Mode of power

[Rene Schweitzer]

[:)]

[mkblk]

Although my railroad isn't built yet, it does exist in my mind and on paper! Being this is my first foray into large scale MRRg, I am truly a novice, but enthusiastic. I already have purchased some track (Aristo-craft) and rolling stock (Bachmann 1:20.3) but have yet to obtain my first loco: a live steam "Ruby". The plan is to have a figure 8 with medium radius curves (5' dia or 6.5" dia) and I hope my inexperience doesn't shoot down my plans.

I realize that track power and battery / RC provides superior throttle control, but after chasing the little Ruby around for a couple of months I'll probably opt for R/C. Seems like the sensible way to go. This way I can have my cake (live steam) and eat it too!

If anyone has built a over/under layout with Ruby power, I would sure like to hear from them.

[vsmith]

Being indoors gives me a certain advantage when powering my trains. I can follow the KISS principle, Keep It Stupidly Simple.. or is that Simple, Stupid!
LGB transformers that power the whole layout
Atlas control switches that are dummyproof
Doorbell electrical wire at is pennies per foot
Manual switches cause thats the way real switches were thrown
No radio control to foul TV reception
No DCC (Digital Confusion and Chaos)
No batteries to run down
No computerized control system that will make me hate Bill Gates even more
Everything thats neccesary, and Nothing that extranious,

My layout is STATE OF THE ART....

...for 1970.

[Anonymous]

Yeah vsmith I'm with you except I don't even need the doorbell wires.

My layout is state of the art.

For 1910.

RC for steam ain't all that bad tho. Keeps you from burning your fingers while trying to get control of that loco after you've turned it loose. Just opening the steam valve to get it going, once the boiler is up in pressure is best accomlished with care.

[Anonymous]

Definately "Backwards Into The Future!" Live steam outdoors. Indoors I am running Ogauge and have found that for me, the computer controlled, full bell and whistle loaded gear we have today is fantastic ,but too much. Amazing potential for realism, detail and effects but I prefer to reach back a bit, just like Radio, the theater of the Mind....

[Charles Trainman Hall]

My Main Line is 338 feet and my sidings are 202 feet in lenght. I am using a Blue Streak Transformer feeding DC power. The Main Line is divided into Three sections on the "A" Controler or top control. The Left side of the WYE and two siding are controlled from the "B" Controller of middle control. The final three storage sidings are controlled from the "C" Controller or bottom control. I have Hillman clamps and insolators through out the complete layout. I have 16 LGB switches receiving power from the A/C side of an Aristo Tranformer. I am using Low Voltage 14 guage wire for power supplies and 16 guage for switch control. The only problem I had was wiring the WYE, but I mastered the situation and it works great. I like track power,

[Anonymous]

I use direct bury romex in conduit to keep the shovels away with feeder wires every 8 feet. Our railroad is small but we are going to extend it by about 175 feet next year. I think I will shorten the feeder taps to 6 feet between also as we have one spot which is prone to staying rather damp. The RR is DCC operated.

[Anonymous]

My railway is in the dream mode so far but my wife and I have just bought a new house that has plenty of room for my layout. My comment is more in the way of a question. Is it necessary to use battery power with RC? I have a background in electronics and I can think of several way to power a train from the track. I have yet to see a system that uses a form of track power combined with RC which I suspect says more about my neophyte status than a lack of such a system. It's either not possible for some reason I'm unaware of or it exists and I haven't seen it yet.
I could see just replacing the batteries with track pickups run through rectifying diodes to guarantee the proper polarity or if AC power is preferred (appropriately stepped down) rectifiers and a solid state voltage regulator on a simple circuit board could provide a clean voltage source. But it's early days and I just don't know what's available yet.
Here's hoping someone could enlighten me.

Thanks

wmalder

[mkblk]

Rene,

[:D] Can I change my vote? As of today I'm officially "Live Steam" instead of "my railroad isn't built yet"!

MK

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mkblk

Rene,

[:D] Can I change my vote? As of today I'm officially "Live Steam" instead of "my railroad isn't built yet"!

MK

You post something like this and then dont tell us what you bought? [:0]

For shame...[xx(]

[Anonymous]

vsmith:

On one of the other threads I recall he said he has a Ruby. Now I'm trying to convince him to go ahead and run it out in the rain.

Does wonders for the plume.

[vsmith]

Well I hope oils the bearings well.
We dont want it rusting up on him before he's had a chance to drop it. "Ouch thats HOT"
LOL