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Video run of my layout

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Video run of my layout
Posted by Southwest Chief on Saturday, July 28, 2007 2:05 PM

I posted a "cabride" video on Youtube of my G scale layout.   Here's the link if anyone's interested.

Layout Video

I wish YouTube didn't compress the video so much.  I have a much better quality and larger sized original, but unfortunately my own website can't handle the file size.

Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, CO
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Posted by GearDrivenSteam on Saturday, July 28, 2007 5:32 PM
Very nice! WHat kinda sound are you using? Is the layout DC or DCC?
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Posted by Coogler Rail Line on Saturday, July 28, 2007 6:01 PM

That was very nice.  I wish that I had that much room!  Smile [:)]

 

How long were those bridges?  Did you make them yourself?

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Posted by Southwest Chief on Saturday, July 28, 2007 6:52 PM

 GearDrivenSteam wrote:
Very nice! What kinda sound are you using? Is the layout DC or DCC?

Sound is Phoenix Big Sound 2K2 using the sound called DRGW.  I run battery power using CVP Products Airwire 900 for control.  So it's sort of like DCC, just powered by battery. The consist for this run was an LGB mogul pushing a gondola camera car.

 

 

 Coogler Rail Line wrote:
That was very nice.  I wish that I had that much room!  Smile [:)] How long were those bridges?  Did you make them yourself?

The bridges are each 6 feet long.  I wish I could make something like them myself.  They were custom manufactured by Eaglewings Iron Craft. Here's a photo of what the bridges look like from the side:

Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, CO
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Posted by GearDrivenSteam on Saturday, July 28, 2007 8:36 PM
Cool. How do you like the battery power? Does it last a long time before needing to be recharged?
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 28, 2007 9:05 PM
That is a great layout, Matt.  The setting is beautiful.  Very lifelike.
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Posted by Southwest Chief on Sunday, July 29, 2007 2:34 PM

 GearDrivenSteam wrote:
How do you like the battery power? Does it last a long time before needing to be recharged?

I love battery power.  The charge lasts surprisingly long, and it doesn't take super long to recharge.  It helps when you have more than one battery powered loco.  This way one can be charging while the other is in use.  

Jonathan Bliese of Electric Model Works has done all of my battery conversions.

Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, CO
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Posted by RR Redneck on Sunday, July 29, 2007 2:43 PM

That is one heck of a bridge you got there. It really grabbed my attention.

Lionel collector, stuck in an N scaler's modelling space.

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Posted by Rex in Pinetop on Sunday, July 29, 2007 5:04 PM

Great video.  This is a really great way to show a layout.  What video system are you using?

Rex

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Posted by Southwest Chief on Sunday, July 29, 2007 5:29 PM

 Rex in Pinetop wrote:
What video system are you using?

I used a Sony HD Handycam.  I put the camcorder into a gondola, tie a rubber band around the car and camcorder and push it along. 

Our old Sony handycam (Hi8) worked perfectly in the gondola.  But the new HD camcorder is smaller.  So I had to put some foam in the bottom of the gondola to prop up the camera.  Otherwise the lens would be too low and partially blocked by the end of the gondola.  The gondola, by the way, is by Hartland modified with Bachmann metal wheels and Kadee couplers.

Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, CO
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Posted by vsmith on Monday, July 30, 2007 10:53 AM

Thats nice, I too wish I had that kind of room.

Its an out and back layout, do you plan to add a second reverse loop at the start/finish side?

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by FJ and G on Monday, July 30, 2007 11:12 AM

Great layout! Nice forest.

Are there turnaround loops at both ends or just one end? At the end of the video I was curious how it gets turned around.

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Posted by Southwest Chief on Monday, July 30, 2007 4:12 PM

There's a turntable off to the left at the end of the video. 

I uncouple the locomotive, clear the switch you see at the end of the video, back into the turntable, turn around and come out on the track where the passenger train is parked.  Then couple back up to the train and head out the other way.

Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, CO
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Posted by kimbrit on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:18 AM
Thanks for sharing that Matt, very nice indeed and in a perfect setting.
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Posted by Great Western on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 4:19 AM

Hi,

    Indeed a great pleasure watching the video of your railroad.  It certainly is  magnificent.    I can see why you have opted for battery power: the ROW length and those pines. Wink [;)]

    Thanks for sharing with us.
 

Alan, Oliver & North Fork Railroad

https://www.buckfast.org.uk/

If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. Lewis Carroll English author & recreational mathematician (1832 - 1898)

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Posted by GearDrivenSteam on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 7:15 AM
"The charge lasts surprisingly long......"   Could you be a tad more specific? About what does a good battery conversion run, give or take? Thanks for putting up with all the questions.
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Posted by Southwest Chief on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 12:18 AM

 GearDrivenSteam wrote:
"The charge lasts surprisingly long......"   Could you be a tad more specific? About what does a good battery conversion run, give or take? Thanks for putting up with all the questions.

A charge should last for 4 hours of continuous running, although I've never come close to this limit.  On my typical half hour (or less) a day running I can get a charge to last for close to 2 weeks.  It also depends on how long and how heavy the trains are.

The conversions are not cheap. However I get sound, RC, and long life batteries all professionally installed. They typically run $800 or more. Essentially the price of a nice locomotive.  So we end up having less locomotives due to cost, but you really can only run 2 at the same time on a single track line, and maybe a switcher in the yards.

Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, CO
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Posted by GearDrivenSteam on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 6:29 AM
DAMMIT man! Do they really run that long? That's a pretty good deal for the money. I was thinkin more like the conventional 15 or 20 minutes thing. Thanks.
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Posted by EMPIRE II LINE on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 6:34 AM
 Southwest Chief wrote:

 GearDrivenSteam wrote:
"The charge lasts surprisingly long......"   Could you be a tad more specific? About what does a good battery conversion run, give or take? Thanks for putting up with all the questions.

A charge should last for 4 hours of continuous running, although I've never come close to this limit.  On my typical half hour (or less) a day running I can get a charge to last for close to 2 weeks.  It also depends on how long and how heavy the trains are.

The conversions are not cheap. However I get sound, RC, and long life batteries all professionally installed. They typically run $800 or more. Essentially the price of a nice locomotive.  So we end up having less locomotives due to cost, but you really can only run 2 at the same time on a single track line, and maybe a switcher in the yards.

Say matt,

I really enjoyed your video, and have appriciated your taking the time to answer a lot of questions for different ones here, I choose to run mid 50's and 60's prototypical American equipment. The huge steamers and transition into the diesel streamliner passenger trains, quite often upwards of 4 multi engined/motored diesels, pulling up to 40 /50 freight cars. I run a lot of the Aristo and USA rolling stock and engines, and American prototypes in LGB passengers and engines.  

My big question here is----has anyone tried, say the Airwire system with battery power to try and run something of the magnitude of a rail line, that I am running, with any success......I note that you say that it is quite expensive to set up an engine as you have. And just what would it maybe take to operate up to 4 engines together on a line set up similar to yours. 

Would it even be cost effective ??? Could it even be done ?? Just curious here.

Not pushing any type system or anything, but kind of wondering, is the way I am going the best choice, maybe for me, in light of the options out there, and the size of the line I am trying to operate ??

I predominantly do the Great Northern RR from the transition of steam power in the 50's to diesel, thru say the mid 60's at the latest, before Amtrack. 

Thanks, Byron    

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Posted by EMPIRE II LINE on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 6:39 AM

 GearDrivenSteam wrote:
DAMMIT man! Do they really run that long? That's a pretty good deal for the money. I was thinkin more like the conventional 15 or 20 minutes thing. Thanks.

Say Robert,

Do you happen to have any input you could offer me here also........on my questions about power options and choices....??

Byron

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Posted by GearDrivenSteam on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 7:00 AM
I don't know, Byron. I would certainly be in uncharted territory talking about R/C stuff like this. If I HAD to be pinned down to an answer, I would just GUESS that describing running what you want to run, and the magnitude of your equipment, that sticking with track power is probably your best bet. Again though, it's only a guess, since Matt has said that length of train, weight plus only running two trains at once. Since it sounds like you are going to tax all of those parameters to the max and then some, that's why I was saying track power. But also as I said, my knowledge about is very limited, so I may not be a good one to ask. LOL
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Posted by EMPIRE II LINE on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 7:35 AM

 GearDrivenSteam wrote:
I don't know, Byron. I would certainly be in uncharted territory talking about R/C stuff like this. If I HAD to be pinned down to an answer, I would just GUESS that describing running what you want to run, and the magnitude of your equipment, that sticking with track power is probably your best bet. Again though, it's only a guess, since Matt has said that length of train, weight plus only running two trains at once. Since it sounds like you are going to tax all of those parameters to the max and then some, that's why I was saying track power. But also as I said, my knowledge about is very limited, so I may not be a good one to ask. LOL

Will do Robert,

 

And Matt,

Again, very enjoyable video scenes, not trying to rob your post here Sign - Off Topic!! [#offtopic].

Regards, Byron

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Posted by GearDrivenSteam on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 9:52 AM
By all means, Matt...thanks for answering all the questions. You've been a great help.
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Posted by Southwest Chief on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 12:55 PM
 EMPIRE II LINE wrote:
My big question here is----has anyone tried, say the Airwire system with battery power to try and run something of the magnitude of a rail line, that I am running, with any success......I note that you say that it is quite expensive to set up an engine as you have. And just what would it maybe take to operate up to 4 engines together on a line set up similar to yours. 

Would it even be cost effective ??? Could it even be done ?? Just curious here.

Of course it can be done, and many have a similar setup to yours.  I've read that a battery car is pretty effective for multi unit consists.  Basically you stuff a bunch of batteries in a box car, and hook up small connection wires to each locomotive you want powered.

But one of Airwires best features is multi unit consists.  It's just like DCC in the smaller scales.  Type in the lead unit's number and add up to three others for your consist.  I've done this to double head my two steamers and it works great. 

While like DCC you can run a ton of locos with one control box, because it's RC, Airwire also let's you chose multiple frequencies so you can operate several locos at one time on many different frequencies.  I have two controllers and can easily run four locos using just 2 controllers. 

I would suggest reading over the Airwire website found here: Airwire Website

Another suggestion would be to post some questions at this G scale forum: MyLargeScaleForum Specifically in the battery section found here:RC/Battery Operations

Hope this helps.

Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, CO
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Posted by EMPIRE II LINE on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 5:15 PM
 Southwest Chief wrote:

Of course it can be done, and many have a similar setup to yours. 

 I would suggest reading over the Airwire website found here: Airwire Website

Another suggestion would be to post some questions at this G scale forum: MyLargeScaleForum Specifically in the battery section found here:RC/Battery Operations

Hope this helps.

Thanks for your response here Matt,

I'll check out those sights and see what the scoop is....

Byron

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Posted by GearDrivenSteam on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 6:43 PM
See, I tried to tell you I didn't know what the hell I was talking about. LOL
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