@jim partridge posted:.....................
Given the above, I would like to bounce something off you folks (as sort of a sanity check): My plan for going forward with this rotary tipple project . Here goes: If I cannot get the thing running properly (that is, as advertised by Lionel), with your collective help, then I plan to gut its electronics, and use a momentary, ON-OFF-ON, two-pole toggle switch to supply forward and backward DC power to the rotary motor...manually stopping it when all the coal is dumped.
........
Don't forget about the clamp downs. I have no idea what the proper voltages are or any other details, but the Lionel Tipple needs to clamp down on the bathtub gondola before you start to rotate, or the car will leave the rails. I suspect the chances of it landing back properly on the rails when rotated back into position would be very slim to none if it's not clamped down during the ride. 
Depending on the needs of that mechanism, it's probably another double throw switch of some sort to activate the clamp and then release it when done.
Good luck with the project.
-Dave
