Have room for one more postwar Accessory - looking for Recomendations

You can't go wrong with a magnetic crane. Lots of play value for kids and adults.

I know you said you don't want anything coal-related but seeing you don't have anything in that category I would suggest a 97 coal loader.  My experience is it's very reliable as far as not breaking down. It does take a long time to load and sometimes the coal  needs a little persuasion down  the chute.

145 Automatic gate man.

464 Sawmill.

Kverdon posted:

 I want something with fun operation both kids and grownups would get a kick out of. Preferably something reliable. I’m leaning towards either the 282 Gantry Crane, 

Definitely the Crane, in my opinion, if you only have room for one more.....

Magnetic Crane hands down.  Tremendous play value and is great for training hand eye coordination.  My Grand kids love playing/working with mine.

The sawmill. Everybody loves watching the logs go in one end and planks coming out the other, and the noise from the Vibrotor increases as a log pushes a plank. People always ask "Is it really cutting the log?"

The crane is also a good choice, but I'll go with the magic trick of the sawmill.

Kevin:
I "second the motion" for the Lionel Sawmill. Keep the "magic" of cutting logs into planks a secret for as long as possible. It's a "Gee Whiz" action accessory for kids.

Better yet, install an accessory activation track section at the Sawmill so that a log dump car can unload logs directly into its input bay at the touch of a button.

Mike M.  (ritrainguy) 

the 97 or 397 coal loaders...reliable, noisy, messy, and fun.the 464 saw mill same.

I'll agree with the magnetic crane, my favorite being the 182. The 352 ice depot is a great accessory, very reliable and can be placed easily on the layout. You don't even have to loosen any screws on your track. Wire it to the power source and off you go.

Thanks all, looks like it is down to the  range and Sawmill. Going to mull the decision while changing from running trains to Riding Trains. Taking Amtrak on the rerouted Coast Starlight over Tehachapi tomorrow.

The saw mill or the ice depot are reliable accessories. I have both and they work great.

I have a 397 coal loader. It's messy and gets coal everywhere. I'm not a huge fan.

I'm surprised that nobody has said the 264 lumber (un)loader. Have you got room for the culvert loader and unloader?

BTW, the 364 is the log ramp. I think you meant the 397 coal loader, which can be cantankerous.

As Lenny the Lion wrote, I'd recommend a 182 crane. IMHO, the mechanism of the 182 is superior to the 282 crane because it has separate clutches for hoist and swing, which gives better action.

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

I'm surprised that nobody has said the 264 lumber (un)loader. Have you got room for the culvert loader and unloader?

BTW, the 364 is the log ramp. I think you meant the 397 coal loader, which can be cantankerous.

Thanks, yes meant the 397 Coal Loader. I also had the 364 log loader but could never understand why I would want to unload and load logs to the same track :-)

C W Burfle posted:

As Lenny the Lion wrote, I'd recommend a 182 crane. IMHO, the mechanism of the 182 is superior to the 282 crane because it has separate clutches for hoist and swing, which gives better action.

Thanks, noted on the 182. Will keep an eye open for that model.

I am a big fan of the 182 Gantry Crane (I like it because it is stationary) and the 264 Lumber Unloader.....both are VERY reliable.....

Peter

It's interesting to read the responses above.  We all have our biases; here are mine:

• The 282 gantry crane is great because it requires almost nothing in the way of a layout footprint, i.e., it is installed over a few sections of straight track so not much separate space is needed.
  
  
• I could personally watch the 264 forklift loader all day long.
  
  
• The 352 icing station is good for little fingers to work and re-load.  

All of the above are reliable as all get-out.

Steven J. Serenska

The 282 crane is indeed very cool, but mine is far from reliable. I had to wire in a 2nd transformer to power just the magnet; otherwise, it would momentarily lose its power and drop its load when the solenoid was activated. As long as you've got your face set to maybe need to fight with it, it is really swell.

Why not a Louie the barrel loader, made for S gauge but works well with O gauge...

Marty

A crane. A no-brainer. All other accessories will bore kids in 3-5 minutes.

The #175 rocket launcher has plenty of action.  I don't have one myself, yet, so cannot comment on any tweaking you might have to do to get it to operate consistently.  There was a remake, I believe.  I know even less about that one.

The cattle car is another accessory that entertains.  It has hands off continuous action, which adds to it's desirability.  

artyoung posted:

The sawmill. Everybody loves watching the logs go in one end and planks coming out the other, and the noise from the Vibrotor increases as a log pushes a plank. People always ask "Is it really cutting the log?"

The crane is also a good choice, but I'll go with the magic trick of the sawmill.

Sawmill. My favorite accessory from any era!  Hands down winner. 

If you have the real estate definitely the saw mill.

I've found one of the most reliable to be the AF Oil Drum Loader. Wire it to run at around 9V.

Roger

Thanks for all the input. I’ve decided to go with both the Sawmill and 182 Crane as since the accessories on the layout are meant to be removable, they can also be sqappable. I found a sawmill on the auction site but am going to have to be patient to hunt down a 182 Crane. Either that or get a broken one and fix it up a bit at a time.

thanks again, 

Kevin

Kevin,

My setup will be the post-war 364 log loader, followed by the modern MTH 35-90001 sawmill (which is unique as it will load a flat car with the cut boards) as well as a post-war 264 forklift which take boards off the 6264 flatcar.  Follow up with a Menards Vetter Sash & Door to almost complete the cycle of raw material to finished product.  Need to figure out what to do with sawdust though... wood pellets or charcoal briquettes factory or maybe a biofuel plant.

Check out the MTH coaling Tower.  Works well, interesting action and it doesn't take up much space.

The way to their hearts is through their stomach. I suggest a coaling accessory that can be filled with m&m's. Those bright colors look great when being transferred and they are a whole lot less messy than small bits of coal falling out and spreading around the layout. Adults and children alike will be reaching out trying to get some as the gondola speeds by.

Hmmmm. What about small rock candy....

maybe down the road. Sticking with the Sawmill and 182 Crane for now.

I vote for the 264 log loader.   I also like the 497 coal loader/unloader.

Kverdon posted:

...  455 Oil Derrick

only one?

O Gauge Guy posted:

The way to their hearts is through their stomach. I suggest a coaling accessory that can be filled with m&m's. Those bright colors look great when being transferred and they are a whole lot less messy than small bits of coal falling out and spreading around the layout. Adults and children alike will be reaching out trying to get some as the gondola speeds by.

That's a clever idea. The 397 might not even jam with small candies, like it does with the coal. That would also work with the 97. I can just see them riding in the buckets. Place it at the edge of the layout, and dispense them right into your hand, or maybe even directly into your mouth.

The #97 is great, but is a maintenance headache because coal tends to jam the crane.  Takes some modification to get it fairly reliable.

I have a 397 coal loader.  I gave up on it.  In fact, I ought to list it on the for sale forum.

The 364 log loader only holds a few logs.  I have one, that I've removed from the layout & it lies leaning against a wall.  I prefer the old #164 log loader that sat between tracks.  Works perfectly.  Never a problem.

The magnetic crane can provide much opportunity for use.  I modified mine with a bank of relays at its base, to use fine wire between control panel and crane, and so it electrically moves back & forth.

Bottom line: I recommend magnetic crane or 164 log loader

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

That's a clever idea. The 397 might not even jam with small candies, like it does with the coal. That would also work with the 97. I can just see them riding in the buckets. Place it at the edge of the layout, and dispense them right into your hand, or maybe even directly into your mouth.

Heh, reminds me of that tmbooks video;

I've got my hands on a Sawmill. I've reworked the plan to fit it and a 182 Crane in as the 455 Oil Derrick can fit on a corner.  I'm on the lookout for a 182 Magnetic Crane. A local Hobby Store has one they've had for a while at $209.  That seems a bit high. But then again it would probably cost me a fortune in shipping otherwise. Will have to check it out in person.

thanks,

Kevin

Lionel 264 Operating Forklift Platform!!!!

With a bit of Luck, another hobby shop in town had a 182 Magnetic Crane for a much better price so I snapped  it up. It has been serviced and rewired and works ok, but has a few quirks (see separate thread). Thanks very much to everyone for their feedback. Yes,I If decide on one more, it will be the 264 Forklift platform but I now have to transition from the acquisition phase to the build phase. 🙂.

Thanks so much again for all the advice,

Kevin