Train repair and upgrade Punch List for 2020

[Peter Menningen]

To all members  Here is the beginning of a repair and upgrade punch list in order of what I believe needs to be done.

1. Entire train needs to go on a diet and loose a few hundred pounds between the cars.
2. An energy audit should be done on all of the devices so the actual power that is required to run for 2.5 hours is known.
1. This needs to be done  at 120V -- 24v DC and 12 V dc as well as any other introduced power.
3. The draw bars between the cars need to be replaced with a common unit and be made from a stronger material.
4. The tires on the cars need to be replaced or fitted with inner tubes.
5. In the second and third cars the wire mesh vertical panels need to be removed (weight reduction)
6. the hanging wheels on the second and third cars need to be made removable for transportation (they get damaged jut making it to the parade every time.
7. The extended carriage  of the third car needs to be made from metal as to increase the rigidity.
8. All cars need tie down points added for transportation
9. Wood panels need to be replaced with corrugated acrylic or PVC .
1. When this is done the entire upper bodies should be designed for breakdown storage.
10. Components that will be used for manhandling the cars should be upgraded to actually allow without damage.
11. The Engine tank needs to be rethought out. It either need to be able to be tilted up or redesigned with side access for the equipment under the tank.  
12. All of the unused stuff on the Lawn mower frame needs to be removed  ( Electric motor Pulleys  if we are not using the transmission remove gears) Diet
13. All cars need a braking system on the fixed axle controlled from the engine with a delay controller  rear car first  then middle then engine. 
1. Suggestion here is to convert the rear axles to solid  drive types (go car)  add disc brakes with mechanical actuators and then electrical solenoids to operate
2. Brake power battery is in the car with the brake only control switch wire is up front
3. Fail safe is when wire is disconnected brakes are ON  Power override in car for  transportation.
14. New blower for smoke stack. Old RC boat blowers are  failing amd wiring needs to be upgraded.

When planning items  look to the future If we are ever going to put a live load (kids) in a car  the Gauge of the wheels need to be widened to be outside the center of the outside seated person.  That means the center of the tires needs to be at least 4 ft for two kids.

If we were to do 6 kids the tires and wheels would need to be upgraded  at least three sizes for load of the car and passengers about 800 -1200 lbs on the ground 

The plan should be no surprises and work to commence one car at a time in late February for the Makawao parade 

[Buck Joiner]

WOW, lots of thought put into that Pete. Mahalo nui loa.

Many of your points are very excellent and will be considered when we restart work on the train. Implementing ALL of those would involve an incredible amount of time and lots and lots of money, both of which seem to be continuously in short supply. In addition, when we finished we would basically have exactly the same train in appearance that we do now. All that needs to be taken into consideration as well as the option of building additional parade entries. We have absolutely raised the bar considerably.

Buck.

On Fri, Oct 11, 2019 at 7:53 AM Peter Menningen <pmgr...@gmail.com> wrote:

To all members  Here is the beginning of a repair and upgrade punch list in order of what I believe needs to be done.

1. Entire train needs to go on a diet and loose a few hundred pounds between the cars.
2. An energy audit should be done on all of the devices so the actual power that is required to run for 2.5 hours is known.
1. This needs to be done  at 120V -- 24v DC and 12 V dc as well as any other introduced power.
3. The draw bars between the cars need to be replaced with a common unit and be made from a stronger material.
4. The tires on the cars need to be replaced or fitted with inner tubes.
5. In the second and third cars the wire mesh vertical panels need to be removed (weight reduction)
6. the hanging wheels on the second and third cars need to be made removable for transportation (they get damaged jut making it to the parade every time.
7. The extended carriage  of the third car needs to be made from metal as to increase the rigidity.
8. All cars need tie down points added for transportation
9. Wood panels need to be replaced with corrugated acrylic or PVC .
1. When this is done the entire upper bodies should be designed for breakdown storage.
10. Components that will be used for manhandling the cars should be upgraded to actually allow without damage.
11. The Engine tank needs to be rethought out. It either need to be able to be tilted up or redesigned with side access for the equipment under the tank.  
12. All of the unused stuff on the Lawn mower frame needs to be removed  ( Electric motor Pulleys  if we are not using the transmission remove gears) Diet
13. All cars need a braking system on the fixed axle controlled from the engine with a delay controller  rear car first  then middle then engine. 
1. Suggestion here is to convert the rear axles to solid  drive types (go car)  add disc brakes with mechanical actuators and then electrical solenoids to operate
2. Brake power battery is in the car with the brake only control switch wire is up front
3. Fail safe is when wire is disconnected brakes are ON  Power override in car for  transportation.

When planning items  look to the future If we are ever going to put a live load (kids) in a car  the Gauge of the wheels need to be widened to be outside the center of the outside seated person.  That means the center of the tires needs to be at least 4 ft for two kids.

If we were to do 6 kids the tires and wheels would need to be upgraded  at least three sizes for load of the car and passengers about 800 -1200 lbs on the ground 

The plan should be no surprises and work to commence one car at a time in late February for the Makawao parade 

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