SeeYou190 I think if I was building a small switching layout with only a first generation EMD diesel for motive power, like Model Railroader's Tar Branch project layout, this would be ideal. It really looks like the control stand from an early diesel.
I think if I was building a small switching layout with only a first generation EMD diesel for motive power, like Model Railroader's Tar Branch project layout, this would be ideal. It really looks like the control stand from an early diesel.
That describes my use case for it, pretty nicely.
Shortly after the National Train Show opened at KC, I stopped at the Spring Creek Model Trains booth and played with the ProtoThrottle for about five minutes.
Based on the couple of times that I actually had my hand on a real diesel's throttle, it just felt right, so I bought one.
Some things that one needs to know when considering buying one:
I like the ProtoThrottle. Mine worked well right out of the box, adding it to an existing Digitrax setup, but I'd done some reading and already knew that it works best to put the throttle receiver board a few feet away from my LNWI receiver, and not right up against it. This saved me from making one common mistake.
The biggest part of why I bought it was to nudge me towards getting my switching layout up and running. Since most of my switchers are Kato NW2s, the decoder installations will be time-consuming projects involving considerable use of a band saw, so I may as well start now.
-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.http://www.pmhistsoc.org
I had a chance to use one at TrainFest.I thought it was fantastic. It's a bit beyond my budget, but if I could, I'd get a batch of them.I am a serious operations fan, and like to "zoom in" on the role of individual crewmen. If you hate the ideas of track switches with locks, or derails that have to be unlocked and cleared, you'd probably hate this. If you like that sort of thing, you'd love this.But not for a novice, I think.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
I like it, just on general principles and appearance. The price isn't THAT much in an era of $300 locos, although I'm not in position to run out and get one. I'd certainly test drive one if I got a chance.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
While this particular throttle is too pricey for me and tries to be authentic over ergonomic, IMO, I like the idea of different functions having differently shaped knobs.
The problem with DCC throttles is that all of the F buttons are the same, requiring some memorization and difficulty to operate just by feel. Having things like the directional controls, headlights, bell, horn or whistle knobs different from each other would be progress.
- Douglas
rrinker It clearly isn't for everyone, but this interests me a whole lot more than some fancy touch screen LCD device. With no layout currently, I'm not going to buy one tomorrow, but I do want to get one eventually. --Randy
It clearly isn't for everyone, but this interests me a whole lot more than some fancy touch screen LCD device. With no layout currently, I'm not going to buy one tomorrow, but I do want to get one eventually.
--Randy
Agreed, and judging by some people laughing and scoffing at this cool throttle, it appears to be a case of "pearls before ... " in some cases.
I don't care for a touch screen device, especially for critical controls like speed.
The very bad thing about using a smart phone with an app is you have to take your eye's off the train to see where you should position your finger to the right spot on the screen to control speed or whatever. It's too easy to make false moves using touch screens - I know this from other experiences on my smart phone.
Same as you, since I tore down my last layout a year ago and won't have one for some months, I will hold off until later; I also want to get one eventually.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
bearman I can think of other things to spend 600$ on. I am not hung up on prototypical diesel cab operation.
I can think of other things to spend 600$ on. I am not hung up on prototypical diesel cab operation.
ISE's website lists the Proto Throttle for $482, not 600.
Plus another $100 for the receiver. One for NCE/Lenz and another one for basically anything else with a wifi option (Digitrax, MRC, etc).
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker Plus another $100 for the receiver. One for NCE/Lenz and another one for basically anything else with a wifi option (Digitrax, MRC, etc). --Randy
Thanks, details matter. When people throw out a number with no explanation, it can be misleading. For other DCC systems, people usually quote just the throttle price because they may not need a receiver if they are operating at a club or are buying a 2nd throttle etc.
Anyway, for all the naysayers, ISE is sold out of the Proto Throttles so it looks like people are voting with their wallets and they are definitely serving a clientel.
I think that's the second sellout, too. I really do want one, but it's utterly useless to run back and forth on a piece of flex track clip leaded to my DCC system. I need a magic wand to wave that turns my mess of a basement into a nicely finished space with properly insulated walls and nice clean ceiling tiles to repalce the ugly paneling with no insulation and the dirty (and half removed - I got started, at least) ceiling tiles.
rrinker I think that's the second sellout, too. I really do want one, but it's utterly useless to run back and forth on a piece of flex track clip leaded to my DCC system. I need a magic wand to wave that turns my mess of a basement into a nicely finished space with properly insulated walls and nice clean ceiling tiles to repalce the ugly paneling with no insulation and the dirty (and half removed - I got started, at least) ceiling tiles. -- Randy
-- Randy
Same here. It looks like they are expected to be restocked around November.
I'm in a similar situation - basement needs finished before layout starts going up. I'm hoping to get the wall outlets done mid-late Sept and then get someone in to put in the drywall in Oct. Planning on a drop ceiling with square LED ceiling lights.
I was lucky in my last home, I had a finished basement room there and all I needed was to patch the wall in some places and paint the wall sky blue.
Probably be mid to late next year before I'm thinking about getting one of those Throttles.
See I WISH my basement looked like that, my problem is the basement IS finished - but horribly. Ugly stone and brick pattern paneling over 2x3's with no insulation, a disgustingly dirty carpet, and some equally digsustingly dirty ceiling tiles. So first I have to rip it all out, to make it look like yours, THEN add proper drywall walls. Complicating matters is that it does have heat, so i have to have that capped off and removed (to put back in on the new walls). Further complicating things is all the stuff i have down there even AFTER hauling away 2 truckoads of junk. One of these days it will get there.
riogrande5761 rrinker Plus another $100 for the receiver. One for NCE/Lenz and another one for basically anything else with a wifi option (Digitrax, MRC, etc). --Randy Thanks, details matter. When people throw out a number with no explanation, it can be misleading. For other DCC systems, people usually quote just the throttle price because they may not need a receiver if they are operating at a club or are buying a 2nd throttle etc. Anyway, for all the naysayers, ISE is sold out of the Proto Throttles so it looks like people are voting with their wallets and they are definitely serving a clientel.
At this point, all 10 that they made, probably.
Not sure if trying to be funny? There's a thread on MRH forums from an op session at a layout where they have like 5 users all with Proto Throttles.
Watch some of the videos - at least those from someone who's used it more than 10 seconds. It's pretty awesome.
Sort of funny, but a point buried in there too. Selling out of something doesn't mean its popular or even succesful. It simply means they sold all that they made.
I don't know what the market is for something like that. Out of the universe of model railroaders, I don't know how many are serious enough in the hobby to buy a $500 authentic throttle.
If its enough to make the producer money, great. But I wouldn't think of it in the same light as a hobby shop selling out of Irv Athearn's 40 foot boxcars back in the day.
Dougless. I can't take you seriously after that last post. /Done here.
I understand. Its true. I'm much less of a serious modeler than folks in clubs and over on MRH.
I'm also not a serious enough railfan to spend a lot of money having a 1:1 caboose hauled to my back yard.
To take a note froom old MRC ads - a new locomotive can improve one train, a new throttle can improve ALL your trains. There seem to be enough people willing to pay $500 for a sound/dcc loco, so I don;t see the big deal about the throttle costing $500, especially when it adds a whole new dimension to operating ALL of your locos.
Then again, the whole thing is open source hardware/open source software, so you could go ahead and try to make your own for less.
An NCE ProCab with radio has an MSRP of $250, a Digitrax DT500D radio throttle is $254. So the ProtoThrottle is 'only' the cost of 2 ordinary throttles. If you don;t already have radio, that's $250 for the ProCab plus another $160 for the RB02. Now we're getting closer. With Digitrax, it's $254 for the throttle plus $160 for the UR92.
SeeYou190 I think if I was building a small switching layout with only a first generation EMD diesel for motive power, like Model Railroader's Tar Branch project layout, this would be ideal. It really looks like the control stand from an early diesel. .
.
It's actually closer to a second generation control stand. One that's been upgraded for controlling ditch lights. Change the horn handle to a button or oversized toggle like lever and it would also be close to the current style control stand.
The brake lever, to me, looks more like the independent (engine) brake valve rather than the automatic (train) brake valve. in any case, I hope the position of the brake handle in the picture isn't supposed to be the applied position. If it is, it's backward from a real brake valve handle.
That there is no dynamic brake handle (maybe the auxilary button can simulate the switch that turned the throttle handle into the DB handle on the older engines) wouldn't bother me. My prototype didn't have DB equipped engines.
Unfortunately, I don't us DCC and don't have any plans to convert any time soon.
Jeff
Most static photos I have seen have the power lever to the right for idle, and the brake is shown all the way to the left, and comparing that to operation videos, that would be the release position, with far right the fully applied (configurable in the throttle to act as an emergency brake which comes in handy with first timers not used to the massive momentum and need to plan ahead). For decoders that support it, one of the buttons can be configured to switch the function of the lever between independent and train brake so you can move engine light with just the independent, couple to a train, and then have it act as a train brake. Of course, int he end, anything but the independent is just a simulation, because only the loco has a decoder and a motor, so you can't quite do everything exactly like the real thing.
I prefer Alcos, but it's not an Alco control stand - I can live with that. I also like Baldwins, especially the switchers. A notched control isn't even close to what they should have. But I can live with that. Maybe in another 10 years we will have multiple models for various types of locos and we can use a handheld miniature control stand that matches the actual loco we are running.
Always good to meet mr. Clueless douglas. If you knew anything about this throttle you would know they have marketed it to a niche crowd. Mainly modelers who like switching and for that group it is tremendous. You are not part of that group of modelers and there is nothing wrong with that. Enjoy what you want but don’t jump on a group you know nothing or little about. The initial order was for 150 units and before the stop date they added an additional 50 units. These were prepaid orders. They will be working on another set of advance orders. They are sold via a couple dealers and of course direct from ISE. Watch the MR video, Joe Atkinson videos on YouTube, Tim Garland on YouTube or google Protothrottle and see what is there. Not bad for one man’s idea to come to being in less than 2 years.
proud owner of a ProtoThrottle using
a ESU 7 amp CabControl system
Tom
tloc52 Always good to meet mr. Clueless douglas. If you knew anything about this throttle you would know they have marketed it to a niche crowd. Mainly modelers who like switching and for that group it is tremendous. You are not part of that group of modelers and there is nothing wrong with that. Enjoy what you want but don’t jump on a group you know nothing or little about. The initial order was for 150 units and before the stop date they added an additional 50 units. These were prepaid orders. They will be working on another set of advance orders. They are sold via a couple dealers and of course direct from ISE. Watch the MR video, Joe Atkinson videos on YouTube, Tim Garland on YouTube or google Protothrottle and see what is there. Not bad for one man’s idea to come to being in less than 2 years. proud owner of a ProtoThrottle using a ESU 7 amp CabControl system Tom
Not clueless. I thought that only a niche market would be interested, and elluded to that when someone else was impressed that they have sold all they made.
Thanks for confirming that.
tloc52Always good to meet mr. Clueless douglas.
This isn't Twitter. We are here to learn, teach and have fun. If I invented the product, no one would be posting my production numbers on an internet forum. Unless I was Elon Musk, and then, well there are no limits for his behavior.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
No problem and sorry about the clueless remark I mis read what you wrote
tom
The production numbers are a well known fact on a few other forums and the ISE website. But you are right we are here to learn.
...and I'll ignore the dig about the guys with cabooses in their back yards
IMG_3090 by Edmund, on Flickr
Happy Modeling, Ed
gmpullman ...and I'll ignore the dig about the guys with cabooses in their back yards IMG_3090 by Edmund, on Flickr Happy Modeling, Ed
Well, you are a much more serious railfan than me. I hardly get out of my car, and that's sad.
In many ways, our hobby is a collection of niches.
Ed, I love your picture. Love the caboose. Congrats! Had a chance a few years back for a Milwaukee Road caboose, in a few ways I am sorry I passed on it. My 4 year grandson just asked about the funny looking satellite dish though, I had to try to explain signals on a railroad.