New loco from Accucraft GVT Tram loco

[Sea Lion]

Polarity switch so you can double head with either of the locos turned round to face the other way, inside out, or back to front they face each other.

Off switch I suppose so it can sit on a very basically wired analogue set up without going anywhere while something else runs?

J

 

[pghewett]

@rhinochugger - well, of course, if we all had DCC or could be bothered to wire up our layouts as separate sections (I estimated I'd need 54 of these) and could find somewhere to house the relevant switch panel and .... then we could all have a fully-sectioned layout. As it is I don't buy Accu electrics because the only way of "switching them off" is to put them aside. For those who are offended by that or less thick than me, they can always leave them switched on...

GH

 

[funandtrains]

It seems a bit of an odd move to make in non-gauge adjustable and the live steam version to have reversing valve gear when all the moving parts are hidden and the cab is not that easy to reach into.

 

[Sea Lion]

It's a fair point, it's easy for anyone who doesn't like switches to simply refrain from touching one that is there, whereas for someone else it is slightly problematical using one that isn't there!

J

As it is I don't buy Accu electrics because the only way of "switching them off" is to put them aside. For those who are offended by that or less thick than me, they can always leave them switched on...

GH

 

[Hugh Napier]

It seems a bit of an odd move to make in non-gauge adjustable and the live steam version to have reversing valve gear when all the moving parts are hidden and the cab is not that easy to reach into.

Oh I don't know, with the very open fronted style of cab a reversing lever should be easy enough to arrange for finger-tip control and presumably there is masses of space for fitting R/C and all its gubbins. I think the issue with the 'either/or' gauge choice is because these locos are pretty narrow and accommodating outside cylinders probably means having inside frames rather than the usual Accucraft outside frame/sliding wheels combo.

Hugh

 

[funandtrains]

It seems a bit of an odd move to make in non-gauge adjustable and the live steam version to have reversing valve gear when all the moving parts are hidden and the cab is not that easy to reach into.

Oh I don't know, with the very open fronted style of cab a reversing lever should be easy enough to arrange for finger-tip control and presumably there is masses of space for fitting R/C and all its gubbins. I think the issue with the 'either/or' gauge choice is because these locos are pretty narrow and accommodating outside cylinders probably means having inside frames rather than the usual Accucraft outside frame/sliding wheels combo.

Hugh

If the width is an issue a steam motor might of been a better option since it can't be seen which could simply be swapped for an electric motor for the electric version. Doesn't the new US Accucraft loco "Dora" have a steam motor which could be used?

 

[Hugh Napier]

Having had a good look under Dora at the 16mm show it has clearly been designed for 45mm gauge only, which is a shame because the steam motor itself is a fine piece of work. The market in the UK demands 32mm gauge as well so Accucraft are using some of their existing components to keep costs down.

Hugh

 

[funandtrains]

Having had a good look under Dora at the 16mm show it has clearly been designed for 45mm gauge only, which is a shame because the steam motor itself is a fine piece of work. The market in the UK demands 32mm gauge as well so Accucraft are using some of their existing components to keep costs down.

Hugh

It is a pity that Accucraft UK and US don't co-operate more when developing new designs. The US now seem to of improved their basic locos with the larger UK cylinders but I don't know why UK don't use the US electric chassis components.

 

[Rhinochugger]

@rhinochugger - well, of course, if we all had DCC or could be bothered to wire up our layouts as separate sections (I estimated I'd need 54 of these) and could find somewhere to house the relevant switch panel and .... then we could all have a fully-sectioned layout. As it is I don't buy Accu electrics because the only way of "switching them off" is to put them aside. For those who are offended by that or less thick than me, they can always leave them switched on...

GH

Ah, that's the problem you see, I'm a simpleton. No DCC here, but one passing loop and one spur, both of which are electrically isolated.

The issue on a Keep It Simple Stupid railway is where to locate the track isolating switches so that you don't have miles of cable draped around the garden, and mine are in an IP65 switch box lurking under the water tower

But polarity, it doesn't matter if one loco's reversed, it'll still go in the same track direction as one facing forwards.