Comments or video of MTH 30-9158 Operating Coaling Tower?

This a fun accessory , I took my great grandson over to Jack's large super mode layout and  couldn't drag Mitch away from this accessory. He's only 3.  but that's  all he wanted to play with.  go figure?

Having said that it's kind of fun....It takes forever to load  a car with coal...  The bucket lifts the coal and dumps it in the bin up top... You can then open the bin to let the coal fall into a car below.   We also have an MTH air dump car to dump to supply the coal pile.     I like it  and didn't think it was that noisy.  I may have a pic. back later if I do.

Port Lines Hobbies did a repair clinic on improving the performance.  I have the part but haven't installed it yet.

http://www.portlines.com/portlinesclinic12.htm

I have one and it work fine....I just don't play around with it much...but it looks cool on the layout and most of the enjoyment comes when someone comes over to check the layout....

I got one about ten years ago. It is a fun accessory - match it up with a Lionel 3469 dump car, put a track under it and another track to the bucket side with a dump tray.

It is a lot quieter than many post-war accessories.

The fellow in Connecticut (someone help us out here) that is a big S gauge parts supplier has a substitute pulley wheel that doubles the hoist speed. Worth the few bucks, easy to install.

"The fellow in Connecticut (someone help us out here)"....thanks for the post Owen...anyone know "the fellow" ????

Try the link in the post by TrainsBob, about 4-5 posts up the list. That might be it?

Thank you all for the comments and input - looks like one of these will go on the LOTF (Layout of the Future)

Paul

The "fellow in Connecticut" is Port Line Hobbies. I guess TrainsBob replied while I was huntin' and peckin' my reply and I missed it.

Any new comments? I'm thinking about doing one in my engine yard for my steamers. Not very realistic but I think it will be neat. Oh, how does this play with fastrack? Can it be used with it out of the box or does the track need modifications? Also, any pictures of the unit? 

I've installed the Port Line pulley and it works great. It reduces the time by at least 20% which makes this a great accessory.

I own one and as others have said, it's a fun accessory to operate.  It is much quieter than most post-war operating accessories, but it doesn't pick up much coal.  I think if the bucket were heavier it might do better.  

trainsbob posted:

Port Lines Hobbies did a repair clinic on improving the performance.  I have the part but haven't installed it yet.

http://www.portlines.com/portlinesclinic12.htm

Without looking at my coaling tower, is it only one replacement fully that is needed ?

It's more fun with jelly beans.  The box lid covers the jelly bean bowl (keeps dust off jelly beans.