starting over new layout new scale. small layout will use bachmann 0n30 locos will railpro control handle on30 scale. will only have 2 engines going at one time. need to go bigger getting older need some bigger trains to handle. Is some one useing railpro on an on30lay out now.
thanks for any help you can give.
jrichwood
I have seen a few here and in the MRH forums using Railpro. The downside seems to be battery life span before needing charging. No layout wiring needed.
Bruce in the MRH forums likes it a lot. Go look. He is a regular contributor.
it is wireless and NOT DCC.
You can Google railpro users for lots of info. I just did.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I've looked into railpro, but I have a lot invested in DCC. There are some downsides to the system beyond charging that you may want to research, but if you are comfortable with the downsides and you are starting from scratch and only going to run 2 locomotives, it may not be a bad thing.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
Bearman, what are the downsides to RailPro and have you ever used RailPro? Rich, What charging issues did you encounter Or have been told about?
To answer the OP question about RailPro it is a very easy system to use. I have owned the CVP Easy and micro air systems. I have a NCE Pro cab currently for 2 engines but the rest of my locomotives will be RailPro equipped by the end of the year. So I have other system experience to compare it against. I model in HO not O but I know that the modules that RailPro has will power O. I have had no issues for the 2 years I have used RailPro on my layout. For a person like Bearman and others with large rosters of locomotives RailPro may not be a good financial decision but RailPro can mix easily on a DCC layout Without any modifications. My suggestion is to look at the videos available at the Ring Engineering website. I would also suggest you google the RailPro users website. I would post the address but I believe MR frowns on that. If you are just starting out or have a couple engines try RailPro and if you don’t like it, it is very easy to sell. The starter system is a good investment at $299. Good luck.
TomO
I have admitted that I use DCC and I have also admitted that I have a lot invested in DCC. A few years back there was an extensive review of railpro which was posted on this forum. The review pointed out both the pros and cons of the system. There are three drawbacks that I see in the system. It is proprietary, although this is probably fading as a con. There is some question about the pictures, can the system distinguish between the pictures of two locomotives where the only difference is the number of the locomotive. And, you need to replace decoders with the railrpo receivers, I believe they are called. Again, if the OP is starting off and is going to run two locomotives then I see no reason that he should not try it out. Like a lot of issues, personal preference usually rules at the end.
Bearman thank for your response. As a user of RailPro for a couple years I know there is a lot of misunderstanding. The proprietary thing of course is absolutely true and has been debated on many forums. I have not had any issue with pictures id-ing the locomotive. Again I would urge the OP and any anyone else interested in RailPro to visit the RailPro user group. IMO it is an honest discussion with many helpful questions, complaints while few are there, answers and advice. Or check U-tube and search for RailPro videos. There is a user caller Kpack who has some great videos on RailPro useage. IMO the biggest drawback is that the owner Tim Ring does not advertise anywhere other than on MRH. But the company has done well using that.
TomO, if you have been using RailPro and it works for you, that is fine with me. Given the cost of a DCC system or RailPro, the OP and anyone else for that matter, should do their own research about the pros and cons of the various systems out there before laying out some serious coin.
PS, I would second your recommendation that the OP visit the RailPro Users group as pasrt of his research.
To me the drawbacks are:1) The knob is at the bottom. When I hold a throttle 1-handed, my thumb points up. The knob, being at the bottom, means that one has to either contort your hand, re-arrange your grip, or use your other hand to adjust the throttle. When I'm operating with switchlists or car cards, reading a Train Order, using a uncoupling skewer, and calling the dispatcher with a FRS radio, the last thing I need is a 2-handed throttle.
2). There is no direction button, just a touchscreen. This means that it's all but impossible to reliably reverse the loco's direction without constantly looking at the screen. When I'm switching cars or spotting them at a siding, I want to be looking at the loco/car, not the throttle. On DC or DCC layouts, I hardly ever look at the throttle once I've located the direction toggle/button by feel.
3). The cost. The price of RailPro receivers are at least $59.99 with no discounts. DCC decoders can be had for less than $20. If you have just 20 locos, that's an extra $800+ for RailPro vs. DCC.
That being said, I am impressed with the technology of RailPro. I've demo-ed it at a hobby shop and I like how it works. It just needs a better throttle, IMHO.Tom,The RailPro starter set is $399.99, not $299.99. The throttle alone is $299.99.
Yes, the MFSR price is $399 for the starter set, but who pays retail? You can look at Yankeedabbler and it’s price is $315. the website at pdc.ca is 299 with free delivery. Hiawathahobbies in Wisconsin was selling at $299 plus delivery.
if you are new to DCC you also have to buy the decoders/receivers. But really we are derailing what the OP asked On30. Will RailPro work in the scale he asked about and the answer is yes but I have no one to recommend to him that they are using it. Happy modeling whatever system you use.
"But really we are derailing what the OP asked On30. Will RailPro work in the scale he asked about and the answer is yes..."
You are correct, that was the OP's question.
Going by the Bachmann On3 set that I aquired about 4 years ago, I would agree that RailPro should work fine.
The set I bought from a friend was powered by a typical Bachmann power pack, the same used in their HO sets, so it's not like any of the regular O scale trains we see that usually run AC power, like the MTH trains that my grandson has.
Mike.
My You Tube
I run RailPro and I love it. I wish I would have seen it before I bought a DCC system.
I don't know what Rich was talking about. RailPro does not require batteries in the locomotive. But it will run a battery powered locomotion. I run mine on a track that is also used for DCC.
I don't run On30 but don't see why it wouldn't work.
Lots of information here.