Bachmann Online Forum

Discussion Boards => HO => Topic started by: Daylight4449 on January 17, 2010, 08:53:44 PM

Title: what are they
Post by: Daylight4449 on January 17, 2010, 08:53:44 PM
can anyone identify the track attachments in the pic? oh and how do you clean brass track?
Title: Re: what are they
Post by: full maxx on January 17, 2010, 09:20:56 PM
what pic
Title: Re: what are they
Post by: Daylight4449 on January 17, 2010, 09:53:08 PM
opps sorry

(http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww238/irbricksceo/untitled.jpg)
Title: Re: what are they
Post by: rogertra on January 17, 2010, 09:55:03 PM
Still no photo and the best thing for brass track is the nearest dumpster.
Title: Re: what are they
Post by: Daylight4449 on January 17, 2010, 10:04:51 PM
(http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww238/irbricksceo/100_1043.jpg)

try now, and i paid for this brass track so i aint goin to throw it away.
Title: Re: what are they
Post by: jward on January 18, 2010, 06:05:06 AM
you can use the track at the ends of sidings or anywhere else a locomotive won't venture. brass track is harder to keep clean than other types that's why most won't use it. but if you have it you can find places for it where keeping the rails clean won't be a problem.
Title: Re: what are they
Post by: jonathan on January 18, 2010, 06:22:22 AM
I can't identify the devices on the track. However, in defense of brass track, I have some on my layout.  It conducts current as well as the nickel silver.  Once it's weathered, it's difficult to tell the difference from the other track.  I used it because I happended to have some.  Was prepared to tear it up if it didn't work.  But I have had no problems with the brass.

Regards,

Jonathan
Title: Re: what are they
Post by: pdlethbridge on January 18, 2010, 07:50:42 AM
I would think it could be either a set of terminals to connect power to the track or a powered uncoupler
Title: Re: what are they
Post by: Jim Banner on January 18, 2010, 10:22:32 AM
My experience with brass track is very similar to jonathan's and most other people who have actually tried it on their layouts.  My H0 layout is about 1/3 brass, 1/3 nickel silver and 1/3 steel.  No one type gets dirty faster than the other two.  In fact, I rarely have to clean any track at all as long as I oil it very, very lightly once or twice a year.

Jim
Title: Re: what are they
Post by: rich1998 on January 18, 2010, 11:06:44 AM
Here is an enhanced photo.

(http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/ac323/lexonew/Enhancedphoto.jpg)

Some years ago I was at the home of a former president of our mrr club. The layout was all brass track and his locos ran very well. He always kept the track clean.

lex
Title: Re: what are they
Post by: Joe Satnik on January 18, 2010, 11:13:06 AM
Run a magnetic compass around it and let us know what effect it has on the needle of the compass. 

Are there any terminals for wires on it?
Title: Re: what are they
Post by: Daylight4449 on January 18, 2010, 11:27:09 AM
It has no terminals, there is a knob off to the side and over 21 rail, a small wheel perpendicular to car wheels.
Title: Re: what are they
Post by: rich1998 on January 18, 2010, 12:02:40 PM
I did some more photo enhancing and there looks like a small wheel with one edge at one rail or slightly over the rail. It almost looks like the wheel is laying on the edge of the rail.

Lex
Title: Re: what are they
Post by: Daylight4449 on January 18, 2010, 12:17:04 PM
the wheel is over a depressed section of rail.
Title: Re: what are they
Post by: Joe Satnik on January 18, 2010, 12:26:44 PM
Is it magnetic, i.e. will it attract a paper clip?  Is it permanently attached to / part of the track or can it be removed?  Is anything metallic touching the rails? 

By perpendicular, do you mean the small wheel is parallel to the ground, or still standing on edge?

Does the wheel tighten/loosen the attachment's grip on the track?

Have you posted this on the Atlas board?

Can you show a closer photo (clip only) with better lighting/focus?

Not sure what you mean by "21 rail".

Title: Re: what are they
Post by: rich1998 on January 18, 2010, 01:54:11 PM
Quote from: Daylight4449 on January 18, 2010, 12:17:04 PM
the wheel is over a depressed section of rail.
that would tell me the device is suppose to activate something when the loco or car wheel paases over it.
Any electrical terminals on it? Any moveable parts? Does it look like something else might work with it? The photo is kind of blurry.

Lex
Title: Re: what are they
Post by: Daylight4449 on January 18, 2010, 02:23:56 PM
it is a bachmann device
Title: Re: what are they
Post by: jbsmith on January 18, 2010, 03:07:49 PM
those are  possibly track sections for something like these

http://www.ho-scaletrains.net/bachmannhoscaleaccessoriesandkits/id50.html

http://www.ho-scaletrains.net/bachmannhoscaleaccessoriesandkits/id61.html

http://www.ho-scaletrains.net/bachmannhoscaleaccessoriesandkits/id55.html

minus a number of the original parts
Title: Re: what are they
Post by: jonathan on January 18, 2010, 05:09:32 PM
The more I look at the photo, the more it looks like an activation switch of some kind.  As the train passes, it makes contact with the gizmo on the right, and turns something on.  Just a guess...

Jonathan