I posted a “cabride” video on Youtube of my G scale layout. Here’s the link if anyone’s interested.
I wish YouTube didn’t compress the video so much. I have a much better quality and larger sized original, but unfortunately my own website can’t handle the file size.
Very nice! WHat kinda sound are you using? Is the layout DC or DCC?
That was very nice. I wish that I had that much room! [:)]
How long were those bridges? Did you make them yourself?
Sound is Phoenix Big Sound 2K2 using the sound called DRGW. I run battery power using CVP Products Airwire 900 for control. So it’s sort of like DCC, just powered by battery. The consist for this run was an LGB mogul pushing a gondola camera car.
The bridges are each 6 feet long. I wish I could make something like them myself. They were custom manufactured by Eaglewings Iron Craft. Here’s a photo of what the bridges look like from the side:
Cool. How do you like the battery power? Does it last a long time before needing to be recharged?
That is a great layout, Matt. The setting is beautiful. Very lifelike.
I love battery power. The charge lasts surprisingly long, and it doesn’t take super long to recharge. It helps when you have more than one battery powered loco. This way one can be charging while the other is in use.
Jonathan Bliese of Electric Model Works has done all of my battery conversions.
That is one heck of a bridge you got there. It really grabbed my attention.
Great video. This is a really great way to show a layout. What video system are you using?
Rex
I used a Sony HD Handycam. I put the camcorder into a gondola, tie a rubber band around the car and camcorder and push it along.
Our old Sony handycam (Hi8) worked perfectly in the gondola. But the new HD camcorder is smaller. So I had to put some foam in the bottom of the gondola to prop up the camera. Otherwise the lens would be too low and partially blocked by the end of the gondola. The gondola, by the way, is by Hartland modified with Bachmann metal wheels and Kadee couplers.
Thats nice, I too wish I had that kind of room.
Its an out and back layout, do you plan to add a second reverse loop at the start/finish side?
Great layout! Nice forest.
Are there turnaround loops at both ends or just one end? At the end of the video I was curious how it gets turned around.
There’s a turntable off to the left at the end of the video.
I uncouple the locomotive, clear the switch you see at the end of the video, back into the turntable, turn around and come out on the track where the passenger train is parked. Then couple back up to the train and head out the other way.
Thanks for sharing that Matt, very nice indeed and in a perfect setting.
Hi,
Indeed a great pleasure watching the video of your railroad. It certainly is magnificent. I can see why you have opted for battery power: the ROW length and those pines. [;)]
Thanks for sharing with us.
“The charge lasts surprisingly long…” Could you be a tad more specific? About what does a good battery conversion run, give or take? Thanks for putting up with all the questions.
A charge should last for 4 hours of continuous running, although I’ve never come close to this limit. On my typical half hour (or less) a day running I can get a charge to last for close to 2 weeks. It also depends on how long and how heavy the trains are.
The conversions are not cheap. However I get sound, RC, and long life batteries all professionally installed. They typically run $800 or more. Essentially the price of a nice locomotive. So we end up having less locomotives due to cost, but you really can only run 2 at the same time on a single track line, and maybe a switcher in the yards.
DAMMIT man! Do they really run that long? That’s a pretty good deal for the money. I was thinkin more like the conventional 15 or 20 minutes thing. Thanks.
Say matt,
I really enjoyed your video, and have appriciated your taking the time to answer a lot of questions for different ones here, I choose to run mid 50’s and 60’s prototypical American equipment. The huge steamers and transition into the diesel streamliner passenger trains, quite often upwards of 4 multi engined/motored diesels, pulling up to 40 /50 freight cars. I run a lot of the Aristo and USA rolling stock and engines, and American prototypes in LGB passengers and engines.
My big question here is----has anyone tried, say the Airwire system with battery power to try and run something of the magnitude of a rail line, that I am running, with any success…I note that you say that it is quite expensive to set up an engine as you have. And just what would it maybe take to operate up to 4 engines together on a line set up similar to yours.
Would it even be cost effective ??? Could it even be done ?? Just curious here.
Say Robert,
Do you happen to have any input you could offer me here also…on my questions about power options and choices…??
Byron