Power survey

Poll Poll How do you power your outdoor trains?

  • Total voters
    46
Mobi

Mobi

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How do you power your outdoor train layout?
Please select all that apply to your layout.

This thread is all about statistics - not to discuss whether one power source is better than others because everyone has personal reasons for choosing their power source.
 
What is interesting is the high percentage of battery power users.

Way back in the 20s and 30s, when model railways were coming into the garden, a lot were battery powered, but in a different way. Large lead/acid accumulators were used to power the tracks, mainly due to the lack of suitable electrical equipment for transformer/rectifier/speed controller at more than 12 volts.
 
I'm surprised at the battery powered percentage. I could never bring myself to buy a new LGB locomotive (we all know how much they cost) to 'convert' it.
 
duncan1_9_8_4 said:
I'm surprised at the battery powered percentage. I could never bring myself to buy a new LGB locomotive (we all know how much they cost) to 'convert' it.
Click to expand...
I understand this, if buying new and not available without a decoder fitted..

But I can fit batteries, radio control, and sound for less than the cost of a top-end sound decoder.

You pays your money...

PhilP.
 
Rhinochugger said:
What is interesting is the high percentage of battery power users.

Way back in the 20s and 30s, when model railways were coming into the garden, a lot were battery powered, but in a different way. Large lead/acid accumulators were used to power the tracks, mainly due to the lack of suitable electrical equipment for transformer/rectifier/speed controller at more than 12 volts.
Click to expand...
Ah yes 1920's rectifiers. Just ask Dr Frankenstein the issues he had with his. Could never get a decent jolt from his electrode. Max

 
RDFMTS2 said:
My wife's locos are all clockwork, so you now have one vote in the last box.
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Do you have a picture of G scale clockwork loco? Never seen one nor knew that they exist.
Why no one makes them anymore? It would be good for single propelled loco like tram or handcar.
 
duncan1_9_8_4 said:
I'm surprised at the battery powered percentage. I could never bring myself to buy a new LGB locomotive (we all know how much they cost) to 'convert' it.
Click to expand...
If you are seriously considering a battery conversion a good old LGB loco would work very well, Wizzy Cranks comes instantly to mind with plenty of space inside. Though Piko diesels work very well too and come out on the cheeper end price wise. Have a look at some of my conversions in the battery thread, oh do not think about converting a Piko Railcar, these are a pig to do.
 
Mobi said:
Do you have a picture of G scale clockwork loco? Never seen one nor knew that they exist.
Why no one makes them anymore? It would be good for single propelled loco like tram or handcar.
Click to expand...
Clockwork was the thing in both 0 and 1 likely others as well in the early days and I am talking pre WW2 and a while aftr. I have just recently put a Tri-Ang 00 clockwork loco for sale via Tony Green Lincoln, dated from around 1950’s and still worked perfectly with Forward/Reverse/Stop/Go control. In later years of clockwork control mechanisms using Telephone Dial mechanisms were produced by clever modellers.
 
I see that few members indicated both track power & battery.

I can understand when someone uses battery only - no need to ensure track conductivity, so less hassle with track cleaning.

But when you are already happy with track power and conductivity is not a problem, then what benefits you get with battery?
 
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