is there a way to activate a post war lionel 0 scale 3562-50 barrel car with a fasttrack accessory activation track. If not is there a more modern version that would work with fasttrack.
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Thanks for the response. where do you position the barrel car on the accessory fasttrack. The origional 1954 manual (https://www.tandem-associates....62_operating_car.htm) mentioned that in addition to the special OTC contactor you could use any remote control section by positioning one of the special truck shoes on the right hand side of the remote control section and pushing unload. However only one shoe can be on the section or it would short. Would this be the case for the fasttrack accessory control track as well. Wanted to get some feedback fromi the group before trying this out and risking damaging the old car. Also a bit confusing about left vs right since the car could approach the accessory track from either direction. Since the track appears symetrical I guess it is the right side relative to the direction the car approaches.
@HJS posted:Thanks for the response. where do you position the barrel car on the accessory fasttrack. The origional 1954 manual (https://www.tandem-associates....62_operating_car.htm) mentioned that in addition to the special OTC contactor you could use any remote control section by positioning one of the special truck shoes on the right hand side of the remote control section and pushing unload. However only one shoe can be on the section or it would short. Would this be the case for the fasttrack accessory control track as well. Wanted to get some feedback fromi the group before trying this out and risking damaging the old car. Also a bit confusing about left vs right since the car could approach the accessory track from either direction. Since the track appears symetrical I guess it is the right side relative to the direction the car approaches.
Yes, it works as it always has and only one shoe can be on the track. I have the Barrel loader and Car on my Fastrack. I positioned the activation track so when the Barrel car is in the correct position in front of the loader to unload, only the one shoe is on the rail (basically offset) and same with the other end. Basically, if the track section is positioned in the middle of the loader, only one shoe can be on the activation track at a time no matter which end the car is at. A simple short is not going to damage anything as your breaker should trip right away if using modern transformer. The car can only be in one position in front of the loader, as only one side has the opening to unload or receive the barrels.
Thanks again for the response. The forum has been a great resource to help me get started with my new layout Do you remove the side section of the accessory track to get the barrel loader close enough to the car or add an extension on the car and loader.
@HJS posted:Thanks again for the response. The forum has been a great resource to help me get started with my new layout Do you remove the side section of the accessory track to get the barrel loader close enough to the car or add an extension on the car and loader.
Yes, the side pops off the Operating Track section. But you will still need to trim the sides on the track that connects to either side of the Operating track to the length of the barrel loader. Also, your loader should have the loading clip that bridges the gap on the loading end. Here are some pics.
You can see on the track that attaches to the Operating track I had to slightly trim it to match the width of the operating track without its side piece. Its hard to see but it is notched right at that green tuft of grass.
Same on this end where I trimmed the track to get loader right distance from track.
Position of operating track in relation to loader. No matter which end the car is at, only one shoe can ever be on a rail.
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Appreciate your help and the great descriptive pictures. Will mock up the geometry for the layout, make sure everything is working and then install. My operating saw mill is on the other side of the track from the barrel loader. I think I can position the operating track to allow the barrel car to load the barrel loader and the operating car to dump the logs at the saw mill.
Have followed the forums advice setting up the power bus structure with drops and fast acting circuit breakers/TVS for the track layout. Will be posting my plan to get feedback for powering the accessories. Would appreciate your comments. Lot of pressure from my grandkids and the kids in the neighborhood to get the layout functioning before the holidays!!!!!
Operating accessories are fun for adults and for grandchildren. But let's be realistic about this... These operating accessories are not made for scale or for great realism. All operating accessories easily can be setup with original tubular track with a transition section to FastTrack. All of the suggestions here are great, but in a pinch or to avoid cutting up sections of FastTrack, we can always transition to tubular track.
