Large Scale Central

Doctor Thompson's Transformer Box

General Discussion
#1

Some dear friends want to get their garden railroad running again after 10 or more years. They’ve kept up with the garden, and it certainly doesn’t look like it’s been abandoned for a decade. Very cute, only some ninny hasn’t taken any pictures.

He wanted a box so he could leave his big MRC transformer outside during the summer as it’s a bit of a burden for him to carry it out and connect it any time he wants to run his train.

I said, “We could build something, but I’ll bet you could find a plastic box at Wal*Mart or some place that would do nicely.”

Did he ever find a cool box!

He’s thinking he might like to paint it to fit in his decor, so I haven’t connected the wires to the innards yet. I rather like it red and black. “Perhaps,” he says. His home and garden are most beautiful.

#2

Nice box , make sure there’s a drain hole .

Mike

#3

Actually, one drain hole in each of the 4 corners, then you are guaranteed that it will work.

Have seen many rectangular boxes with a hole on one corner, but the box was not level and water could collect in any of the 3 other corners.

Regards, Greg

#4

Greg but if he uses an air dryer and…

:wink:

I am just kidding around, don’t take a fender

#5

Yeah, it’s coming, i’m sure!

Also, if it is an area with condensation, a small 7 watt bulb inside will keep things dryer.

Greg

#6

He’s planning on bringing it in for the winter.

4 drain holes will be provided.

Hmm. I like the night light bulb. Are those still legal in the People’s Republic of America?

#7

I’m totally copying that, I’m familiar with the size of those big throttles so that thing would fit what I need! But you failed to say where he found it?

#8

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-20-in-Step-N-Store-SSR-20/204087393

Google found this

#9

Yeah Tom, we can still have them!

4 watt C7 bulb

Of course, if you went to home depot to get one to make a little heat, a well-meaning “expert” might try to get you to buy the LED one ha ha ha!

Reminds me of when I was growing up, we had a cheese grater that was steel, and would rust if it was not dried thoroughly, so my parents left it on a stove burner, since the pilot light would slowly and gently dry it out.

Years later, my mom would leave it on her new electric induction stove top…

Greg

#10

Make double sure that the handle area is sealed. From underside of lid pic, it looks like rain could get in around where the handle pivots as that area fills up with rain water. Just my observation. Learned that the hard way.

Ben H.

#11

Oh. I didn’t think of that. I’ll look.

#12

The handle is nicely designed so it won’t leak.

He painted the red with dark gray “Fusion.” It’s rather fetching that way. Some goofball didn’t take a picture of it.

Got his train, the cute, unknown and formerly dead LGB loco running on his track today. I had to flatten out a couple rails where something fell on them and clean the wiring under one of his 2 switches. With a little track leveling and a board under the sagging bridge, it runs quite nicely.

His track is Aristo Brass connected with brass split jaw clamps. After vigorous scrubbing with scotchbright, I only had to remove and clean a couple of the split jaws that have been in place since 2006. I’m impressed.

Yes, we need to educate him on appropriate running speed.

#13

Neat!

#14

That is a nice box. I have a similar one that houses my transformer and train engineer. I bring it out when getting ready to run plug into power, plug into the track and off I go. I don’t leave it outside.

To further protect your friends box how about getting a small table and storing the box under it then when it is time to play put the box on top of the table that way he won’t have to bend over to slow that train down!!

#15

And what is wrong with running running at 1/2 scale speed of sound?

:wink:

BTW, the speed limit on the P&CS is 20 SMPH for the narrow gauge and 30 SMPH for the mainline stuff.