Why Bachmann Trolley poles don't work....

[tramcar trev]

Simple, even though they are made of metal the pole (brass) is held in place with some sort of epoxy adhesive which insulates perfectly.... so the pics illustrate how to make them work basically dismantle and reassemble using solder. I used 935 flux to solder the brass to the zinc diecast.... Also I replaced the skid with a wheel and the retaining screw has gone to be replaced but a brass stub that fits into a bush that has to be glued into the roof. Added a loop to secure the trolley rope to, the other end has a little brass hook that hangs onto the staunchion.... The other trolley pole is one of my own manufacture 4 springs (omitted for clarity). They are not held into the roof but left loose so that they contacts can be cleaned as required....
The next bit is to run a wire discreetley to the underside of the car to supply the power to the motor, I will incorporate a switch that will allow operation from overhead or rail. The remainder of the project to convert the 7 bench open car to a 7 bench Brisbane toastrack continues..... I have used one of the bachmann controlers as a base to make nicley detailed controlers with a reversing switch and control handle that the drivers hand can rest on... The ghastly PINK glazing to the clerestory windows has to go, the original surely would have had either clear acid etched glass or stained glass, but PINK OMG OMG. Simple tasks to replace it with non reflective glass as used by picture framers, I could I guess even etch some sort of design into it ....A repaint/reline will complete the job.....

 

[themole]

Hi Trev, the version I built, and have used for a number of years, and totally compatible with LGB catenary overhead, uses the standard Bachmann trolley head; but converted into a slightly wider skate, using brass shim soldered, and shaped.(see pictures) Current at the trolley base is by phospher bronze wiper. The tram shown is Buhler motored (Proops had some for sale at £1 each a few years back!!) also fitted with brass gearing.

 

[themole]

Also my LGB New Orleans car; with modified Bachmann trolley poles, and like all my trams, converted for live overhead. Alyn

 

[MR SPOCK]

Enjoying these tramcar posts, as I used to look after trams as part of my job, they in real life have the poles insulated with the power feed inside the boom as a cable, the standards were bonded to the rails, I once went to a broken down car to find the slider had jammed in a frog ear and pulled the power cable out of the boom, the copper cable had been stretched to twenty foot longer than the boom before it had snapped,​

we also got rid of the original trolley wheel collectors, as they were high maintenance and replaced them with a carbon slider that sat in the collector shoe,
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