Trolley Pole Length - Another Lesson Learned

If you've been following this Blog for any length of time and have read the old Posts, you know there were some Posts which covered the subject of trolley poles before.

Something not covered before is the topic of this Post. For lack of a better way to describe it, let's call the topic "Trolley Pole Length". Most trolley modelers will take a new trolley pole out of the package, place it on the model, and run the model without any problems.

I'm working on a new model that came with 2-56 screws mounted in the roof where the trolley poles should be attached. If you obtain a completed body with the 2-56 screws  mounted for the trolley poles, always verify the location of the screws are correct. I verified the locations on my model.

The power and trail trucks were mounted on the model at the truck centers as indicated in records of the prototype cars. I know the trucks are mounted in their correct positions. This is mentioned as the location of the truck centers will effect the performance of the model, for example, body overhang on curves, trolley pole(s) following the wire at trolley wire frogs, and more.

The model being worked on came with trolley poles so those are the poles which will be used. One of the poles was attached, the  car placed on the track near a turnout, trolley pole placed on the wire, and the model pushed by hand through the turnout. As the model went through the turnout taking the diverging route, the trolley wheel came off the wire before reaching the trolley frog.

The model was tried a few times more with the exact same result. Most of my models have no problem with the trolley pole going through the frog at this point. The 2-56 screw for the trolley base is in the correct location. Therefore, something has to be wrong with the trolley pole being used.

Next to where the new model with trolley pole was tested was an older model whose trolley pole worked correctly through the turnout. This trolley pole was removed from the older model and tried on the new model. It worked every time the model was pushed through the divergent route of the turnout.

A side by side, trolley pole base to trolley pole base, comparison between the trolley pole that didn't work vs. the trolley pole that worked was made. The over all length of the new trolley pole that didn't work was 1/8" (6 scale inches) longer than the trolley polled that worked.

The body of the trolley wheel casting on the left is longer than the casting on the right. 

Further inspection showed the body of the brass wheel casting wheel was longer. This meant the wheel casting had to be unsoldered, the wire used for the shaft of the pole cut short by 1/8", and the casting re-attached.

After the trolley poles to be used with the new model were shortened, the model was tested again going through the turnout. Everything worked correctly.

In the words of the great Trolley Philosopher, "Not all trolley poles are created equally!"

Cheers,
Ed

Wagner "Trolley Talk Publications" Booklet

This is a catalogue of the publications written and produced by the Wagners. 

Some of the later issues of "Trolley Talk" contained inserts which were used to introduce and explain about Ken Kidder brass imports. The information showed new sideframe(s) and underbody set(s) available for the brass model(s).

The bound volumes of "Trolley Talk" did not contain any of the insert sheets which came with the individual copies of "Trolley Talk". However, the bound volumes contain an index related to the issues in the volume.

This is the only insert sheet. It was printed on 1 side of the sheet.

This is the end of the information I have regarding the Wagner Car Company and Current Line Models. I'm sorry I do not have any more information regarding the parts and truck sideframes added to the Current Line Models' line. If more information becomes available it will be in a future Post.

Some comments about the Q-Car Company line of parts and truck sideframes. The catalogue is available on line with drawings or photos. A  printed version is available for a minor charge. You should order a printed version for your files. Over the years some parts have been dropped and are no longer available.

The next Post will return to modeling and some problems with solutions explained.

Cheers,
Ed

2020 Chicago O Scale Meet

It's time to get ready for the annual March O Scale Meet officially named the Chicago O Scale Meet. The dates, time, and location are:

March, 13, 14 and 15th, 2020
Westin Lombard Yorktown Center

Lombard, IL

Friday, March 13th

4-9 pm Dealer set-up in Grand Ballroom

Saturday, March 14th

8-9 am Dealers set-up in exhibit halls
9-5 pm Show open to the public

Sunday, March 15th

8:30 am Vendor set-up
9 - 2 pm Show open to the public

A website for the Meet is:  http://marchmeet.net/index.shtml

The Westin Lombard Yorktown Center is 2-3 miles from my home. The top of the hotel can be seen from my house. If you plan to attend the Meet and would like to see my layout, please contact me ahead to time. the space in which my layout is located is small with the layout consuming most of the floor footage.

Of all the O Scale Meets held in the United States this Meet has routinely been the largest over the years. From time to time one or another O scale Meet has been larger, but year to year the Chicago Meet has been the biggest. More important to O scale trolley modelers is the increase in vendors selling O scale trolley models.

It's hard to list all of the vendors selling trolley models since it will change slightly from year to year.  

Cheers,
Ed

Wagner Car Co. O Gauge Trolley Parts Catalogue

Catalogues for Wagner Car parts were published less frequently than the trucks. The modeler had to rely on reading "Trolley Talk" for updates on parts. Rich Wagner worked closely with Ken Kidder to have underbody and other parts available as a new brass model was imported.

The catalogue reproduced here was dated "3/1/73". Additional sheets were inserted to bring the modeler up-to-date on new parts. The original 8 page catalogue is presented here along with the additional inserts.

The 1st insert sheet is dated "12/1/82".  All the "sheets" are shown front and back.

The next sheet was undated.

The following sheet is dated "Delivery as of May-1983 About 9 weeks".

This sheet listing all the parts was dated "July 1, 1989".

This sheet was not dated. However, it has a note in the margin stating, "Delivery: any truck is about 18 weeks.+".

Finally a sheet with Current Line Models parts was in the file with the Wagner catalogues.

The next Post will be the Wagner "Trolley Talk Publications".

Cheers,

Ed

Wagner Car Company Truck Book No. 6 - Part 2

This is the balance of "Truck Book No. 6".

Upon the death of Rich Wagner his wife, Birdie, sold the truck and parts component of Wagner Car Company to Ed Miller who changed the name of the company to "Current Lines". 

As Current Lines, Ed Miller not only made the same power and trail trucks with the sideframes Wagner had made, but Miller prepared additional patterns for sideframes and parts. Unfortunately, I do not have any of Curent Lines lists of sideframes or parts.

I do know Miller had produced sideframes for the IMP imported CSS&SB #1001 series 80-ton Baldwin-Westinghouse steeple cab locomotives.

Another sideframe Miller made was a heavier Baldwin MCB for the CSS&SB passenger cars. What was special about this sideframe was the inclusion of the slack adjuster equipment for the brakes plus the external brake parts and end braces on the trucks.

Cheers,
Ed

Wagner Car Company Truck Book No. 6 - Part 1

The "Wagner Company Truck Book No. 6" is the last of the truck booklets prepared by Wagner of which I am aware. It's up to the reader to discern the difference between "Truck Book No. 5" and "Truck Book No. 6".

Notice the price tag on the cover of the booklet. There are no loose sheets, such as order sheets, which were saved with the prior booklets.

Cheers,
Ed