Name: James Pekarek
Forum User Name: JamesP
Railroad Name: Torsion Rail Lines
Scale: O gauge
Theme: Clockwork Train Layout
Description: An American Flyer clockwork locomotive leaves the engine terminal to pick up a passenger car at the Girard station and make the morning trip around the Torsion Rail Lines.
Forum User Name: JamesP
Railroad Name: Torsion Rail Lines
Scale: O gauge
Theme: Clockwork Train Layout
Description: An American Flyer clockwork locomotive leaves the engine terminal to pick up a passenger car at the Girard station and make the morning trip around the Torsion Rail Lines.
So cool. Keeping it alive. Bravo.
I share John Gondol’s interest in an article about clockwork trains — and this layout, in particular — in a CTT issue. For someone who has never seen them run, there are so many questions to ask …
Fun to see them run again after your great work restoring the clockwork. Nice to see the old track on the layout too. My very best to you from an old Hafner clockwork operator.
This was really cool—I’ve also never seen clockwork in action before! I have one of those Marx crossing signals in a box somewhere…and the switchstands are very much like those on my first Marx electric train set. I was also amused by the collection of keys along the front edge of the layout! Excellent job, James—would love to see more! And, yes, CTT—an article would be great!
Never seen a clockwork train in action. Nice work in restoring it to run. Layout looked like a lot of fun as well.
This is a great video with Flyer engines and Marx accessories. My first train was a Marx wind-up and I still get a kick out of running it and other clockwork trains. Clockwork trains can be as challenging as live steam but without the burned fingers.
Thanks to everyone for the kind comments. As to the question about how I get the locomotive to stop: Keep in mind that I made this video specifically to show a train starting out for the day, running a passenger route, then returning to the engine terminal. As such, I employed some crude “Movie Magic” to start and stop the train. If you watch carefully when the train stops, usually part of it is out of site… that is where my hand is positioned to stop it! Starting the train was accomplished in the same manner. I also use the occasional thread tied to the back of the train to make it start or stop where I wanted for the sake of the video. The only exception is the last shot… it took a couple of tries of winding the loco j-u-s-t enough so that it stopped in about the right place.
This particular train was purchased at a local train show, and was not in running condition. I replaced the mainspring, and cleaned, oiled & tweaked everything to get it to run well. It has been a nice addition to the fleet!
Great layout. How do you get the locomotive to stop. Something mechanical in the track?
An article on the layout would really be interesting. Did you have to repair any of the locos
with new springs. Great collection of locomotives.
Sweet! What fun. And isn’t fun the whole point?
I heard about clock work trains, but never saw them run. That was really fun to watch.
Would it be too much to ask for an article on James’ Torsion Rail Lines? This would be a wonderful way to honor model railroading’s early history.
What fun! I have become enamored of early Ives mechanical trains and have picked up a number of them. Along the way I also acquired a beautiful 1916 #2 AF steamer. It’s really great to see the windups get some attention. Thanks James.
Only a skilled craftsman like James can make wind up trains look this exciting, Well done.
Loved the AF passenger run. It isn’t often that we get a look at our mechanical (windup) heritage in action.
An oldie but a goodie. Fantastic!
I loved it !
Unique.
Sweet collection! Take good care of those little “time travelers.”