On30 streetcar

[John Tumolo]

Got an odd one here-I won a bid for what was supposed to be a Holiday Streetcar set, but all I got was the streetcar and the car barn.  The streetcar runs fine on my layout, and I'd like to know if I can just add sections of flex-track to the piece of track within the car barn.  Will I be making a mistake, or will this work?  Is there a special piece at "end of track" that is needed to make the car stop and reverse?  Can I use a regular Bachmann power pack like the nice metal ones that came with the on30 sets?  Have I become an externally helical threaded fastener capable of being tightened or released by a twisting force to the head?  Just asking...........

[Fred Klein]

John, I have the same trolley set with the car barn. Yes, there is a special end-track as you surmised. The trolley will run just fine on regular track using DC power but if you want to use the auto-reverse feature, you will need the special track that's normally part of the set. The special track is marked on the bottom with A and B ends and they have to be matched up, otherwise the trolley won't run. Bachmann used to sell an extension track set for the auto-reverse feature but I have no idea whether or not it contains the special end-track that triggers the auto-reverse. Hope this helps.

[Tom_C]

To clarify, and sorry for late reply.  You can use regular track, but you have to run the 3rd 'reverse' wire out to the end track section and add in the rail gap.  I did it several years ago, and it works fine.

If you look at the special track sections used in that kit, they have the 2 rail connectors, and an extra 3rd connector to provide that required connection.  The end piece of track has a rail gap, and connects that 3rd wire after the gap.  When the trolley reaches the gapped section, it stops, and then the controller reverses rail polarity and sends it back to the barn.