From owner-freebsd-chat@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Dec 24 07:40:46 2012 Return-Path: Delivered-To: chat@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [69.147.83.52]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id DE5A9786 for ; Mon, 24 Dec 2012 07:40:46 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from jcw@speakeasy.net) Received: from asbnvacz-mailrelay01.megapath.net (asbnvacz-mailrelay01.megapath.net [207.145.128.243]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id ACDF08FC12 for ; Mon, 24 Dec 2012 07:40:46 +0000 (UTC) Received: from mail1.sea5.speakeasy.net (mail1.sea5.speakeasy.net [69.17.117.39]) by asbnvacz-mailrelay01.megapath.net (Postfix) with ESMTP id 39C3BA713A3 for ; Mon, 24 Dec 2012 02:17:31 -0500 (EST) Received: (qmail 11975 invoked from network); 24 Dec 2012 07:17:30 -0000 Received: by simscan 1.4.0 ppid: 13541, pid: 26813, t: 0.0827s scanners: clamav: m: Received: from unknown (HELO w16.stradamotorsports.com) (jcw@[64.81.163.125]) (envelope-sender ) by mail1.sea5.speakeasy.net (qmail-ldap-1.03) with SMTP for ; 24 Dec 2012 07:17:30 -0000 Message-ID: <50D8018A.5080906@speakeasy.net> Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2012 23:17:30 -0800 From: "Jason C. Wells" User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; FreeBSD amd64; rv:13.0) Gecko/20120630 Thunderbird/13.0.1 MIME-Version: 1.0 To: "Joseph A. Nagy, Jr" Subject: Re: [OT] Sorry For Off-topicness References: <50D7F738.2090307@gmail.com> In-Reply-To: <50D7F738.2090307@gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Cc: "Chat @ FreeBSD" X-BeenThere: freebsd-chat@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.14 Precedence: list List-Id: Non technical items related to the community List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2012 07:40:46 -0000 On 12/23/12 22:33, Joseph A. Nagy, Jr wrote: > Hey all, I'm kind of in a bind and not sure where to turn (I've been > searching online w/o much luck, it took me nearly three hours to find > what I was looking for to start with). > > Here's the deal: > > I've been tasked with setting up some antique O27 Lionel's (from the > 50's) by my uncle for my nephew. I've got almost everything except a > Lock-On (to bring power to the rails from the transformer, a Lionel > 1033; finding the lock-on took me 3 hours because I didn't know what I > was looking for aside from "power to rails from track" essentially). > Right now I'm looking for a non-destructive hackity-hack that will > both bring power to the rails and allow the train free passage around > the track (I've been doing some tests with test-lead clips to little > success). > > This only has to work for tomorrow, afterward I can order the Lock-On > and wait for it to arrive. > > Thanks, and once again sorry for the off-topicness. If ever there was a post for alt.hackers this is it. :) Couldn't you simply run power wires under the rails, strip back a small chunk of wire, and press the bare leads against the rail from the bottom using some tooth picks, popsicle sticks, or other suitable wedges? That section of track would need to be securely fastened to your board so the wedges didn't vibrate out of place. That's assuming you don't want to get out a soldering iron since old lionel stuff can be collectable. Solder being semi-non-destructive unless you solder as well as I do. Regards, Jason