Tender Pickups

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I had a quick search thru the forums but didn’t see this subject anywhere,
can someone tell me how to make tender pick ups.

I’ve a wee Bachmann 2-6-0 with soundtraxx decoder in the tender, and it needs more power!!

Thanks Ken.

2

Tender pickups increase the electrical pick-up reliability, and tend to reduce loss of power due to loss of electrical pick up occurrances, but they do not increase the engine or sound “power”.

3

[#ditto] Virginian said it right. You can find trucks equiped for electrical pick up in catalogs such as Walther’s. However, an alternative is to install pick up shoes or a “wiper” to aid in picking up current from the track. Ken

4

I couldn’t find any info on 2-6-0, but the Spectrum 2-8-0 was revieved by MR June 98.
“It’s top speed is excessive” for what it’s worth.

5

So it would be easier to convert if I got the whole assembly (wheels/trucks) than trying to add wipers to new wheels sets in the current trucks?

Ken.

6

Ken,
Are TomarShoes from Tomar Industries what you’re looking for ?
http://www.tomarindustries.com/acc.htm
Scroll down a bit.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

7

Thanks Bob
I could probably make wipers like those and glue them to the tender?

they would have to be shaped to allow forwards reverse movement.
Ken.

8

Unless you have no curves, you might want the pickups to move with the trucks. Very easy to make do it yourself pickups, IF you have wheelsets that are insulated on one side only, using 0.015" wire.

9

The wire goes around the axle or rubs on the back of the wheels? The wire attaches to the trucks and then a flexible wire up the tender, sound about right?

Ken.

10

If the wheelsets are insulated on one side, the wire attaches to the truck, and the wire rubs on the axle. Don’t need to wrap around, just springy wire tension against the axle. If the wheelsets are both insulated, then the wire would have to rub on the back of the wheels. And yes, from there the wire goes up inside the tender and ties to the motor or controller leads.

11

Thanks Guys I’ll have to look for the right wheel/ axle combo, cause their plastic at the moment.

Ken.

12

Check your loco’s documentation. Check with “The Bach man”. Probably you can get replacement or additional wipers at little or no charge.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/index.html

Lacking favorable results, take a sheet of .005 brass, trim as strip, punch a hole, and fold over bolster pin to wipe the axles. Solder a lead to the wipers. I rember th old Tico/Mantua units. Check with Model Power for such parts. (I think it was Model Power that took over Mantua).
Good Luck[:)]

13

Just installed Tamar wipers to my tender trucks. Made a world of difference in performance. They dont increase power, only give a more positive "connection " to the rail. If you install them on the engine also (on the opposite side) you will get the extra benefit of keeping the rails clean

14

here’s a how-to by hminky

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/1879/locomotives/wipers/

15

I’ll look up the part number I used as axel wipes tonight. I think I got them from loyds toys.

16

Ken,

I just discovered this last night. This guy uses a Kadee #5 centering spring to make tender pickups for his Bachmann 4-4-0. Wish I’d thought of it. If the 2-6-0’s trucks are small enough, it’s an easy mod.

Bachmann 4-4-0 wipers

17

Harold is a master at this kind of modification, thanks for posting the link.

And thankyou Harold.

Ken.

18

[tup]

Terrific, thanks for the link. Will try it on caboose.