I think i am going to go with the Power Pro system to run my railroad. It will basically be a shelf railroad about 2 x 10-12 long with a 3 x 10 table attached to it with about 3 feet in between the shelf portion and a cross over section so i can run trains in a larger loop if i wish to.
Main question, i think the amps will be enough for this size railroad but it says 2 or 3 ho sized trains. I take it to mean two or three engines.... now i think i will rarely do much more than a switch working one section and then having 2 or 3 engine consist running the big loops. Do you think the 5 amp version would be needed then? I read that converted older athearn units use more amperage and i know i will be using an old blue box GP nine that i will be converting as well.
thanks for the help guys.
Corey
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Do you mean PowerCab? You sould be easily able to run 3-4 trains with that. You can add 1 additional throttle so you can actually control 2 at a time. On a shelf layout it's probably not a good idea to start one train then switch to another and let the first one just run, since there are potentially dire consequences if you forget about the first one, unlike a layout with continuous runnign where you can set one to loop on the main while you control the local switcher.
--Randy
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Crap, yes i meant Power Cab.... Actually it will be a 2 x 10 shelf along the wall with a 3 foot connector against another wall to a 3 x 10 foot table and with a 3 foot connector over to the shelf portion so a big loop can be made for constant loop if i want it. a switcher should be able to operate while the train on the big loop is made. The 3 x 10 table section will have a divider down the middle so another controller will be necessary i think. So i could potentially run 3 engines in a consist and another switcher no problem?
Thanks!
Should be fine, unless you are running old Bowser steam locos, or old Athearn locos prior to the gold motor. Most anything newer, even sound, draws way less than some of those old beasts. I ran 4 sound, 4 non sound on my Zephyr at 2.5 amps and I simply ran out of space to run more before I ran out of power. That's twice what you plan, but less than double the power.
Thanks! I might run an old Athearn or two ut this will let me get up and running easily and affordably, if i run out of power which i doubt it i can spend 125. later and upgrade to more power. Thanks!
I have one of the earliest Power Cabs. It has run 11 locos at once and 7 had sound. You should be fine with 3 or 4 locos at a time. The recall stack will allow you to get one train moving and then call up another all by itself. One of my LHS had cab 05 on clearance for $60. Cab 05 is a button only throttle (no knob or thumb wheel). It also has a toggle switch to swap between locos so in effect it will control 2 locos also.
Pete
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Great thanks Pete.. i think it will be a good fit for a layout like i plan to build.