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Good suggestions - thanks to all "first responders."
I'm currently using one Lionel UCS track section with its accompanying two-button controller to energize the Lionel Barrel Ramp car while it is parked at the lower end of the Barrel Loader ramp. The UCS track section is placed alongside the Barrel Loader so that the "exit" from the Barrel Ramp Car is aligned with the "input tray" of the Barrel Loader (at the bottom of its ascending ramp). However, in that position, both sliding shoes of the Barrel Ramp Car make contact with both pairs of control blades of the UCS. When I press and hold the UNLOAD button of the UCS controller to activate the Barrel Ramp Car, there's a rather SLOW movement of the barrels along the path at the center of the car.
Apparently, positioning the Barrel Ramp Car at that location on the UCS is a mistake. The Lionel info sheet for the Barrel Ramp Car says only one sliding shoe should make contact with the blades of the UCS.
When I place the Barrel Ramp car with just one sliding shoe making contact with the UCS and the other sliding shoe off the UCS and resting on an adjacent "regular" Lionel tubular track section, the movement of the barrels along the path of the Barrel Ramp Car is significantly faster. I believe that's the "normal" speed.
Today I'll experiment with different placements of the UCS in relation to adjacent "regular" Lionel tubular track sections; or use two of them with some spacing between them to adjust for proper alignment of the Barrel Ramp Car to the Barrel Loader, so that the "exit" of barrels from the Barrel Loader aligns with the input of the Barrel Ramp Car, and when the car is moved along the rails, the "output" of the Barrel Ramp Car aligns with the "input tray" of the Barrel Loader.
Some responders recommended an older-style OTC activating device, which by design makes contact with only ONE of the sliding shoes of the car as it rests on a "regular" track section. I use Lionel O-gauge tubular track, so I hope I can find an OTC device (or two) with the O-gauge brass track clips intact. If I find them, I intend to use the Lionel #90 control button to activate the OTCs.
With appreciation,
Mike Mottler (ritrainguy)
mottlerm@gmail.com
