Two-Rail Hot-Wire Trolleys?

Hytec Apr 18, 2018

  1. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Are there any O-Scale two-rail, active pole, non-DCC cars available from any manufacturer? I want to make a hot-wire trolley system using the wire as the power source. I tried this 60 years ago in HO, but my skills and available detail wire pieces were not up to the task. However, after seeing recent YouTube videos of O-Scale trolleys under wire, then riding the New Orleans St. Charles line last week, decided it was time to try again. Thanks, Hank
     
    Kurt Moose likes this.
  2. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Well, that would be awesome to see that running!
     
  3. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    there are ways to do this, there are even videos of N Scale Bachmann Brills running under wires. there are O kits....got a picture of what you want?
     
  4. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    No pictures, just a mental image of a Brill car running around the walls on a double-track point-to-point track plan. Could be an HO car, though I assume the wire system would be more difficult to make for reliable operation. Also will depend on which scale offers a selection of trolley rail, switches, etc.
     
  5. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Ooh. This has me thinking of magazine articles from years past. I especially recall the name Bob Hegge, and photos of his work.
     
  6. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Ken, I'll search for various archives. Now that you mention, I remember a few trolley articles in MR many years ago. Unfortunately I gave away my collection of MRs from 1947 maybe 15-20 years ago when they began encroaching on modeling and storage space. AAARGH :mad:

    Oh well, too soon old, too late smart. :oops:
     
  7. Randy Stahl

    Randy Stahl TrainBoard Supporter

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  8. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    Back around 1989, there was a small Model Railroader project railroad called The O'Dell County Railroad that was a HO traction layout....
     
  9. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Thx, I'll try to locate it.
     
  10. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    Look for Nov 1988 through April 1989, the conversion of Bachmann and Bowser to wire power was in the April issue
     
  11. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    I found that Bowser makes a New Orleans River Line Brill car in HO that can switch power feed between wire and rail. I also have found sites that offer poles, wire, wiring hardware, and track. So I appear to be off and running. However, any progress photos will be on the HO forum. Maybe Charlie could set up a forum just for trolleys. It should be open to all scales because stringing reliable wire has the same problems regardless of scale.

    [​IMG]
     
  12. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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  13. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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