Maneuvering a 7¼ gauge loco.

My 7¼" gauge "Elidir" Hunslet sits on a Machine Mart lifting trolley in my garage. I have a pair of decking board ramps that enable me to move it through the garage door and then the trolley docks with a spur on my garden railway. (Hopefully pictures attached show this)

The simple fact is that, at the age of 75, I am finding it increasingly difficult to safely and securely push the trolley up and down the ramps and I wondered if any forum members could offer any suggestions as to how i might improve the process.

Cheap 12V power winch with wired remote or radio link? Guide batterns on ramp?

buy/make a second trolley, one stays inside, one outside, then have a short bridge between the 2. Outside one can be fixed height

Change the sloping ramps for a single flat one that spans the threashold much like a table. Then all you need to do is wheel the trolly upto the "table" and then roll the loco off the trolly and onto the table. Nip* round to the outside with your trolly via another door and wheel it up against the outside of the table, roll loco from table onto trolly. No slopes needed and no mechanical means to pull it up the slope or stop it rolling down the other side.

*I say Nip but as best you can manage at 75.

EDIT Duncan types or thinks faster than me

Edited By JasonB on 30/12/2016 16:48:11

The trolley has fixed wheels at the front so not too difficult to motorise them.

You could use a winch powered by a battery drill to pull it up and fit cable operated brakes for the way down.

I do suggest even as it is you fit guide rails to the slippery steel plate of the trolley and always strap it down with ratchet straps for both side and end movement and have end stops.

I also have an inside trolley for my loco - keeps it lower and I don't bring dirty wheels of the hydraulic trolley inside until they are dry/clean.

Hi Dennis,

I hope I'm as active as u when I get there, not to many years to go........

seems to me ur battling a very sticky wicket, with the w/shop door in the wrong place in regard to the house steps etc and the cupboards in the w/shop........

How about a small door, wide enough for ur trolley under what looks like a window next to the original door, not sure on floor levels but looks close enough to get u on the patio with only a small slope.....u may loose a cupboard inside the shop but a small price to pay for safety and ease of use......supose the chimney stack can slip off if short on hight......

This way u keep the original door and enough room to move about.....plus it won't cost to much........

.sorry can't be more helpful.....Clogs......

good luck to you and be careful.........Clogs......

Thanks for all the ideas. Each one would solved my problem but on the KISS principal I have decided to go with the double trolley solution. I have bought from Machine Mart a trolley for £60 which has a 300Kg load rating but only weighs 18Kg and the handle comes off so I can keep it in the garage. I need to put a deck on it to put the loco on but that is a small matter. Thanks again for all the suggestions.