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 WebsiteAnother suggestion would be to post some questions at this G scale forum: MyLargeScaleForum Specifically in the battery section found here:RC/Battery OperationsHope this helps.
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
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.
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.
Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, COClick Here for my model train photo website
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 .
Regards, Byron
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....??
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.
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.
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
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.
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)
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.
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.
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
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.
Great video. This is a really great way to show a layout. What video system are you using?
Rex
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.
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.
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! 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:
That was very nice. I wish that I had that much room!
How long were those bridges? Did you make them yourself?
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.
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