OcCre San Francisco Streetcar Build

[Technocrat]

Beautiful model. But isn't the body actually a Cable Car?
Haven't been to 'Frisco in nearly 40 years so my memory could be faulty...

 

[JimmyB]

Beautiful model. But isn't the body actually a Cable Car?
Haven't been to 'Frisco in nearly 40 years so my memory could be faulty...

Yes it is cable hauled, but is called (apparently) a streetcar

 

[3 minutes of fame]

A very neat piece of work!

 

[Greg Elmassian]

If it grabs the cable through the slot, cable car... there are some old cable cars that have been motorized to run on the street, but only cable cars run on the cable car tracks (with the slot between the rails).

Greg

 

[trammayo]

If it grabs the cable through the slot, cable car... there are some old cable cars that have been motorized to run on the street, but only cable cars run on the cable car tracks (with the slot between the rails).

Greg

It's probably the manufacturer that's given it the wrong nomenclature!

 

[dunnyrail]

To overcome my issues and understand my traction problems I started a thread on Bogie Construction, which provided lots of ideas guidance and advice, with the two main potential issues to traction being Sprung Compensations on the axles and Drive to both wheels. To enable these I decided to build a bogie chassis with inside frame, which would later have dummy bogie outer frames.
The bogie frame made with 0.080" brass sheet, commercial frame spacers, and Horn Bl;ocks with Sprung Compensation, and Delrin chain drive. It has taken some time due to domestic duties, and waiting for parts, but I assembled it yesterday, and the bogie ran, so temporally attaching the Streetcar I gave it a run including my 1:24 gradient, and there was NO wheel slip. Of course other issues that I suspected would manifest themselves, did, but these were poor judgement calls on my part and are easy fixes, the good point is it worked:

The original bogies that I wish to emulate in looks, and a rough drawing:

View attachment 298950

The assembled bogie showing the gearbox and drive, the compensated horn blocks just visible at the back

View attachment 298951

A view from underneath showing the compensation and my messy (but effective) soldering:

View attachment 298952

Wheels removed to chemically blacked the frames to make them less visible through the dummy frames

View attachment 298953

The dummy frames are almost complete however due to the bogie pivot being behind the motor, I am in the process of devising an assemble method which will allow easy(ish) disassembly.

In most of my 3 point compensation applications I use a central pivot, you could add a brass bearing if you felt the mechanical need. A pic below shows my crude method on a Gauge 3 Wagon. For removal of the axle I solder some brass rod to the bearings at the outside, then cut to allow the axles to drop out. I then push a piece of wire to hold the axles and bearings in place.

The example below uses a different method to remove the wheel if required. The complete axle guard can be unscrewed but that would not be appropriate for your chassis.

Oh nice metal work by the way.

 

[JimmyB]

So not much has happened for a while since my last update at OcCre San Francisco Streetcar Build Post #35 due to the warm weather. However bit by bit I built new bogie frames, the none powered bogie having the Slaters' wagon wheel set hung from the bogie frames:



The powered bogie was a little more complicated, the wheel mounted on the "internal" dummy frame as per my previous post, however the motor obscured the mounting screw, so the frame top spacers are fixed to the bogie and dummy bogie can be fitted, then the motor element fitted:





With the bogies fitted I now have two bogies that have both up and down movement in all planes, and a powered bogie that is driven on both axles and with axles compensation. And it now drives well, just for the finishing touches:

 

[JimmyB]

The build is now complete, though the photo shows some "white" edges that may require touch up.

If you want full details these are on my blog:

OcCre San Francisco Streetcar

This is my journey on my build of a "OcCre San Francisco Streetcar". I will not be bringing you a blow by blow photographic journey (t...

tumble-down-falls.blogspot.com