sncf231e Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 This week I found a Jouef operating TPO to add to the collection. Here are the TPO's I have found until now: 0 Gauge Bassett Lowke: 0 Gauge Exley (non-operating): 00 gauge Hornby Dublo: 00 Gauge Hornby Railways: 00 Gauge Triang: H0 Gauge Jouef: I do not know whether there are any other vintage types? Here is a video of the Hornby Dublo version operating on my layout: Many pictures of postal carriages from around the world can be seen in my (free to download) e-book on this subject: http://sncf231e.nl/tporpo/ Regards Fred 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted January 23, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 23, 2019 This week I found a Jouef operating TPO to add to the collection. Here are the TPO's I have found until now: 0 Gauge Bassett Lowke: 0 Gauge Exley (non-operating): 00 gauge Hornby Dublo: 00 Gauge Hornby Railways: 00 Gauge Triang: H0 Gauge Jouef: I do not know whether there are any other vintage types? Here is a video of the Hornby Dublo version operating on my layout: Many pictures of postal carriages from around the world can be seen in my (free to download) e-book on this subject: http://sncf231e.nl/tporpo/ Regards Fred Tri-ang Transcontinental version. Many variations. http://www.hornbyguide.com/item_details.asp?itemid=1031 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 There's a 2 rail version of the Dublo TPO. It has wheelsets with one plastic and one metal wheel. The base unit clips to the track and makes contact with the nearside rail for the current return. For a time there were both 2 and 3 rail versions of the coach, but then it was realised that the 2 rail one worked just as well on 3 rail (or perhaps they were just clearing stocks). Unlike all the others it is a GWR prototype. I received mine as abirthday present in january 1958 to go with my new 'Bristol Castle- I had received for Christmas. There is a GWR version of the Hornby coach, but it is merely a reliveried version of their LMS coach. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoingUnderground Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 Tri-ang Transcontinental version. Many variations. http://www.hornbyguide.com/item_details.asp?itemid=1031 Which was readily available in the UK. I have one.It used the same mechanism as the BR one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NCB Posted January 26, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 26, 2019 Didn't realise the Dublo one was electrified. How does it work? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sncf231e Posted January 26, 2019 Author Share Posted January 26, 2019 There is an extra pick-up shoe at side which touches a fourth rail and when this rail is powered (there is a switch for this in the set) a plunger is activated. See the instructions here: http://www.tccincinnati.com/dublo/TPOMailVanSet.pdf Regards Fred Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon A Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 There is an extra pick-up shoe at side which touches a fourth rail and when this rail is powered (there is a switch for this in the set) a plunger is activated. See the instructions here: http://www.tccincinnati.com/dublo/TPOMailVanSet.pdf Regards Fred The button was green. HD provided red buttons for their electric un-couplers. If the TPO was operated using max track voltage the coach would flick the little lead mail bags beyond the line side receptacle. Gordon A Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 (edited) There's a large solenoid inside the Dublo TPO which operates the net etc. The instructions say it should not be lubricated, but one of of mine wouldn't work properly until it was.* The push button is identical to the one for the uncoupling rails, apart from the colour of the button. Any push button or even an ordinary switch can be used as the device only operates when it passes the trackside unit. It could even be hard wired! I never had the 'bag' overshooting the bin problem, though it would stick inside the coach and require vigorous shaking to dislodge. The instructions state, "gently", but, as anyone who has tried it knows, gently doesn't work. It jams firmly under the ejection flap. It is essential that it is polished . Wire can be saved by connecting the TPO return directly to the track return (tinplate base) terminal on the controller. (All Trix accessories are connected this way.) The contact will probably be more reliable in the case of the 2 rail unit as well. (50+ years of accumulated gunk doesnt make for reliable contact.) *The mechanism not the ramp. Doing it properly involves dismantling the coach, which is probably why they said not to do it. Edited January 27, 2019 by Il Grifone Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 (edited) Reading the instructions (which I haven't seen since I received my set in January 1958), I saw the dire warnings about not using a separate supply for the TPO unit. Now I can see that the extra current draw could make the train slow down or stop, but fail to see how the TPO can operate without the button being pressed and how a second independent circuit can have any effect whatsoever. I can only surmise that their test circuit had the contact between the metal base and the live terminal that they warn about avoiding, though this would stop it operating at all. Has anyone any other ideas? EDIT The dilemma is solved! Further investigation has shown that the instructions are actually incorrect and have the push button in the return. Switches should always be in the supply line and I assumed this was how it was wired. Interrupting a return path will certainly cause undesirable effects. Of course, with an independent supply for the TPO it doesn't really matter. On my Dublo 3 rail layout descibed elsewhere on RMweb, the TPO unit was fed from from a Marshall III which had all the lower terminals commoned and connected to the metal track base. (It was wired for 'cab control', but then how else do you wire a layout? - DCC excluded). The AC output fed all the accessories. At the time it was the practice to fuse both phases of the mains. This dangerous practice leaves the whole circuitry live if the neutral fuse blows.... Edited January 27, 2019 by Il Grifone Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2750Papyrus Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 I am impressed by the depth of collections and knowledge here! I have a Hornby LMS TPO and also a teak LNER one built from etched brass sides. In Grouping days, were TPOs and their tenders formed into discreet trains for security reasons, or were they sometimes included in passenger trains, eg overnight sleepers? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon A Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 Mine was originally wired up to two 4.5 volt (The square ones with screw caps) batteries giving I think 9 volts. To save on batteries I switched the connections to the track - HD two rail. My TPO was usually hauled by my HD City of London at full bore. I never noticed any reduction in speed. Lots of fun! Gordon A Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NCB Posted January 27, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 27, 2019 All is revealed! I'd assumed it was all mechanical. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted January 27, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 27, 2019 Didn't the transcontinental one end up in blue and grey after the short triang one finished? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prometheus Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 (edited) Here's one for you.... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OO-gauge-Hornby-Travelling-Post-Office-Coach/372565910412?hash=item56bea8a38c:g:XsgAAOSwCgNbu5ZW ....if you can cope with the fiction! A rehash of the earlier Triang Transcontinental version? Tony Edited January 27, 2019 by Prometheus 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted January 27, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 27, 2019 Here's one for you.... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OO-gauge-Hornby-Travelling-Post-Office-Coach/372565910412?hash=item56bea8a38c:g:XsgAAOSwCgNbu5ZW ....if you can cope with the fiction! A rehash of the earlier Triang Transcontinental version? Tony That's the one Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 (edited) AFAIK the Transcontinental one is a complete flight of fantasy. I would like to be proved wrong, as I have one repainted silver ready to use. Any reduction in speed with the Dublo TPO would depend on the source resistance of the power supply. Flat out it would be low. Edited January 27, 2019 by Il Grifone Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now