Need battery power and RC conversion help…

[EJA_SHAY_1995]

Good day fellow members. I need help/suggestions/pointers regarding converting track power to battery/RC power. This will be a long post, so please bear with me. Thank you. I built my current garden layout in 1995. After the children grew up and lost interest in playing with trains I essentially abandoned the train and let Nature have her way with the right of way. Fast forward to 2026 and I am now in the process of restoring my railroad. Which brings me to the point of this post: I want, no, I NEED, to change to battery power. There are a number of reasons, like my neighbor’s messy trees (planted after I built my railroad) shedding leaves all over a portion of my train track. But the principal reason is that I am getting to the point where spending hours cleaning track is no longer fun. I have two LGB Moguls, an Uintah 51 Mallet snd Lake George Forney. These are the locos that I use the most. I also have a couple of ALCO diesels and a Santa Fe FA-B-A convo. But I do not use these as much (actually rarely). So with that in mind. I need recommendations on how to best achieve my objectives. Which is the best battery and RC system. Which is the easiest to install? Which is the best value for the money. I really appreciate your reading this and all of your suggestions. Many thanks!

 

[DickyC]

The Piko Systems are really easy to install from experience, but its not that cheap. 35042 R/C Loco Receiver

 

[PhilP]

Have a word with Del Tapparo at:

G-Scale Graphics

Custom Vinyl Lettering and Electronics for Garden Railroading

www.gscalegraphics.net

PhilP.

 

[Moonraker]

I agree, Del Tapparo at G Scale Graphics has everything you need at sensible prices and is likely to be very helpful.

Regards
Peter Lucas

 

[dunnyrail]

As in UK there are plenty of options your side of the pond, some already mentioned. A Google search should find you some more. But the Piko one is a good starting point and not as expensive as some systems are. Have a good look through the Battery Power section if the forum where plenty of conversions are shown including some of mine with reviews if the Piko and Crest systems.

 

[maxi-model]

This forum's membership is mostly British, you may find US based forums more useful as their membership will give you a clearer idea of what is available there. I have been a member here Large Scale Central for some years and have found it very useful as I am mostly an operator of Accucraft and Bachmann US stock, in 1:20.3 scale, and US market control and air powered switching equipment. That's not to say we don't have our fair share of North American members here. I'm on my 8th battery conversion now, I still need to ask a lot of questions.