Is there a commercially available end of train device with these characteristics: (1) battery powered, (3) would fit into the vestibule of an HO model of a heavy-weight passenger car, and (3) could be readily transferred from one rear-end car (which would vary depending on train make-up) to another? I’m most concerned about the battery size. Of course, the light (hopefully LED) would be mounted on a safety gate. Thanks.
If the cars are already lighted (or at least have metal wheels with power pickups) then you might want to install permanent lights and a magnetic reed switch you can control with a wand. If all you need is a LED, a resistor and a few inches of wire, then the cost is minimal beyond the reed switch. www.allelectronics.com has the reed switches at 2 for a dollar. You could equip your whole fleet for the cost of a decent pizza.