Fig. 355.—The Toy Railway in Operation.
[Figure 355] shows a railway set up and in running order. As shown in the illustration,
Fig. 356.—Support for Trolley-line.
The Trolley-line, or overhead cable, runs around the wheels of two supports, one at either end of the track. Prepare four pieces of wood the shape and size of that shown in [Fig. 354] for the uprights of these supports, and make two wheels three inches in diameter. The wheels may be marked out with a piece of string and pencil as shown in [Fig. 201], Chapter XV, if you haven't a compass. When the wheels have been cut out, place them in your bench-vise, one at a time, and with a rasp make a groove around the edge as shown at C, [Fig. 356]. Bore a three-eighths inch hole through each upright at F, [Fig. 354], and another through the centre of each wheel. Now fasten two of the uprights six inches apart upon a block of wood, as shown at A and B, [Fig. 356]. Whittle a shaft to fit loosely in the holes of the uprights, and, after slipping it into them, fasten one of the wheels upon one end and a small spool upon the other (see C and D in [Fig. 356]). A weight of some sort should be fastened to the base, as shown at E. The uprights for the other support should be similarly mounted upon another block of wood. Fasten the remaining wheel to an axle run through the holes in the uprights, and, as it is unnecessary to have a spool upon the other end of the axle, cut it off short and drive a nail through it to prevent it from slipping through the holes. Having thus prepared the supports, place them as far apart as you wish to extend the railway, and run a cord around the two wheels and tie it. Then set the supports a little farther apart, if necessary, to tighten the cord. Run another cord from spool D to
A Water-motor, steam engine, or whatever power you can get with which to operate the railway. A bicycle inverted with the tire removed from its rear wheel has been used satisfactorily, as has also a sewing-machine with the belt slipped off and the cord from the spool put in its place.
A good substitute for the tin tracks ordinarily sold in shops for toy railways will be found in those shown in [Fig. 357]. These