Who make the "best" Train camera??

[Anonymous]

I'm considering adding a Train camera (color video) to my "027" gauge Lionel
layout.

What train cameras are available and is there a particular manufacturer's model that is better than another.

I understand that Lionel offered a Black & White camera car some years ago, but it was plagued with video noise (static) when viewed on the TV / monitor.

Is it true that one must purchase the camera first, and install it in a railroad car of your choice? Or, is there a company that will sell you a railroad car of your choice (i.e. railroad type... Pennsylvania, New York Central, Sante Fe) and install it for you?

I would appreciate any information (forums, web sites, magazines, books) on the various model railroad "Train cameras" available.

Thanks.

Alan-H
Email: [e-mail]

[Big_Boy_4005]

I'm not aware of anyone currently making a camera specificly for model railroads. However, I do remember seeing an ad running in Model Railroader a few years ago for an HO traincam, but I don't know if that company still exists.

I have an old Lionel Railscope engine, and you are correct, there were problems transmitting the picture signal through the track. Between the "noise" problem and the advent of TMCC, rail based image transmission is probably no long considered viable.

That leaves 2 options, air transmission or image capture (tape or digital). Both are possible, but air transmission is still too expensive, and may be too large as well.

I have heard of people mounting handy cams on flatcars and having the train pu***hem around the layout with pretty good results. And with the cameras continually shrinking, this method just keeps getting easier, and may be your best bet.

Good luck and have fun.[8D]

Just before hitting the button to submit this reply, something occured to me. Cell phones can now send pictures. I've never tried one though. Get two and call yourself???
Could be interesting.

[Anonymous]

Well, K-line is making camera cars again! Check em out! There are two to choose from: A POLICE camera car:

K705-2111 UP RR Police Camera Car

and a TV station camera car:

K705-7401 WMDK TV Camera Car

Each sell for $249.95

Here's the URL of one:

http://www.k-linetrains.com/products/viewprd_new.cfm?prdID=33505F23-5307-4C2E-8A4451EDEEE6C5B0&secID=B17A068D-6D44-11D4-ADA90060B0576B82

Have fun!

[brianel027]

K-Line makes an operating TV camera flat car that was reviewed by O Gauge Railroading in August 2003 and again by Classic Toy Trains in the October 2003 issue. Both reviews gave the car a basic thumbs up, though the OGR review is a little more indepth. To paraphrase from the OGR review, creative modelers have built their own camera cars for far less money than the K-Line one for $250, but for those not so inclinded, the K-Line one is a welcome alternative. As CTT pointed out, the car is easy to set up with good color images and works in conventional or command mode.
I guess if you wanted the K-Line one, you could keep a close eye on sales advertised in the train magazine ads.

brianel, Agent 027

[Big_Boy_4005]

Cool, I haven't been watching the catalogs the last few years. I guess the future is here now![:I][oops]

I may have to get one of those! It may be a useful tool while I'm building my layout, beside being just plain fun.[:D]

OK, now you got me going, I found a generic battery powered camera and receiver set on eBay for $65.

It may even be the camera that K-line buys and mounts on their car. The only difference is that K-line has added some electronics to allow you to take power for the camera from the track, and the car and mount.

[Anonymous]

Let me propose another alternative.

I am currently setting up a video system for my train set as well.

I'll post pictures of it( and from it ) soon.

My video system only cost me $27!!!!

Ok, now that I have your attention, let me tell you how I did it. I have been looking at ebay for a while for a rail camera system. I like the kline but didn't want to pay $200 + for it. (BTW, I think KLINE gets them as OEM from X10 and mounts them. Check out this link http://www.x10.com/)

On a trip to Hong Kong in October I bought a "spy" camera off the street. It was $27US. It is a small (1"x1") color camera with sound that runs off of a 9 volt battery. It can transmit by radio signal up to 300 feet. I've actually carried it around my front yard while my wife watched it on the TV. It broadcasts to a small box that plugs into the input on your VCR. The one I got in HK was made in Korea and is a piece of junk as far as Quality goes. I'm not sure it's even FCC compliant.

I just did a quick search for "wireless camera" on ebay. It returned a lot of results. The camera I bought was even on there. It is currently listed for $0.99 plus $30 shipping from China.

I'm mounting it on an old Lionel caboose. I little epoxy to the inside of the shell and a small hole and presto, cheap camera!

I was at the DC area train show after Christmas and one of the groups had a camera running on their display. All of the kids went crazy about seeing themselves from the camera on the train. They were running along the track to try and keep on the TV.

Good luck.

[Bob Keller]

Actually we've reviewed three video systems - "Choochoocam" in the November 1999 issue (basic version $599, no sound), the Video Train Cam in November 2001 ($495 with sound), and of course the K-Line camera system in Oct 03 ($249, no sound).

Personally, sound is nice if you plan on taping to show people your trains.

You might be able to find a less expensive camera system and "repurpose" it for your trains, or cobble one together.

Good luck!

Bob Keller
Classic Toy Trains

[Anonymous]

To: Everyone...

THANKS so much for all your advice and suggestions!!!!!

Gee, I'm overwhelmed with the possibilities... and will check out the various cameras that were mentioned.

This "train-cam" idea of mine came from a brief visit to the San Diego Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park, here, in San Diego, California. I haven't been to the Railroad museum (opened in the 1960's) since it burned down in 1985 (? I think ?). Anyway, their huge "O" gauge layout (all gauges are represented with their own layouts) had a modified baggage car with the video camera... which was being pushed by a Sante Fe engine. The images, sent to a receiver, could be viewed on the 4 TV monitors.
WOW!! What a site... and sooooooo realistic!!! Their landscape modelers have done a fantastic job.... so that I felt like a "virtual engineer". Later, I thought... Gee, what would that look like on a BIG SCREEN TV?

If you get a chance to visit San Diego, don't miss the Railroad Museum in Balboa Park. They claim it's the world's largest operating model railroad museum in the world. You can also visit their website at: www.sdmodelrailroadm.com

From the photos of the fantastic layouts that I have seen posted on these forums, I find it hard to believe that so few (if any) have train-cams. Maybe they do, but it's never been mentioned what they have, how it works, or how to build one. Is there a "train-cam forum".... or have I overlooked it?

Again, many thanks for all the replys!!! Keep them coming... I havn't bought my "train-cam".............yet!!!

AlanH
San Diego, CA

[Anonymous]

Has anyone used either of the K-line camera cars? what is your opinion of them... or any other manufacturers "Train-cam" car?

K-line POLICE camera car: K705-2111 UP RR Police Camera Car

K-line TV station camera car: K705-7401 WMDK TV Camera Car

Thanks.

AlanH
San Diego, CA

[Big_Boy_4005]

Your original question got me going on this subject, and I went to eBay and bought a camera / reciever set for a little over $40 (with shipping).

I did look around a little before deciding to buy this particular unit. I checked out the link that Plasticlizard posted but didn't find much there.

I looked at the K-line unit but felt that the car looked silly and the price seemed high. But I did notice 2 things in the description that were interesting. The first was that it said that it had pan and tilt, but I wasn't sure if that ment by remote control while the train was moving, or just a mount that you could position by hand. I think it means by hand.

The second thing about the K-line unit was that it was 2.4Ghz, but I'm not exactly sure what that means. I'm guessing that it is the frequency that it operates on, but does that effect the picture quality or does it have to do with the signal's ablity to reach the reciever with less interference, or both?

One other feature that the K-line car has is the built in power conversion circuitry that allows the camera to run off track power, however it is a simple circuit to build, and not very expensive.

I saw some of the ones that were listed on eBay for 99 cents that were shipping out of China for $30 and decided to steer clear of those sets. Even though I suspect that China is the original source of the one I bought, at least it should be FCC compliant since it is already in the country.

Also on eBay there were some 2.4 Ghz units that were going for about $75 .

The one I ended up buying was a 1.2 Ghz set, but for the price, I thought I would give it a try. If the picture isn't as good when its moving, I'll just mount it so that I can monitor my hidden yard for problems.

Bob Keller brought up the issue of sound. I saw some of those units on eBay too, and they were going for just over $100 and up, but figured that since I don't have any trains that run yet, let alone any with sound, I'd keep it simple and cheap for now, and upgrade later. Beside, by then prices may be even lower, and quality better.

Sorry for the crummy answer to start this topic off. When the camera gets here, which should be Monday, I'll try it right away, and post my findings here.

[Anonymous]

Big_Boy....

I think you'll find cheap Camera is probably like the one I have. It will have a little pigtail on it to plug in a 9volt battery. Let us know how it works. If you get it to run off of track power, I'd be very interested in how. I haven't had time to work with mine yet, but it's on my list of things to do. Good luck

[Big_Boy_4005]

Plasticlizard....

Getting the camera to run off track power is strictly academic electronics. It needs 9V DC supply, to emmulate the battery. If the track is AC, the power needs to be rectified to DC, and limited to 9V max.

Someone whipped up a circuit for me a number of years ago to run a QSI sound board in a cattle car. I have it here somewhere, but it will take a little digging to find. At that time, I was actually running the trains on DC power, but the only difference is adding the rectifier. If I remember correctly, It still had a battery, maybe a NiCad, to act as a backup if the track voltage dropped below 9V.

There was another topic started by Bobst a couple of days ago, about converting battery powered accessories to either track or simple transformer power. The solution is the same, except 3V not 9V.

I'll go look for it and get back here when I find it.

[Big_Boy_4005]

The FedEx Man showed up today with my $44 camera that I bought on eBay.

Very cool

I had a little trouble at first, but changed the battery, and everything cleared right up.
I was very suprised to find out that this unit has sound. This unit is a 1.2 Ghz model, and I am still curious about what the picture would be like with a 2.5 Ghz model like the one that K-line uses.


With the new battery installed, I went right to the train test. I don't have power on my track yet, but placing the camera on a flat car, and pushing it around was pretty impressive. By adding some simple electronics, it should be possible to take power off the track.

The picture quality was pretty good, although the camera does not have adjustable focus so objects that are less than about 12" away are a little fuzzy, but still recognizable. Also you will want to make sure that you have pleanty of light for the best results.

I wish I knew how to capture the video so that I could share them, but I only recently figured out how to do still photos.[:D]

[Anonymous]

Big Boy,

I told you it was a pretty good way to do it. One small hole in a box car, a little superglue and voila! you've got an inexpensive train cam.

I'm thinking of getting about 10 of these cameras on my next trip to the far east. Maybe I can make a little money on the side. [:)]