[8D] we talked about this in another thread a couple weeks ago, meanwhile I have been hard at work. I will try and describe what I have done if anyone should want to tackle this project.
I cut a piece of 1/2" plywood 32"x 13" and put dado grooves in it approx 1/4"deepto use as the base. Small strips of oak 3/4" wide will ride in the grooves. You will also notice 1/4" strips of tin fastened to this for power. One is common and three hots to have constant power. I soldered wires to the strips and ran them out the bottom thru holes drilled in the plywood.
Next I took Gargraves track and fastened them to the 5 pieces of oak strips with small screws and 2 pieces of cedar the same length as the track. The cedar was fastened to the oak strips with small screws and glue.You have to make sure everything is perfectly lined up and square so this unit will slide smoothly thru the grooves cut in the plywood. I also waxed the grooves with candle wax to make it slide even smoother.
Next I mounted 4 roller pickups(purchased from williams) on a piece of cedar 3/8" x 3/8" . They are mounted in such a fashion as to have slight contact with the tin strips mounted on the oak plywood base. They maintain contact as the table moves back and forth. I soldered wires to the roller pickups and then to the appropriate rail to main tain power in any position
Finally to move the table I got a piece of 1/4 x1/4" square steel stock. I recessed it into 2 of the oak strips on one side. I tapped out a 6/32" hole dead center and ran a 6/32 threaded rod thru it. The rod goes to a home made coupling and then to a 25 rpm dc geared motor. I have several of these motors that I bought on ebay from a store called “DC geared motors” he has 12 and 24 volt motors of all rpm’s .They are excellent motors for projects like this. This particular one has tremendous tourqe, and low speed . The motor is wired to a dpdt switch, no stop contacts are needed, because the motor travels so slowly that you can stop it in exactly the right plase. It takes about 2 minutes to change on track position.
Well thats all for now . I plan on installing this on the layout in the next couple weeks, if time allows. It is so irritating to have to go to work , do the wifes honey do’s , maintain the ranch , take care of all the animals, fini***raining my carriage horse and my daughters trail horse, mow the yard and 10 acres of pasture, clean out stalls…well you get the idea.
Sorry I had to post all this in different sections, but my internet connection really sucks, and I didnt dare want to get half finished and have it go out.
Also thanks to Spankybird (Tom) for showing me how to post pictures many months ago, without which none of this could be shared.Let me know what you think guys as new ideas and constructive critisism are always welcomed. Questions also…Tim Mitchell
Well I got the transfer table installed and it works great. I am going to switch out motor for one that turns a little faster.In the next few weeks I will add some handrails down the middle and some scenery. …Tim
I’m not sure I get what you have done! Do you have three(3) tracks that move instead of the Lionel version hat has ONE track moving between 8 lines (with extension)??
Yes Alan all 3 tracks move so I can currently transfer 2 trains or 3 trains in the future. The length also lets me move AA units or scale model units.The hardest part was locating the power contact strips so the tracks would have the appropriate track power in the different positions without using relays and electronics. But that was also the fun part…Tim
Very creative transfer table, Tim. The Lionel transfer table is one of my favorite accessories. However, your transfer table accomplishes what you want to do better than Lionel’s. You can transfer longer locomotives/rolling stock and more than one at a time, should you so desire. Model railroading at its best!