Lighting for Athearn RTR HO scale Bombardier cab control car

[Lennmwrr]

Athearn RTR NMDOT Rail Runner Bombardier cab control car.

I am wanting to light my cab control car with the headlights, ditch lights and red marker lights.

I would like to use track power and DCC.

While I had the car apart I was also thinking of adding interior lighting and riders.

Sound would be nice for this car as well. Bell, horn and the Roadrunner "beep-beep" door closing warning sound.

Any ideas or articles for this would be greatly appreciated. The biggest problem I can see is getting power from the track or wheels to the interior without shorting due to the wheel design.

Thanks,

Len

[john.pickles87]

Hi Len,

Ok, I’ve got me a West Coast Express Bombardier cab control car and was thinking about chipping it for lighting and sound. 

You say the NMDOT has a Road-runner beep, beep on the doors, come on, now you’ve got my attention.

I figured, I’d try an ESU micro for size as I put one in an ‘N’ Budd RDC with room to spare and will run off the track, the lights are not that difficult, (says me) like you I haven’t got round to pickup yet .  I’d chewed over the fat with a couple of mates just after the new-year but ain’t seen em since, so I’m not that much help at the mo, but I will rattle me cage at the next meet.

Be in touch.

Pick.

PS Wonder what WEX uses on their doors.

[Lennmwrr]

John,

Sorry for the delay, but the NM Railrunner does have the "beep beep" sound. 

My sister was out in NM and heard it on the doors. If you find some videos on Youtube with someone riding in the cab control car you can hear the alert.  I have road other commuter trains and they all have different alerts or none at all. 

I found this company that has some pretty cool stuff for lighting your cars, etc. They sell HO and N stuff. www.sbs4dcc.com

Anyway if these electrical pickups work I will probably add lighting and sound for the control car using a TL-1/4 decoder. If I can download the "beep beep" sound for the doors I might give this a try. The only thing is that I would have to do it for all of the cars. 

The other option would be to place a sound system in the station stop or under the track at that location.  I then could use an on/off switch for a couple of seconds. The volume would be high enough to hear it only at the station stop. I might even consider an announcement saying "door closing" and then the beep beep warning. 

Just a thought. If the car lights and sound install works I will let you know. 

Len

Hi Len,

Ok, I’ve got me a West Coast Express Bombardier cab control car and was thinking about chipping it for lighting and sound. 

You say the NMDOT has a Road-runner beep, beep on the doors, come on, now you’ve got my attention.

I figured, I’d try an ESU micro for size as I put one in an ‘N’ Budd RDC with room to spare and will run off the track, the lights are not that difficult, (says me) like you I haven’t got round to pickup yet .  I’d chewed over the fat with a couple of mates just after the new-year but ain’t seen em since, so I’m not that much help at the mo, but I will rattle me cage at the next meet.

Be in touch.

Pick.

PS Wonder what WEX uses on their doors.

 

 

 

 

 

[john.pickles87]

Hi Len,

Had a couple of off days (called old age).  It’s a job I’d thought of that’s what we call over as being on the back burner, i.e. it’ll be got to in time. 

 

I like the idea and I mentioned the ESU Micro cause it’s about ½ the size of a Peco point motor to do the lights, bell, etc. the speaker and pickup is going to be the problem

 

But not right now.  There’s a yard throat playing up so we’re back feeding from the frogs or should I say, I’m told we’re doing it or else, and else has to come first.

 

Let me know if you sort it.  If I do get to it, I’ll put something up.

Be in touch.

Pick.

[N2Deep]

Did you ever find the best solution for the lights?