Joey, what a great video! Steve is an innovative guy, and I like how he's solved a lot of the challenges to make Dead Rail work for his little locomotives. This has me wanting to give it a try, with some rickety uneven track that is truly a model itself, rather than a clean, polished conductor to power the trains. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Verne, this is a really interesting time in the hobby and I never thought I would be interested in battery power, but wow, yes Steve has really done a lot with it. I am thinking of building that rickety track diorama I have in my mind where my 3 truck shay runs down through a small stream on a logging line - with no problems!
Very helpful video, look forward to learning more. But it was also a treat to see the SG&S in motion. I've seen lots of stills, and it was the first real On30 "Empire" that I can recall, but it's great to see video of the layout and its creator.
I would just have a section of track that the engine would go to when it detected the battery was low. You could use a micro controller like a arduino to control that. You could use a inductive electromagnet coil to recharge them.
Hi, very nice. Have you considered using pickups from the rails to charge the battery continuously. Assuming you had A/C on the rails you would need to add a 4 diode full wave rectifier and a DC regulator. You would only need to power up straight sections and sidings and any dirty sections of track would just reduce the charge rate. This way you wouldn't need such a large capacity battery, and you could add running lights etc all powered by the battery. Reverse lops would be unpowered. That way you could dispense with your charge plugs.
I am looking into it at the moment Pat, there are systems that do this, however, if you are looking at running outside, or you hate track wiring (because honestly, I hate it) I really want to do away with any power in the track. You can make your batteries "hot swappable" as they recharge depending on your loco, you don't have to pull the loco off to charge if you don't want to. its going to depend on the loco. I am looking at a large scale, like how Woodie Green did with his layout in Texas, using 1:35n2.. (HO gauge track to replicate 2 foot sale line). lots of room, and it uses On30 and HO scale mechs.. However it can work in H.O scale, they can pack in a battery, a sound card, speakers, voltage step up to 12 volt and run it all off remote control. New motors draw less current, so run better, but the older girls still run fine as well. You can do a simple test loco hack, using a cheap remote race car toy, and a small loco..
It's taken me a long time to reconcile what I want with whatI need. Until I turned my track plan upside down, then it all fell into place. Nex month I'll be ordering MR-01 backdrops for my layout.
Can't wait until this is main stream with sound and lighting in N scale. Dirty track really takes away from enjoyment of running and maintaining. Could you not charge/topup the trains from a powered section of track, either parked in a siding or even as they are running?
A couple ideas : Why not have an isolated track which the loco rolls onto, no power in this track. Then the engine via its metal wheels recharges the battery when juice on in the rails. This of course would be located at RR shops/roundhouse or anywhere. But why do all this battery install/conversion when, for way less $ add 'stay alive' to all you loco motors. I wouldn't want battery if we have to forfeit sound.. And, just because it is battery powered we're still stuck with whatever quality motor, side rod quality and sheer rolling ability they've always had. Finally, just like how Kadees became commonplace on near every MRR equipment, I think eventually everything will come 'DCC/sound/Keep Alive/On Board'. Don't get me wrong. If battery WERE to evolve to where ALL is taken care of, all the same bells and whistles as DCC, that WOULD be the ultimate, recharging at the engine house , say... Finally will battery be able to power a Big Boy or even an RS3 with 25 cars in tow, and for how long ?
I know this is an old thread, but The Dead Rail Society has a new web site. www.deadrailsociety.com We are trying to cover all things BPRC. We are not selling anything. Just promoting this part of the hobby.
Fantastic. Very exciting. Thanks for sharing.
I like it, sounds like the way to go for my 1:29th.
Thanks for sharing the video. 👍👍
Joey, what a great video! Steve is an innovative guy, and I like how he's solved a lot of the challenges to make Dead Rail work for his little locomotives. This has me wanting to give it a try, with some rickety uneven track that is truly a model itself, rather than a clean, polished conductor to power the trains. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Verne, this is a really interesting time in the hobby and I never thought I would be interested in battery power, but wow, yes Steve has really done a lot with it. I am thinking of building that rickety track diorama I have in my mind where my 3 truck shay runs down through a small stream on a logging line - with no problems!
I like it! And boy has the SG&S changed since I last saw it!
THANK YOU FOR DETAIL VIDEO ARE GOOD TO WATCH AND SEE NEW THINGS AND NEW DETAIL
Very helpful video, look forward to learning more. But it was also a treat to see the SG&S in motion. I've seen lots of stills, and it was the first real On30 "Empire" that I can recall, but it's great to see video of the layout and its creator.
A planned video is going to be a tour style video of Steve's Shady Grove & Sherrill Railroad. I have a few others in mind as well.
That would be great! Some of us don't get out of the layout room very often.
I would just have a section of track that the engine would go to when it detected the battery was low. You could use a micro controller like a arduino to control that. You could use a inductive electromagnet coil to recharge them.
Hi, very nice. Have you considered using pickups from the rails to charge the battery continuously. Assuming you had A/C on the rails you would need to add a 4 diode full wave rectifier and a DC regulator. You would only need to power up straight sections and sidings and any dirty sections of track would just reduce the charge rate. This way you wouldn't need such a large capacity battery, and you could add running lights etc all powered by the battery. Reverse lops would be unpowered. That way you could dispense with your charge plugs.
I am looking into it at the moment Pat, there are systems that do this, however, if you are looking at running outside, or you hate track wiring (because honestly, I hate it) I really want to do away with any power in the track. You can make your batteries "hot swappable" as they recharge depending on your loco, you don't have to pull the loco off to charge if you don't want to. its going to depend on the loco. I am looking at a large scale, like how Woodie Green did with his layout in Texas, using 1:35n2.. (HO gauge track to replicate 2 foot sale line). lots of room, and it uses On30 and HO scale mechs.. However it can work in H.O scale, they can pack in a battery, a sound card, speakers, voltage step up to 12 volt and run it all off remote control. New motors draw less current, so run better, but the older girls still run fine as well. You can do a simple test loco hack, using a cheap remote race car toy, and a small loco..
It's taken me a long time to reconcile what I want with whatI need. Until I turned my track plan upside down, then it all fell into place. Nex month I'll be ordering MR-01 backdrops for my layout.
I love trains and this is fav
Do you have a link for the batteries you are using and the charger outlet jacks?
Can't wait until this is main stream with sound and lighting in N scale. Dirty track really takes away from enjoyment of running and maintaining. Could you not charge/topup the trains from a powered section of track, either parked in a siding or even as they are running?
A couple ideas : Why not have an isolated track which the loco rolls onto, no power in this track. Then the engine via its metal wheels recharges the battery when juice on in the rails. This of course would be located at RR shops/roundhouse or anywhere. But why do all this battery install/conversion when, for way less $ add 'stay alive' to all you loco motors. I wouldn't want battery if we have to forfeit sound.. And, just because it is battery powered we're still stuck with whatever quality motor, side rod quality and sheer rolling ability they've always had. Finally, just like how Kadees became commonplace on near every MRR equipment, I think eventually everything will come 'DCC/sound/Keep Alive/On Board'. Don't get me wrong. If battery WERE to evolve to where ALL is taken care of, all the same bells and whistles as DCC, that WOULD be the ultimate, recharging at the engine house , say... Finally will battery be able to power a Big Boy or even an RS3 with 25 cars in tow, and for how long ?
Can you please tell me how to get ahold of this gentleman?? I have several questions I need answered. Thanks so much>>>>>
Tutorial??
N scale?
Gigahertz not GigaBytes... Battery power is neat, but no sound=no deal for me personally. I prefer other systems that support sound.
I missed the name of the system you are using. Can you sent me a reference to your system.
www.deltang.co.uk/trains.htm
That would be 2.4 gigaherz , not gigabytes
I know this is an old thread, but The Dead Rail Society has a new web site.
www.deadrailsociety.com
We are trying to cover all things BPRC. We are not selling anything. Just promoting this part of the hobby.