Self Loading "Superstreets " Places Automobiles On Flat Car

Thanks for posting. Nice way to integrate streets and trains. Terry

The first thing that came to mind was Lee's modifying tractor trailers and how cool it would be to have a piggyback operation with this. Or..Autotrain. 

       
       


Same here.. Now I really miss Lee

K.C.

It could be done, one would have to build a ramp to match the height of the flatcar in question and add terminal strips to the platform so the flatcar could contact them when backed in- giving power to the rails that would have to be added onto the flatcar.

"now I really miss Lee"......?

"now I really miss Lee"......?  Lee left the forum over some dispute or deletion. Not sure, I missed that part.

.....I didn't know.................at least it's not as bad as I was thinking that meant, but it's not good either......Thank you.

Speaking of Piggyback operations, it reminds me of the American Flyer piggyback unloading set from 1959-60.  Here’s a link to its introduction in the 1959 catalog: Gilbert 1959 Catalog Page 16

 

Bill

That would be neat to see in operation ....Update:found it.

 

While there was a lot of play value in the Gilbert AF unloader/loader, they actually backed the tractor-trailers onto the flat cars (some a pretty fair distance), set the trailer brakes, disconnected the tractor and the tractor was driven back toward the ramp. Later, they just picked up the trailers (Lionel nailed this one with their MiJack crane, just wish it was set up for scale trailers) and set them on the cars, removing the "bridge ramps" from the cars.

 

Lee runs his conversions on DC as I recall, so getting one to back onto a trailer could be done pretty easily once the ramps were set up. The cars would need modification for the wheel flanges.

 

The system in the video above is the Faller system. The cars have internal motors and rechargeable batteries. They're guided by a steel wire in the roadbed and stopped/started with reed switches as I recall. What kills me is that these are 1/87 scale. The technology is out there to make them in 1/50, 1/48 or 1/43. They're so specialized (pretty much large layouts only) that the demand probably isn't there to justify production.

 

I've seen the Faller HO scale street system before. They even made a N scale bus and truck system,

Something like this could be made....not sure if we'll see WbB do it. I do like the single and duel lane streets......something WbB could do too.....along with intersections with switches.

Thanks, K.C. and others . . . I'm back after some discussions with people who convinced me completely leaving was a mistake.  Changes in my life lately mean that I will not have as much time for my trains or to be here as much as in the past, but I will not be completely gone, either.  

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Wow, I was unaware that Markin had made products and such to "trainify" the Faller A-M-S.  This is cool!

 

When I had an N gauge layout I had about 90 feet of the Faller car system: very expensive and delicate beyond practicality: the vehicles also had short lifetimes before they were unrepairable. But when it all worked it was so cool (no slots at all).  In HO gauge, Faller car systems offered a tractor-trailer loader, too, but not in N gauge, but they offered the controllers to stop cars at track tracks, and I had traffic lights that operated traffic downtown and buses that stopped for twelve seconds at various places downtown, etc.  Pretty near.  Still, it was so delicate and so expensive and time consuming to keep running, that I doubt I would have kept it had I stuck with N gauge.  

 

Before committing to 'Streets years ago I looked at various brands of slot cars and was aware Faller had an A-M-S system coming out.  Ultimately I decided to go with 'Streets.  I don't really regret the decision - but will have to take a look at this again": Faller seems to have a good range of near scale cars it looks like, but at least in the videos I saw, much like 'Streets, they run smoothly only at scale highway speeds and above, not at really low speeds.  

 

Something other folks, not as committed to 'Streets as I am (well over 150 feet screwed down) might think of is: the Marklin slot-car-compatible equipment for loaders, stopping at rail crossings, etc., probably will/can be made to work with any brand of slot car, such as Carrera, Scalectric, etc.  It is an alternative to 'Streets worth considering although I'm not necessarily recommending that over 'Streets.

Lee, You made my day!!!


K.C.

Department of "Why Does that Seem Familiar ?" Department:

 

Looking at the 1964 [ !! ] combined Tri-ang [ 00/H0 ]Railways - MINIC Motorways catalogue there are

  - the RM921 Car Loading Ramp, which enabled vehicles to be driven onto the end-loading RM.922 Railway Car Transporter.  Both of these were included in the RM.C set which also had a locomotive, passenger coach, two autos, a loop of track and turnout, and a double loop of 'street' + a junction [ to get the autos onto the ramp ], etc.

  -  the RM.901 crossing [ single rwy track and two auto lanes ]

 

An impressive array of other items was shown as "Available Later";  I have no idea if these were produced or not:

   - A double track railway / street [ eg, 2x2 ] crossing, and a varient with electric gates.

   - a 'working' bi-level car transporter [ = truck ]

   - working Roadrailer vehicles, with adapter truck for railway operation, a tractor to haul them on roads, and, most impressively, dual railway/motorway track to do the interchange....

   - a river ferry for cars, and the terminals at either end.

 

All this was during the period of the Lionel - Tri-ang collaboration, with the latter's

exploding boxcars and missile launchers prominent in the catalogue.  The roadway items included racetracks and race vehicles of course, but also included sedans, buses, commercial vehicles, etc

 

Hey, that was only fifty years ago !

 

Best, SZ

Love it!  I hope Bachmann jumps on this - very cool.

Outside of a trailer loader another idea for a O gauge "superstreets set up...a trolley bus. Very cool. If this could be done in HO, O should be doable.What the heck..is this steerable as well? Check out the turn signals..

 

very cool and an interesting way to apply SuperStreets!

Oh, now that is nice!  I love the way the camera was installed in an auto and showed the wobbling engine and tender - quite realistic. 

This version of the HO trackless trollies appears to include a slotted guide inaddition to the trolly pole steering mechanism.  I have seen quite an array of trolly wire accessories for this system such as switches and cross overs, but never the slotted version. 

 

Does anyone have more references to this?