What battery locos you have got?

[pugwash]

Given that nearly every new loco issued comes with a plug for a digital decoder I wonder if they may in future make provision for battery operation and make the locos switchable from track to battery as required. Okay, it is an added cost and not something everyone wants or needs but the technology and ability is there. Perhaps the manufacturers should look at the recent poll taken on this forum, and indeed read threads such as this, to see what the customer wants.

I seem to remember that that option is available with Accucraft's (USA) latest control system Pugs. Can't remember what it's called though?

Probably something like Ee-Zee Power Switch

 

[yb281]

Given that nearly every new loco issued comes with a plug for a digital decoder I wonder if they may in future make provision for battery operation and make the locos switchable from track to battery as required. Okay, it is an added cost and not something everyone wants or needs but the technology and ability is there. Perhaps the manufacturers should look at the recent poll taken on this forum, and indeed read threads such as this, to see what the customer wants.

I seem to remember that that option is available with Accucraft's (USA) latest control system Pugs. Can't remember what it's called though?

Probably something like Ee-Zee Power Switch

Revolution!!!! Just remembered.

Now ............. why have I come upstairs??????????

 

[Gizzy]

Given that nearly every new loco issued comes with a plug for a digital decoder I wonder if they may in future make provision for battery operation and make the locos switchable from track to battery as required. Okay, it is an added cost and not something everyone wants or needs but the technology and ability is there. Perhaps the manufacturers should look at the recent poll taken on this forum, and indeed read threads such as this, to see what the customer wants.

I seem to remember that that option is available with Accucraft's (USA) latest control system Pugs. Can't remember what it's called though?

Probably something like Ee-Zee Power Switch

Revolution!!!! Just remembered.

Now ............. why have I come upstairs??????????

I thought you lived in a bungelow....

 

[ge_rik]

I'm in the process of creating a fleet of battery locos which I can use to run my railway (at present my locos are mostly DCC). Here's where I'm up to so far:

The first battery 'loco' I built was a conversion from two Andel freelance coach kits to make a sort of railbus:

She was originally powered by an IP Engineering gearbox and motor but this wore out and so she now has an MFA gearbox motor. She has a 12v li-ion battery and a Deltang receiver/controller.

My second battery loco was built from an IP Engineering kit.

I replaced the IP Engineering gearbox with one kindly made by a fellow forum member. She is powered by 10 AA NiMh batteries and controlled with a Deltang receiver and Brian Jones Mac Five controller

My third battery loco is an 0-6-2T

She has an LGB motor block, a scratchbuilt body, 12v li-ion battery and a Deltang receiver/controller. She is by far the most reliable battery loco and the one most enjoyable to 'drive'.

And the latest addition to the line is an IP Engineering Lollypop railcar:

Presently powered by three AA alkaline cells she will shortly be powered by four AA NiMh batteries. She is controlled via a Deltang receiver/controller.

I am in the process of constructing another steam outline loco, using a Playmobil motor block. She will be based on one of the Southwold Railway Sharp Stewarts - either one of the 2-4-0Ts or the 2-4-2T.

I have another couple of LGB motor blocks which I could press into service but will hold these in reserve in case any of the present locos give up the ghost. I also have a couple of the cheap Playmobil motor blocks (with plastic wheels) which I might use to make something for the nephew and friends' kids to play with when they come to call.

It looks as if there are more and more opportunities for battery power developing - with 2.4gHz transmitters and receivers falling in price, battery technology developing (and cheapening) and miniaturisation of electronic gear.

My (albeit limited) experience suggests that either buying one of the ready-to-run locos (eg as provided by Brandbright) or adapting a track powered loco (as many others have done on here) is the most reliable approach as some of the lower priced kits can be somewhat unreliable.

Rik
Edit: Sorry the images and then some of the text kept disappearing.

 

[Walts-Playmobil]

As I Collect Playmobil locomotives I have the full set in most cases more then one. I started n 1984 with track powered and now have the R.C. ones. I have bought them from shops, swap meets eBay etc. The price depended where I bought them from.

 

[playmofire]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Playmobil-A...8&qid=1377183463&sr=8-2&keywords=playmobil+rc < Link To http://www.amazon.co.uk/Playmobil-Action-5258-Controlled-Freight

I've already got Playmobil 5258 At present this is my only locomotive.

But my point is that Playmobil is more like children's toys. It is unusual why proper model railway manufacturers are not bringing out such loco. If Playmobil can do it, surely it can't be that difficult?

But still good fun, and are they all that different?

http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=133551&high=seaport,beachtown#sthash.YU8TiVWN.dpbs < Link To http://www.forum.gscalece...n#sthash.YU8TiVWN.dpbs

 

[Andy Worsfold]

I've still got my NQD loco and it still runs well. I use it in the winter when I can't be bothered to clean the track. BTW Mike Duffy has a switch for the NQD loco sound....Mr Lumphammer! (Sorry Mike!) One of my 16mm friends is trying to convert me to battery power for my LGB locos. I have an appointment to book! Being an ex TV Engineer, he builds his own system.

 

[ge_rik]

"Nice" collection of locos Rik !

Thanks Paul. Just one more to go and I'll have enough for a proper running session.

Rik

PS - Just got the significance of "nice!" -

 

[The Devonian]

My first two locos were Bachmann Anniversary ten wheelers: track powered. I subsequently bought from Andrew at Garden Rail Centers an Aristo-Craft RS3 loco and an Aristo Centre Cab loco. The RS3 is post 2005 and therefore has the battery connectors front and rear and the track/battery switch option. A further Centre Cab (same source) came and two more RS3's and an FA-1 all direct from the USA. These, except for the Centre Cab, had the battery connectors and changeover switch.
One Centre Cab has been converted to battery only operation (can revert back to track power). So that leaves me, as winter projects, conversion of the other centre cab and the two ten wheelers to battery operation.
One of the principal reasons for choosing Aristo_Craft locos, other than their realistic prices, was the battery switching option which is so simple: no re-wiring, soldering and so forth.

 

[Bram]

All my locos are battery RC, like Mels, either in the loco/tender or in a separate wagon. No track cleaning

 

[GAP]

All locos are battery powered, controlled by 2.4GHz aircraft radio control.
Mostly on board except for a Stainz which has a tender and an old MDC Hustler which the 4 ore cars house the batteries and the R/C gear (Idea copied from John Robinson's article in Garden Rail mag).
Bachmann Shay yet to be converted.
Accucraft "Ruby" 2.4GHz R/C for throttle and reverser.

 

[gregh]

I have 22 (I think) battery powered locos / railcars . Either LiPo or NiMH batteries, all stay within the loco for charging. Four are simple forward/off/reverse switch and the rest are RC. All except one have sound systems.

For a short description of each loco, see here...
http://www.trainweb.org/SaTR/locosGall.htm

 

[spoz]

All mine are battery; several Bachmann conversions (Annie, Indy, Lyn, Thomas) and a number of kit (Andel, IP, others) builds/bashes. As I said on another thread, the last conversion cost me about $40 AUD which includes the $10 cost of the light dimmer r/c from China.

Bachmann, too, now include the option for easy switching to battery in their Spectrum model locos. The cheaper Big Hauler line still require a fair level of modification, but although I'm pretty much an electrical idiot I still manage it, generally without too much trouble (despite reversing the polarity on the charger socket in the last conversion, sigh).

Steve

 

[sparky230]

I dont own a single battey Loco
All mine are track powered with magnets on the bottom to operate the block working and the station stop, it takes me less than 20 mins to clean the track, which isnt often as i have a hf track cleaner in circuit, throwback from N guage days, I run Aristo pwc controllers mainly driving older simple Stainz locos but I also have a couple of Aristo lil critter's but they have both been repainted and had lgb centre buffers added

 

[sparky230]

Mention of HF....... There used to be an HF circuit around that supplied lights to coaches via the track and the lights stayed on when the train stopped.......US circuit I believe.

http://www.gaugemaster.com/modules.html
HF3

 

[Dtsteam]

Same thing then..modern cased (and I was talking late 60's when the US circuit was around)......

Similar, the HF lighting circuit was always on and each loco had to be fitted with a choke(?) to keep the HF away from the motor.
A few large scale tram modellers in this country tried it.

Back on thread, I have an Aristo RDC with an on board battery and a cheap car ESC. I'm also building a battery towing van for the days when I can't be bothered with 2 rail. Trouble is, there are a lot of those days at the moment....