WINCH MECHANISM

The heart of my funicular is a 6V motor with a multi-ratio gearbox from the Hobbies Catalogue (www.alwayshobbies.com). The accompanying diagram shows how the mechanism goes together. Thin plywood or thick balsawood is suitable for the crank, the length of which determines the maximum length of inclined track upon which a tethered car can travel. The crank arm on mine is 100mm from the centre of the gearbox output shaft and it has a screw on the end, to which I’ve attached a nylon line. The rotating crank arm will therefore provide a total incline distance of 200mm. Fitting a longer crank will permit a carriage to proportionally travel further along an extended length of track. About two revolutions per minute of the crank arm will give a realistic tethered hauling speed of a funicular carriage, with the geared motor connected to a 3V electrical supply. Thin nylon fishing line is ideal because it slides easily over relatively tight corners, such as over the top of the track where the line is attached to the carriage. One end of the nylon line is tied to a small plastic pulley which is screwed into the end of the crank arm. Washers are inserted under the pulley to prevent the line from snagging on the crank arm as it rotates. The nylon line is threaded through a 5mm diameter styrene tube in the baseboard, which emerges through the cliff top where the funicular track is to be located. The bottom end of the styrene tube is flared to assist the nylon line run more freely.