I got several of these (10+) with some miscellaneous O gauge parts but have not been able to figure out what they are. They are copper colored, about 1 1/2" long, shaped similar to a tubular rail, and have a 12" piece of soft copper colored wire soldered to the middle of the piece. The piece appears to have paper insulation folded on the inside and the wire has clear insulation on it.
Just curious what these are.
Thanks
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probably an insulated rail section to operate a flashing crossing gate. the wire connects to a negative feed from the crossbuck. when the train rolls over this insulated section- and it will bump across- the light turns on in the flashing crossbuck
prrhorseshoecurve posted:probably an insulated rail section to operate a flashing crossing gate. the wire connects to a negative feed from the crossbuck. when the train rolls over this insulated section- and it will bump across- the light turns on in the flashing crossbuck
BINGO! - Likely MARX.
That is a (possibly) Marx or some other small manufacturer's version of an insulated rail, (wheel detector) used to activate a signal. It allows the operator to place the detector anywhere along the track without having to rebuild a track section to create an insulated outside rail. Since it is short, it would only make a signal lamp flash as the wheels progressed along the track, similar to the Lionel #154 contactor. It can be used, of course, to activate a locking relay at the beginning of a signal block, along with a second one further down the track to release the relay as the end of the train goes by.
Sakai used similar ones to activate the internal latching relays in their block and crossing signals.
(Sorry for the redundant answer...I posted mine at the same time the other fellows chimed in.)
DS Texas:
That’s similar to the insulated rail contactor sold by Colber back in the day. Attached is a photo of one of mine with the instruction sheet and the original box. This Colber version is 6¼” long and has a 17” long wire with green insulation soldered to it. It came in that narrow unmarked box with the instruction sheet rolled up.
I’ve never used them but being that this one is longer than yours it would enable continuous operation of the accessory when running most post-war rolling stock rather than the on-and-off action that yours would provide as pointed out by another poster. Passenger cars and long diesels would be an exception and in that case two of these side-by-side on adjacent sections of straight track would create a longer insulated rail.
The instructions should help you with installing yours.
Bill
If it is a short brass connection about 2 or 3 inches, it is for the x-ing flasher..
Marty
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