Preliminary Design Sketch

My idea for the wayside rail on the 1/12 scale model is to use the switch rail as the third rail (or current rail). The switch rail is the rail that is currently in place on the 1/12 scale track. The switch rail is used by the boogie to switch the cart from track to track. To make the switch rail a current rail too it would need to be insulated in some way. This could be done by using a conductive strip that is insulated from the switch rail. An Aluminum roller could then be used as the collector shoe and roll along this conductive strip. In the figure 1 below, the roller would roll underneath the switch rail, but the design could be revised for the collector shoe to be on the side of the switch rail or even on the top of it. The roller would then be connected to the DC motor and power the bogie. This idea is very simple, it will need revision in order for it to function properly. The scale model track sub team mentioned that they might completely change the track so the switch rail and support rail are vertically aligned. In this case, the model could be redesigned for proper function. Our team must work very closely with the track team in order to create a working 1/12 scale model.

Figure 1. Preliminary sketch of a collector shoe design, Google's SketchUp software was used