OK so I ordered the Micro Mark rollers that were on sale and want to build a test stand. Let's see what you built. I want to make sure I can extend and compact the stand for a variety of locomotive lengths. Any track system would work. Let's see what you've created!
I did a search and found a couple but still would like more input.
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MARTY,
Do a search and you’ll find all kinds of examples. Here is a link to the one I made, from OGR a site.
@NJCJOE posted:
Yes Joe. That was one I found and am leaning towards. Seems you and LAZ pretty much have the same concept.
I hacked together one in a couple of hours, might not be exactly what you're looking for, but it was cheap and fast. 
It has switching for 2-rail/3-rail testing, and the higher level track is so I can connect tenders with the Lionel IR tether or the MTH PS/3 drawbar with the locomotive on the rollers. The whole thing has rubber feet and a wall hanger for when I'm not using it. I also added individual power switching so I could power just the locomotive or tender during testing, occasionally that's useful.
The number I had trouble coming up with was the size needed for the longest tender. I ended up with a tender track that was 16 inches and I think I may have erred to the short side. To add to Martys question, can anyone provide a good number for the longest tender length?
Charlie
I made one with 2 pieces of 1X4 pine. It's 38" long with a 16" long elevated section for the tender. 16" is long enough to fit an ATSF 25K gallon tender, which is even longer than a Big Boy tender. It uses 4 rollers, even for an articulated locomotive. Just put a small piece of 1x4 pine under the pilot/front truck and you're good. No need for anything fancy just to bench test stuff. Fits my DM&IR Yellowstone just fine.
Still on sale for a set of 4 @ Micro-Mark: $41.95
@Pingman posted:Still on sale for a set of 4 @ Micro-Mark: $41.95
Those rollers look to have a thicker spacer than the crest rollers. Maybe that's why mine don't work so good.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:I hacked together one in a couple of hours, might not be exactly what you're looking for, but it was cheap and fast.
GRJ,
How is power connected to the raised (tender) section of track ?
Thanks
@Richie C. posted:GRJ,
How is power connected to the raised (tender) section of track ?
Thanks
It has some hidden wires that come under the main track section. Since the pictures I added a switch to the main section so you can power either one, so the power for the raised section just goes all the way up under the main section track.
Got it, thanks.
That proses wheel cleaner and test base look good. May have to get one and try it out.
Commercial unit I bought several decades ago. Invaluable to me.
@GregR posted:Ok, this isn't exactly handmade, but apparently Williams has this setup coming out soon. Is this new, or did I miss seeing this before? How in the world does it clean wheels?
Most likely with those tan colored pieces fitting under the wheel that needs cleaning. It appears to me that you will have to clean only one or two axles at a time.
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