Positioning a Log Dump Car

I don't want to burst your bubble, but I have the Williams by Bachmann operating cars.  they are remotely operated anywhere on the layout using the hand held transmitter.  Each car has it's own address.  So far I have the log and coal dump cars.  I also have the operating box car that tosses crates out.  These cars operate slowly or should I say prototypically.  Look them up at Williams by Bachmann site.  

There are also different versions of Lionel dump cars.

The magnetic version with a plunger under the car - which as you have found requires rather precise positioning over the electromagnet.

The flying-shoe version which requires the operating track rather than uncoupling track - but has the advantage of more forgiveness in the unloading area and the cars reset themselves instead on needing the hand-of-god to push the dump mechanism back in to place.

Williams, MTH and K-line also have nice dump cars with prototypical smooth operation.  As Dan mentioned some can use a remote and dump anywhere without the need for a special track. 

With your enjoyment in mind, I'd consider selling the dump car you acquired and get one that works for you.

It depends on your engine also.  If it doesn't have real good operation at the slowest speed you'll have problems getting it right over the magnet, which fastrack uses.  You didn't mention your type of engine or control system.  With a 100 speed step board you are going to get much better control.  Also hit the direction button and it will stop immediately instead of trying to 'feather' it down.

I will add, if you are using the plastic button supplied with the fastrack piece, be careful and make sure it doesn't stick, which they do, because it will get real warm and melt the plastic roadbed and you will be buying a new one.

I found the FT uncoupler magnets were quite strong, and with my log cars I would get close then push and hold the button as the car rolled over.  It would grab the car and hold it and dump the logs.  As long as you don't hold it more than a couple seconds you are fine.

Thanks for the info, guys.

Dan - those are nice cars, especially the remote operation. But even with that, if you had a tray or platform on the side of the track where the logs or crates would be dumped into, how do you get the train to stop exactly where it should be in order to get the logs/crates precisely into the tray or onto the platform ?  

Andy B - I may do that, but see my question to Dan, above. It's really for the enjoyment of the grandkids (3 and 5). They see the log car stop and me push the button and nothing happens. So then I move the car forward a little and try again but it's gone too far forward and I back it up and on and on. Their attention span isn't that long and the moment passes.    

William I - I thought I mentioned I was using a Lionchief engine with the basic remote on this particular loop which I know is part of the problem. I have a couple of Legacy engines but don't want to use them with the log dump car. I do watch to make sure the remote button doesn't get stuck or stay on too long.

William I - That sounds like a viable solution, I'll try it tonight and see what happens. 

As far as positioning a dump car precisely at a set spot, you can make a bin for the logs or coal that is a bit longer than what is usually supplied.  The loading or unloading dock for the box car can also be a little longer.  But in both cases it would mean that you would have to do some scratch building or kit bashing.  

I know what you mean about the grandkids attention span.  My two older ones have a fairly good attention span, but the little guy, 1 1/2 years, is the thirty second man.  If it takes any longer than that, I've lost him.  

I have a Lionchief Plus switcher that has very good slow speed capability.  I'm not familiar with the Lionchief locos though that are supplied with starter sets.   

Dan - that's still pretty good for only 1 1/2 years old. I don't believe the basic Lionchief has as many speed steps as the Plus and consistent low speed operation is the issue. The catch "bin" has to fit in between two trestles so I can't really make it any longer, plus it doesn't solve the issue that the dump car has to be centered exactly over the track magnet in order to work. I probably only have about 1/4" "play" on each side of the magnet or it doesn't work. 

I was thinking more about an electrical solution, like an isolated section of track or something along those lines that would stop the whole train at a precise location and the dump car would be lined up perfectly. 

I think I'll try Sinclair's suggestion tonight and see if that helps.

Thanks.   

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see you mentioning it is a Lionchief engine in your op.  Bring it in as slow as possible and use the direction button to stop on a dime, so to speak, over the magnet.

My kids have LionChief engines.  They do have decent slow speed on the diesels but even with that they do not stop right away and it is easy for the kids to end up backing up when trying to stop...  Holding down the button and driving over the magnet does work well.   Just make sure you hit it after the coupler is past and let go before you get to the end coupler or you lose your train with your logs!

William 1 -  " Just got a Lionel log dump car and section of uncoupling Fastrack for a loop running a Lionchief train." 

Andy B - I'll try holding down the button from coupler to coupler and see if that works.

Yeah that will work, but you are doing a drive by.  May be hard to dump it where you want it.  

William 1 posted:

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see you mentioning it is a Lionchief engine in your op.  Bring it in as slow as possible and use the direction button to stop on a dime, so to speak, over the magnet.

LC doesn't have a direction button, so you can't stop the train that way.  Plus they have a delay built in for speed and direction changes.  This delay has all but killed LC for my little boy (3).  Because it doesn't change when he turns the knob he gets fed up and leaves.  So I give him my Cab-1 and let him run my Legacy switcher.  Then he stays for 20-30 min.

That's exactly the issue with the LC and why it's difficult to stop it "on a dime".  It was my first set and I've since moved up to Legacy, but I keep that one loop in operation for the grandkids. I'd be a little too scared to turn over the Cab-2 and my GP9 to the three year old - maybe in a couple of years. 

I tried bringing it in as slow as I could last night and holding the remote button after the first coupler passed and releasing it after the logs dumped and it wasn't bad at all. Took a pass or two to get the hang of it and not press too early and uncouple the whole train, but it was pretty accurate even for a drive by. Like Sinclair said, the magnets are strong enough to almost stop the train at that speed so you don't get much drive-by effect. I'm sure the grandkid's will love it.

I'll make sure I look at the Williams operating cars and remote for next time.

Thanks, guys.

I get it now.  Problem with a drive by, from experience, those logs kick out pretty hard from that type of car, if they land wrong on an unloading rack they can kick back on your track derailing your train.  That was good enough for a long time.  Hey, what was good enough for kids for decades just doesn't thrill them anymore.  Best of luck.

A delay? Who let the rivet counter work on the starter sets? Lol. 

If you happen to use a transformer instead of the wallwart , the direction button trick should work.