Has anyone found a good alternative to the plastic pellets?
Any easy ways to make a bigger and easier to use collecting bin?
Any other things to make make it look or operate better or more fun?
video is from a couple days ago. I now have all the track work done.
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Check out how Sean configured his with a storage bin underneath his layout. Coal tipple is from about 52:00 to 59:00.
Nice idea.
get a square looking funnel and cut a hole in the table underneath the accesory just a tad smaller than the funnel itself. then get some pvc pipe or plastic tubing to attach to the funnel collection end. then get any collection storage bin you choose be it a Tupperware container or somthing that allows you to poor out the coal and refill the cars or in my case I want to build an operating coaling tower that cars can be run underneath to load them back up this Idea is a lot better than using the little plastic tray that comes with the accesory. as for using other plastic coal I have not found out about any other types yet. so cant answer that question.
I have one of these and have only tested it out on the bench. when my dream layout is ready it will see lots of work. I love it. the only thing I have had to do to it is bypass the cherry switches in the track as one of them went bad. took some work to do but I got it all working again. good luck with yours.
I too, cut a hole in my table. I then made two "L" shaped wooden brackets screwed to the sides of the hole and spaced to hold the edges of a Tupperware bin so it is located directly under the hole. I have three cars and when all are unloaded, I just slide the coal filled bin out to "refill" the next load of coal. I've not tried traditional Lionel coal, but there is no mechanism the coal goes through, so do not see why it would not work - other than collecting enough to fill one or more hoppers.
Good topic!
As to the coal, I assumed the reason Lionel made the "rabbit poop" coal specifically marketed for this accessory was to prevent the traditional Lionel coal from getting somewhere where it may do harm.
Perhaps the gearing for the rotation? While it is not intentionally going near that, I have a feeling traditional coal could end up getting stuck in there and binding up to do some damage, if it were to find it's way in that area.
-Dave
Yeah, I agree the real coal would get in the mechanism.
I actually have a truck under the collection area. I need to design something that would allow me to load cars. I could dump them up top. Them drive them underneath the unloader and fill them back up.
The New Jersey Highrailers have a real nice set up. Check their website.
Do not use real coal. I know the coal isn’t great looking but there is a reason for its size and shape. It will get caught in the mechanism and can damage the unit or even worse, it jams and then stops. It happened to me. Then you can’t start it to finish the cycle once you clear the problem. You have to hold the dip switches down why triggering it and holding it while it goes back without getting your hand caught or stalling it. It’s a complicated mechanism in this one. The coal jumps all over when it’s dumping, it’s not as perfect as everyone thinks when it slides down the chute. Just use the coal designed for it and you will be problem free.
DMASSO posted:The New Jersey Highrailers have a real nice set up. Check their website.
True, but unless they've changed it, isn't theirs the AAA Precision Turntables version?
Maybe they added a Lionel one also?
-Dave
Dave45681 posted:DMASSO posted:The New Jersey Highrailers have a real nice set up. Check their website.
True, but unless they've changed it, isn't theirs the AAA Precision Turntables version?
Maybe they added a Lionel one also?
-Dave
No we did not add a Lionel We have the AAA version We use the Scenic Express rubber coarse coal We have a barge beneath it that has a cut out The coal goes through the barge into a bucket uner the table
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