N scale rail grinder?

[fcnrwy]

Tony,  Thanks!

Would ACC glue be the best adhesive?

Jerry

[SkipGear]

That is where I would start. Rubber cement may be another option. What about using EZ Line for the connection cables also?

[Philip H]

Jerry,
Nicely done model.  For your cables, if the magnets don"T work out, how about monofilament fishing line?  It's fairly rigid over short distances, flexes around curves, and takes the Tamaya paint for flexible plastics.  I'd mount it permanently to one of the cars, cut it longer then you expect it to flex on a curve, and then route it through a simple styrene receiver with whole in the middle.  Then the monofilamnet slides back and forth as the train moves, and it comes out for your proposed disassembly.

[fcnrwy]

Skipgear -  Thanks!  the magnets have been ordered!

Phillip H -  I have tried the fishing line.   It its too ridged for this application.  Instead of just hanging between each car.  The line would twist, sideways and then "pop-out" of their mounting holes.

From the photos that I have researched this problem on.   The electrical cables are much-like the mu cables on locomotives.   The water connections are a little different.    I intend to "Loop" the hose material between each car for ease of assembly and operations.    On some of the photos that I have viewed.  The "water" connections or hose is "White" in color. At least when the train set is "Clean".

I should mention that the prototype for this train is, the Harsco (former Pandrol-Jackson) train sets, RMS-XX.  They have at least two train sets doing "tours of duty" at one time.
Mine will be painted "FCN Maintenance-of-way" Orange, instead of "Harsco Safety" Yellow.   And lettered for Group G Engineering, as train set: MRG-10.

Jerry G.

[LV LOU]

How about,instead of magnets,glue one end of the string to a piece of brass or steel wire,and then put little hooks under the car,and just hang the end on the hooks? Or,you could use the same idea,and put the magnets on the car,and use steel wire.Doesn't somebody make rubber wire for stringing telegraph poles?

[up1950s]

Check this out (HO, but hey....)

/>
Re: grinders - I think those grinding cars themselves are purpose built, but a passenger car is probably
a better starting point, since they tend to be long.  Another thing out there in n-scale I had looked at using
was the Minitrix Fire Rescue train, which is wrong of course, but in some ways could be made to look
right - basically adding skirts to the sides (since a lot of real grinders have skirts to stop sparks from
flowing to the side and starting fires).

- Lou

Would be great if that could be adapted to paint the ties .

[fcnrwy]

LV LOU -    The water connections are mounted near the "top" end corner of each car.   Just below where the roofline meets the car sides.
The piping/plumbing for the water (fire-surpression) is run along the top edge of each car.  Then connects to the flexable connections and then back into the roof plumbing.  On the porches of each of the Cab cars.  I will be attaching the "Fire hose-type" spray nozzles.  That these trains now come equipped with.
The main electrical and control cables are mounted locomotive-like, at about coupler height.  At the ends of each car.
These newer "Rail Grinding" Trains are a lot more engineered than the retro-fitted train sets of 10-20 years ago.
The "Power" for these train sets, were exGP38/40s.  Modified and placed on one end.  Now, they use exBN B30-7As with modified carbodies. That supply all of the train power and are centrally located, mid-train.

The are also more self-contained, in the fire fighting (meaning brush fires) end of the business.


Jerry G.

[ljudice]

Jerry - wow!!!   Very cool!

[central.vermont]

Jerry,
Here's a link to the EZ- line that Tony referred too. I think it would work out good
with the magnet idea also.

http://www.berkshirejunction.com/

Jon

[sd75i]

   What about asking the person making the schnabel car.  That would be an awesome piece.


 dave

[fcnrwy]

Guys,   Thanks a lot!

The magnets have been ordered and I fired a line off to berkshirejunction for the EZ Line. 

Great, this project will finally go forward!   

Jerry G.

[nkalanaga]

If you're freelancing it, one of the Atlas rail cleaner cars would fit right in, and actually grind the rails, if you wanted it to.   Or, if you just want to run the train, use the polishing pads, to save wear and scratches.  It would also provide sound effects.  Rail grinders are NOISY!

N Kalanaga

[LV LOU]

If you're freelancing it, one of the Atlas rail cleaner cars would fit right in, and actually grind the rails, if you wanted it to.   Or, if you just want to run the train, use the polishing pads, to save wear and scratches.  It would also provide sound effects.  Rail grinders are NOISY!

N Kalanaga

If ya want it noisy,stick a Mehano FA in there,LOL!!

[nkalanaga]

I have one of the Arnold FA-whatevers, almost new, with the train set.  It would be noisy enough, and would actually pull the train!

[peteski]

While not a rail grinder, there are some other cool MOW cars available in N scale:
 

and


Price is a bit steep but those would make a nice obstacle in an operating session on any layout.  Both models are powered. I have the Plasser tamper car and my long term plans are to install a DCC decoder and headlights/flashing beacon in it. The project is about half finished but as with most of the projects, it is in limbo while I Istarted yet another project. This is the story of my modeling life.