American Flyer: Fun With Fiber Pins #2, Protecting the Train

How to use fiber pins to keep your American Flyer trains from running through a switch set against it. This operation can be found in the 1956 American Flyer Operation Manual.

[@ronalddevine9587]

Very helpful, thanks

[@AFTrainsND]

Great idea. I could have used that when I was running my trains yesterday and flipped a wrong switch! It just shows that there are always things to learn and try.

[@andy41417]

I use GarGraves No. 800 plastic pins since fiber pins are rare. Can also be used on Lionel Super O track too.

[@HallofScienceWest]

Checking into Gargraves is a great idea. I have hopes of using their stainless track outdoors sometime in the future

[@Watchmaker_Gereon-Schloesser]

Thank you. I always wondered what that 2 train swich meant! great! but for the wheels it would be better to avoid that gap as the sharp edges eat the plastic wheels.

[@HallofScienceWest]

The gaps are bad for electrical continuity as well. Especially on sections with the fiber pins. I’m finding that the metal pins need to be bent slightly to make good contact between the controlled and non-controlled sections. In a subsequent video someone recommends trying a drop of solder on the gap and then filing it smooth. It would improve continuity, keep the gaps clean, and as you mentioned, keep wheels from getting scratched. I would do that on a permanent layout, but for this temporary one I’m not too worried about it.

[@Watchmaker_Gereon-Schloesser]

@@HallofScienceWest Hi! another solution is to file with a STONE file (not so fast in filing away material) the sharp end of the rails. BUT as you might know LOTS of work... I have a Hudson Set from Sept. 1954(?) first set with the knuckle couplers. Love it much. Was my self made present to me after I graduaded/finished my clock and watchmaking school (3 years full time) in Hamburg, Germany. I', sad that Märklin didn't put these Smoke-Units with chuff in thier trains AND that they changed to H0 - I like best the O gauge, but S gauge is also very fine. NO silly 3rd rail xD

[@plunkervillerr1529]

Marx guy here, on three rail track I`ve been trying to figure a way to stop two trains from colliding at an intersection without the use of relays.

[@HallofScienceWest]

I’m sorry, but I don’t know enough about three rail switches to figure out if they have some sort of power routing feature like two-rail Flyer. I think you can use fiber pins though. I will try to look it up and will post here if I find something. Sound ok?

[@HallofScienceWest]

Try this KZbin channel , Toy Train Tips and Tricks, for some useful three rail switch and fiber pin related control options for three rail track. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXfXg6eJj6qfrKcsi=IsU47aKkanl314ac

[@AstroKnight118]

You might be able to try blocks; if omen blpclnisnoccupied, the one behind it or in front of it will shut off

[@plunkervillerr1529]

@@AstroKnight118 Thanks for your advice, will do.

[@plunkervillerr1529]

@@HallofScienceWest I saw something like that on "Tip and Tricks", I`ll check it out, thanks much.