06-19-2009, 07:39 AM
Traversers - great subject! There are many ways of dealing with the sliding - railroad track with bogies, drawer runners, or my favorite - 2 pieces of K&S brass rectangular section 3/32" x 3/16", set on edge in the pit with some of their channel that looks like a flat-bottom U sliding on it (sorry, I don't have a bit with a lable so I can't tell you the size!) and fixed to the underside of the traverser - If you go through your LHS stock you will find ones that are a close sliding fit - I don't have a LHS so I got some rather strange looks at an exhibition going through a dealers stock - once I explained he was quite happy! Feed power to the rectangular section and take power to the traverser tracks via the U section. If you don't want all the tracks live, fit a sub-mini SPDT switch at the end of eack track away from the entrance, so the handle acts as a bumper, and aligned with the track so that the one that is live has the handle pointing along it. To fix the tracks so they are aligned, a strip of brass along the feeding end with a small ball catch in the end of the main board, centered between the feed track, and small holes in the brass strip centred between the rails will act as detents. Another, and simpler, method - a half inch piece of brass tube soldered to the OUTSIDE of each rail on the traverser and a one inch piece of the same size tube soldered to the OUTSIDE of the rails that feed stock onto the traverser from the layout. Suitable size wire, to be a sliding fit in the longer tube and bent into an L shape with the end of the longer leg tapered or rounded will act like a sliding cupboard bolt, and will hold the aligned track so that the traverser cannot move - and also transfer the power from the feed tracks to the aligned tracks. It is worth having a triangle shaped bit of plastic between the rails at the feed end of the rails on the traverser, and between the rails of the feed track itself - it will act as a re-railing guide and ensure the wheels track accurately across the join. The one thing I will stress - WHATEVER YOU USE FOR THE SLIDING MECHANISM MUST BE ABSOLUTELY SQUARE - IF IT IS FRACTIONALLY OUT THE TRAVERSER WILL JAM EVERY TIME! I don't want to be held responsible for your family hearing unseemly language! 