dumper, and it will not be part of this. It is not built for real operation.
This is the only one that I know about: http://nomre.railfan.net/hoscale/somerset/
Thank you for your input.
Nigel
Somewhere, sometime, somehow I saw an article years ago on building one but don’t ask me where! Basicly what the person did was have a disk of plywood below the layout with an arm screwed to the face of the disk. A motor turned the disk possibly by a belt on the outside edge ( I don’t remember the details very well). The other end of the arm tilted the dumper through an arc and returned it to an upright position. It wasn’t a true rotary dumper because it cycled over and back in the direction it came from but it did work. I think there was also a limit switch with a notch in the edge of the disk so when it completed the cycle it automatically stopped. Hope that helps!
I remember that a N scale rotary dumper was reviewed in Model Railroader some years ago. And IIRC, it was an operating model.
I believe that Lionel built a working one a couple of years ago, but I haven’t seen one in person. They even have bathtub gons with rotery couplers to go with it. I realize that you are in HO, so that isn’t really an option, but maybe seeing it might give you some ideas.
Beside, you did say ANYONE.[:D]
If you’re feeling reallly motivated, you can model one after what Wayne Roderick did on his Teton Short Line: http://www.ida.net/users/tetonsl/railroad/dumper.htm
On the FAQ page of the club website you gave a link to, there is information on how they built thier rotary dumper.
Thank you !! THis is exactly what I am looking for !!
Nigel,
Did you ever build that working coal dumper for your layout modeling Lamberts Point? If you did could you tell the rest of us how you did it. I would like to leverage the terminal at Lamberts Point during 1957-1959. I have been researching the terminal and found some pictures of the coal dumper and elevator from N&W Historical. I was wondering if building the dumper as the prototype with pulleys and weights on two low motors? If anyone else has taken a crack at kit bashing or scratch building the dumpers and the elevator I am interested for your input.
Thanks,
Shawn
I remember reading a 2 part article in N Scale Magazine about building a working rotary dumper. It was in 2004 or 2005…I can’t remember exactly and those issues are in storage.
Nigel,
The Severena Park Model Railroad Club, which has been featured in MR many times over the years, has one that has been in operation for decades now.
I will check to see if there is any detailed info on it anywhere. I used to belong there and knew the builder, but I’m not even sure if he is still alive.
They do have a web site, you may want to do a search for them.
Sheldon
I believe the Severna Park Model Railroad Club has a working rotary dumper. Perhaps you could contact them for some ideas. Jim
Hi from Belgium,
Years ago, certainly 25 years, State Streets Models issued a working rotary car dumper in Nscale. It was faetured in MR.
In fact it’s Mister Rick Spano, well know Nscale modeler, which was behind State Steets Models.
I have one of this rotary dumper, its a dad gift, but for some unknow reasons I never build it.
I may be include it in my expand of my Maclau River RR for a small coal river port; I am thinking about.
The model is a well enginered one made of white metal. The casting are good whith some crisp details. Motorisation could be made with a small motor like a Switchmaster.
Its a completely working model whith clamps and it could handle 33’ bay hopper full of real coal.
Some pictures of a similar model could be see on Mister Rick Spano website www.scenicedandundecided.net
Some shots of his rotary car dumper were published in the november/december 2006 Nscale Railroading with nice shots of some Nscale Hullets unloader
A few months ago an Email with Rick Spano tell me that not a lot of the rotary were ever produced.
In an very old book published by MR in the early 50’s there is a plan for a working rotary car dumper in HO.
Marc