Pictures

The Christmas display started to be built in June of 2000. The addition of the train that drives around the yard is what started the early assembly process.

The front part of the train is made out of an old Wheelhorse lawn and garden tractor. It was completely stripped down to the frame. The drive train was left intact except for the gas engine which was replaced with a 1/2 HP electric motor. The steering was removed and a new steering mechanism was built to allow the train to follow 1/2" metal conduit. There is a grip that hooks to the steering mechanism and the conduit, attached to this is a proximity sensor that senses the metal conduit and if the grip comes off the conduit the sensor will shut off the train. There is 130 feet of electrical conduit. On the front of the train is the "cow pusher" it has a micro switch hooked up to it so if anybody or anything gets in front of the train it will also stop the train. Underneath Santa is where all the safety controls and the motor are located. The safety stuff is based on a relay that is "latched" and if any thing breaks the latch it shuts down.

The box which I call the coal box, is where all the power comes from. There is a 5000 watt generator with a furnace blower inside that keeps everything cool. If the blower stops working or the temperature gets to high inside the box there is a thermal cutoff switch that will shut the generator off.

The transfer of power for the wheels is by a device made by Mercotac. I'm using the 205-L, it is the low temperature version of the 205.