Model Forum / General / Railroads / November 2005

I am trying to restore for sale a 36" x 66" N-scale system which I
constructed for my then young son in ~ 1972. Most of the purchased
components are Atlas

There are 3 engines, a Bachmann 4-8-4 Northern, a Atlas/Roco EMD GP9,
and a Atlas/Roco Plymouth WDT. The last was disassembled some time in
the late 1970's. I believe that the other two should be restorable. I
have a copy of
(http://www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/modrail/faq/more/old_trains.html) and
plan to use it to work on the first two engines.

The layout consists of an irregularly shaped outer loop containing an
elevated crossing loop in the center. There is also one short siding.

The scratch-built custom power supply uses a 3A Powerstat variable
transformer as the throttle.  It varies the AC voltage to a full-wave
center-tap rectifier based on a Triad Magnetics F40X Power Transformer
(26.8V CT 1.0A ) which provides up to 14 V DC to the track (15 V with
pulse power button down.) An independent F40X provides 16.4 V AC for
accessories. The control panel includes a neon 'power-on' indicator
light, a green led 'power to the track' indicator light, DPDT switches
mounted to indicate the direction of travel, and momentary switches to
power the turnouts to change the path of travel.

The Atlas switch to the siding has an open coil. Can the coil be
replaced to restore it to operation? The remaining switches are all
very sluggish. Is there maintenance I can do on them to restore their
operation? They did work effectively when the layout was new. I have
tried to search for the current they draw when they operate, but have
not been able to find any references. Does anyone have any facts? I ask
because I connected the control panel to the layout using a scavenged
25 pair Amphenol telephone cable connector set. This means that all of
the wiring goes through at least a short length of #24 AWG cable which
might be current limiting.

In my searching I found (http://www.aerocarlubricants.com/order2.htm).
I already have some red and blue Doxit from Caig. Should it be just as
effective as Aero's "Conducta lube" in restoring the locomotive motors?

I plan to restore the track surface by polishing it with 600 mesh (5-15
micron particles) aluminum oxide green lapping paper followed by a pass
with 0.5 micron lapping tape. I am trying to restore for sale a 36" x
66" N-scale system which I constructed for my then young son in ~ 1972.
Most of the purchased components are Atlas

There are 3 engines, a Bachmann 4-8-4 Northern, a Atlas/Roco EMD GP9,
and a Atlas/Roco Plymouth WDT. The last was disassembled some time in
the late 1970's. I believe that the other two should be restorable. I
have a copy of
(http://www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/modrail/faq/more/old_trains.html) and
plan to use it to work on the first two engines.

The layout consists of an irregularly shaped outer loop containing an
elevated crossing loop in the center. There is also one short siding.

The scratch-built custom power supply uses a 3A Powerstat variable
transformer as the throttle.  It varies the AC voltage to a full-wave
center-tap rectifier based on a Triad Magnetics F40X Power Transformer
(26.8V CT 1.0A ) which provides up to 14 V DC to the track (15 V with
pulse power button down.) An independent F40X provides 16.4 V AC for
accessories. The control panel includes a neon 'power-on' indicator
light, a green led 'power to the track' indicator light, DPDT switches
mounted to indicate the direction of travel, and momentary switches to
power the turnouts to change the path of travel.

The Atlas switch to the siding has an open coil. Can the coil be
replaced to restore it to operation? The remaining switches are all
very sluggish. Is there maintenance I can do on them to restore their
operation? They did work effectively when the layout was new. I have
tried to search for the current they draw when they operate, but have
not been able to find any references. Does anyone have any facts? I ask
because I connected the control panel to the layout using a scavenged
25 pair Amphenol telephone cable connector set. This means that all of
the wiring goes through at least a short length of #24 AWG cable which
might be current limiting.

In my searching I found (http://www.aerocarlubricants.com/order2.htm).
I already have some red and blue Doxit from Caig. Should it be just as
effective as Aero's "Conducta lube" in restoring the locomotive motors?

I plan to restore the track surface by polishing it with 600 mesh (5-15
micron particles) aluminum oxide green lapping paper followed by a pass
with 0.5 micron lapping tape.

Thanks,

Baumgrenze

Thanks,

Baumgrenze