I will be lighting a string of about 6 cars that will rarely if ever be uncoupled except when taking from track for overhaul. Would it be practical to use just one car (probably baggage) for the pickup, capacitor and bridge rectifier then run a very small wire with mini connectors between all the cars to feed the lights in each car? This would lessen the axle pickup drag and leave only one set of pickups to clean and service. I am using DCC and LEDs.
Phillup
For reliability, I would use more than one car for power pickup.
You might want to look at the Rapido "Easy Peasy" lighting system. No wiring, no pickups.
Rotor
Jake: How often does the train go by? Elwood: So often you won't even notice ...