Testing a 3 rail locomotive

wrote

Connect a pair of wires to your 2-rail controller (controlled DC output) and then apply the other end of one wire to the pick-up skate between the wheels of the 3-rail loco and touch the other wire to one of the driving wheels - that should tell you whether it works or not.

John.

Sorry but is this a real question?...

See that silver strip under the loco, in the middle between the driving wheels, that is the pick up 'shoe' and is what you need to supply power to or the return from - if you want to see it running on your layouts track-work you will need to remove one pole (ve + or -) of the power supply to the track (both wheels of an axle are common and thus a dead short), you will then need to either have a centre

3rd rail or some form of fly lead connected to the afore mentioned centre pick up.

The other option is to modify someone like the Peco Loco testing 'rolling road' to incorporate a centre 3rd rail - which is the course of action I would suggest!

Just one little question- is it a Hornby-Dublo third-rail loco? I recollect that some of the continental manufacturers used AC rather than DC with their third-rail or stud contact locos, and a 12V dc supply wouldn't work with these. Brian

"HD 2-6-4 4MT", so 99.99999E percent sure that it is :~)

"BH Williams" wrote

Well as Hornby Dublo produced a 4MT 2-6-4T and that's what the original poster claimed it was, I see no reason to think that it would be anythings else.

John.

John,

Of course. Thanks a lot and BTW it does go - although sluggishly - so I have got a runner after all.

wrote

If it's sluggish then it almost certainly needs re-magnetising. Use it without this at your peril because it will cause the motor armature to burn out. The only place I know which currently offers a remagnetising service is Wakefield Model Railway Centre -

John.

Mea culpa! I missed the bit about the HD 2-6-4t.... Doh!!!! Brian

Sarcastic git.

DaS

Hmm. I don't think Jerry was being sarcastic at all. Facetious maybe, but what's wrong with that? As for him being a git, I have no knowledge of his bloodline. Do you have, perhaps, have some better information? Are you, in fact, his father....?

Now, *that* is being sarcastic!

Cheers, Steve

Stop talking about yourself!

Jerry, you had the high ground until that moment.

Now please promise me you will *stop* doing this tit-for-tat stuff which is neither funny nor helpful.

And I promise you will be happier for knowing that you hold the high ground.

Please?

Cheers, Steve

The message from "Steve W" contains these words:

Now please promise me you will *stop* doing this tit-for-tat stuff.

Or does the N/S divide involve something different? 8-))

And the continental Three rail AC locos are quite happy to run on DC as well. But the opposite is not true, DC locos will not run on AC. Keith

Well, whatever the nearside divide is, I'm sure it is an important subject worthy of full consideration, but the issue here is Jerry and helping him to achieve his full potential as a valuable contributor to this newsgroup.

Cheers, Steve

Your comments have got me think though, considering that we are talking about a 40 plus year old model, the motor might not be to happy trying to run via a modern controller, something like the old resistance ma type controller (the old H&M or [Tri-ang -] Hornby) should be fine though.

The message from "Steve W" contains these words:

You've been on the Watney's Red (do they still make that weasel-water down there in the deep south or was it old stock?) - try "North-South" instead of "nearside".

I remeber those beasts- the Marshall (Hornby) and then the Duette. No need for heating in the garden shed that served as a railway room.... Brian

Why should I try that?

Cheers, Steve