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Traverser Table

10006 Views 26 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  Johan de Villiers, 
80class
I know a few companies used to make OO/HO traverser tables, but I can't seem to track any down that are still in production and they seem to be as rare as hens teeth on ebay these days.

Are there any still in production? I guess it would help if I knew the correct german for traverser table!

Thanks,

Rob
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80class
I have now found that marklin, walthers and Brawa all used to make them, but not any more. I wonder why they stopped? I remember seeing one at a show not that long ago that could actually turn a loco as well. I have no need to use it to turn anything, but I can't imagine a design like that considering the costs involved being retired from the range.

I've also noticed that they seem to be referred to as "Transfer tables" rather than "traverser tables"

Looks like I may be reduced to ebay trauling!

Thanks,

Rob
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80class
QUOTE (Doug @ 12 Feb 2008, 14:03) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I have done this before.

You are looking for a Schiebebühne, item #7294.

I even have an eBay search for you: click here

Prices go up to about 200 Euros. I've seen them as low as 150 Euros. Never quite got around to getting one. I'd look to see what Heljan produce this year. They are tied in to Walters so it may be a good product.

Thanks Doug, a very useful post.

Exactly what I was looking for, out of interest I looked up Schiebebühne in an old german to elglish dictionary I have, and it means literally "Sliding platform". I will keep an eye out on ebay and see what happens. I have an awkward space at the end of my steam depot that I have always thought about having a small loco maintenance / erection shop and a transfer table will be perfect for it.

Thanks,

Rob
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80class
QUOTE (ebaykal @ 12 Feb 2008, 17:52) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Rob,

One of our club members purchased a Maerklin Traverser/Transfer table from www.modellbahn-kramm.com
Item no: 7294 as Doug puts it. Price 195 Euro.

They had a real rough time to digitalize it.
Plus, it has an awful ear blasting sound during operation.

Baykal

Thanks Baykal, I came across a few posts on a german forum (read using google translator!) which seemed to say similar things, although apparently there is a special decoder that works well with it for digital conversions, although I don't see the need in having it controlled by a function output, I think if I do get one I'll stick to analogue control of the table movement. It seems the Brawa model is the one to go for, if I can find one at the right price.

Has anyone else seen the transfer table I mentioned that actually turned the loco as well? I can still picture it, but can't find anything like it anywhere, I hope I haven't made it up!!!

Thanks,

Rob
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80class
Well well.....just picked one up off ebay! (item number 360020822786) its not in good shape, but for £34 including postage Its worth a good look! Will post back when it arrives!

Thanks to everyone who helped,

Rob
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80class
Nope, I'm a two rail OO/HO man, although I have converted a marklin three rail TT to two rail in the past. In general i'm not the fussy about my railway. If it looks good to me, it is good enough. However I wouldn't be able to tolerate an extra rail for no "rail" reason!

Rob
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80class
Well, to my surprise I came home tonight to find a large box waiting for me! The only damage was to the railing on one side of the platform, which I can easily fix. All in it looks pretty good although it did need a very good clean first. The motor is noisy, but much less so than my old hornby turntable that hit the bin a few years back.

I may need some help trying to work out exactly how the wiring works as I don't have the original controls. Have just spent a few hours trying to track down a manual, in German or English but come up short. Everything I've located so far has referred me to either "Digital book 0308" or the manual for the steady state output marklin decoder "K-84" which apparently has a full description of how to wire the table up. If any one has one of these or knows how to find them on the Marklin site, I'd be very grateful!

Thanks,

Rob
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80class
Scrap that cry for help, everything is working well now. As it happens the table is designed very well. Three wires, motor 1, motor 2 and the third to restart the table after arriving at a track. If you don't want the table to stop, keep the third wire live. To change direction, reverse 1 and 2.

My problems last night came from a diode that had gone short and has now been replaced.

Thanks,

Rob (Now off to cut a nice big hole in my base board!)
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80class
Yes, I'm sure it will be a very good model. I couldn't wait though! However I don't see how DCC control would be useful unless you were going for full computer automation. I have had to make my own controls for the traverser on this thread as the controls were not included with the sale. I have one toggle switch to change polarity (direction changes from left to right) and two push button switches. Push both and the table will keep moving in the direction selected by the toggle switch. Release button 2 and the table will stop at the next track. Perfect! As much as I love DCC I'm not totally convinced by it for some accessories. Buttons and switches still have a role for me anyway.

I should add, in case anyone else is thinking of getting the marklin traverser, the conversion from 3 rail to 2 was very straight forward:

1) Break the links between the outer rails on all feed tracks. (you can then either allow the tracks to be powered from the next track connected to it or solder droppers to the rail bottom, there are hole for this.
2) Break connection between outer rails on the bridge
3) Under the bridge, remove the wiper that connected the left rail to the strip on the base of the table bed
4) Divert the link from the centre rail to the left hand rail.

Now the old connecting point to the outer rails connects to the right rail only and the old connector for the centre "rail" now connects only to the left hand rail.

It might sound complicated, but it only took about ten minutes to do. As a side point, but adjusting the voltage on my PSU from 12V to 9V the motor noise is considerably less and it still has the power to move the locos with ease.

Rob
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80class
Have just finished painting the railing after having to modify them repair the damage. Sadly I have no blades for my jigsaw at the minute, will have to pick some up tomorrow so installation will have to wait a day or two. Will post some pictures once its in place.

Now I have the job of trying to find the right engine shed to go with it.....

Rob
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80class
QUOTE (dbclass50 @ 18 Feb 2008, 11:37) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I've never "heard" a quiet one yet !

Glad to hear it's working ok - it's a useful bit of kit.

I found my old Hornby turntable and wired it up tocompare to the traverser and I must say that the TT is considerably louder. Although the traverser is louder than my FL TT, all in though the noise is that noticable to me. Reducing the voltage did help though!

Rob
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80class
QUOTE (Oakydoke @ 15 Feb 2008, 21:38) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I see that Heljan have announced a Traverser to be released later this year.
I don't know if it's DCC controlled?

http://www.heljan.dk/filarkiv/billeder/3112008162124.pdf
I noticed this when I was searching for my Traverser, and to be honest I'm not sure how useful it will be. Ok so it will be able to accept tracks any difference apart as I'm sure it will be programmable like their turntable, but is this a big advantage? For a TT yes, but for a traverser I'm not so sure. The only benefit I can see is that there will be no need to convert it from 3 rail to 2, but I'm sure this will come at a price of about £150.
Rob
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