Garden Railway Forum

invicta280 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:57 am If there was no live steam option for garden rail, I would probably try an electric railway/tramway in G1 or similar using 3rd rail or catenary.
For some reason the larger the scale the less I like the idea of something pretending to be what it's not. In 2mm/3mm/4mm scales I'm quite happy to suspend belief and accept a 'steam' locomotive powered by electric. I would expect everything on an N scale layout to be electric; different art form.

I've been mulling this idea over. One of my other interests is visiting narrow gauge and miniature railways and I must confess that if a miniature railway is running a i/c powered steam outline loco I am not as impressed as if it is live steam. So clearly I have a cut-off point as to the scale at which I will accept a model steam loco as having to be steam powered. Thinking about it though, for me, if the driver actually sits in or behind the steam loco and drives it (and fires it), then it would have to be live steam. When it is smaller and the 'driver' is remote from the loco - then I can tolerate a model steam loco being powered by other means. Clearly for others such as yourself, this level of toleration is much lower.

I'm pleased to see that Slomo has been developed for 16mm steam locos as it means they now have the means of running more realistically. I do accept that some 16 millers are extremely adept at operating their non-Slomo locos at scale speeds but from my experience and from various videos I've seen on Youtube, this seems to be the exception rather than the rule. For me, shunting (switching) and slow running are essential components of my railway operating experience.

Interesting that Dwayne says that electric power is the accepted norm for garden railways across the pond. I believe this is also the case in Oz and NZ though Graeme and Grant my argue otherwise. Not sure what the situation is in Continental Europe, but I suspect electric power predominates. I wonder why UK garden railway modellers are less tolerant of electric power than in other parts of the world. Curious........

Rik

I think some people just get at kick out of seeing a train at full speed. Personally, I like mine to move really slow.

I agree 'each to their own' -as someone who now dabbles (well I'm just building my first two battery powered steam locos) in all 3 areas under discussion, I like having the options that all 3 routes offer - depends on my mood what I run and how I run it

At the end of the day, we all run on the same tracks (well give or take 13mm) and want to enjoy doing so as a hobby, whether we are operators, builders or dabblers!

Perhaps those that run in circles in the garden are getting the operational side from elsewhere, an indoor smaller scale layout perhaps.

ge_rik wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:15 pm Interesting that Dwayne says that electric power is the accepted norm for garden railways across the pond. I believe this is also the case in Oz and NZ though Graeme and Grant my argue otherwise.

I help a friend with his sales stand at exhibitions and from what I see the most common garden railway in Aust. is probably track powered LGB. Live steam would be a minority if the relative size of the sales stands is any indication.

It's hard to know for sure. Most Aust modellers fly under the radar, especially if they have a garden railway. Too many dropkicks around.........

Regards,
Graeme

ge_rik wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:15 pm I wonder why UK garden railway modellers are less tolerant of electric power than in other parts of the world. Curious........

From this distance, steam seems to be something of a religion to some people in the UK. If any adherents are true believers, that's what happens............

For what it's worth my son and I run both live steam locos, electric shunters and a railbus. We love the initial faffing, just like the real thing, with the steamers. While they are boiling up we will make up a train or two with a shunter and send the railbus off with the first service of the day. The made up trains will then be collected by the steamers. As for rolling stock, that's just as important to us otherwise there would be nothing to shunt and you might just as well run light engine everywhere and what would be the point of that?

We shall enjoy it even more when we get the layout finished too.

One thing I just though of: Are there any RTR R/C battery electric steam outline locos available? I don't know of any, only diesels.

Busted Bricks wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2018 9:55 pm One thing I just though of: Are there any RTR R/C battery electric steam outline locos available? I don't know of any, only diesels.

Accucraft provide some electric versions of their live steamers but they are quite pricey

https://www.track-shack.com/acatalog/16 ... tives.html

Rik

Are they battery R/C though?

Rik, I hope you're not going through a midlife crisis!! or in railway terms, facing a double slip that leads to a multi track turntable!
Grant.
PS but thanks for initiating this great insight into the thinking of garden railway modellers.

Oh lol, even the forums don't like electric
It's down in lowly 3rd place...

Busted Bricks wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:30 pm Are they battery R/C though?

No, I think, unlike some of their diesel outline locos which are available as battery or track powered, the steam outline locos are track power only, which does seem like a strange omission. Mind you, they charge an extra £300 for the battery r/c version which seems to me to be somewhat excessive.

I reckon each of my steam outline locos cost me around £120 to construct, which includes the batteries and the r/c (around 1/10 of the cost of one of the Accucraft electric locos) and a basic transmitter would be £20 - £30 more. Mind you, my electric mice are plastic rather than metal - basically because I don't have the skills or tools to work in metal.

Rik

LNR wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:55 pm Rik, I hope you're not going through a midlife crisis!! or in railway terms, facing a double slip that leads to a multi track turntable!
Grant.
PS but thanks for initiating this great insight into the thinking of garden railway modellers.

No, Grant, just curious, I suppose. When I planned my garden railway, I devised a tick list of what I wanted it to do (eg a complete light railway system, end to end but with a continuous loop, shunting and slow running, etc) and it had to be affordable. I've found that battery electric has been the only way for me to tick all those boxes. I appreciate that we all have our own priorities (and loves) for our railways but for me, live steam doesn't seem to tick many boxes.

Maybe the question is bigger than just "Why Live Steam" as Graeme implies in one of his posts. Perhaps I should start another thread "What do you want from your garden railway?" or something similar.

Rik

BTW - I don't like the expression 'electric mice' - mine are bigger, more like electric ferrets; no they are more ponderous, electric tortoises maybe rather than electric hares.........

Rik

Hello everyone, an interesting thread for my first post.

I have an Electric Accucraft Lew and converted it to battery remote control, the battery is in the boiler and electronics underneath the cab. Yes, it is expensive but I'm really pleased with it. I have an electronics background and zero mechanical skills so I'm happy to buy ready to run locos and add the remote control.

For me, it is my layout that has influenced my preference for electric over steam. Despite the addition of 2 tons of topsoil and a 40cm high wall at one end, my layout is mostly on an incline and very challenging for my Accucraft Steam Lyn even with remote control. I get a maximum of 15 minutes running and it needs constant watching.

I therefore mostly use my electric Lew. The sight of it, with coaches, slowly climbing up an incline is realistic enough for me. If I had a completely flat layout it might be different.

Michael

Welcome to the forum Micheal,
It would be great to see some pictures of your works and a write up of how you did it.

BTW - I don't like the expression 'electric mice' - mine are bigger, more like electric ferrets; no they are more ponderous, electric tortoises maybe rather than electric hares.........

Rik

How about an electric Rat?

Arrived here late, busy moving junior is my excuse. As Rik has said - a thread this length in 48 hours! I don't think I have anything new to add. If I want to operate I would go rc battery and the steamers for fun. That's just my way of working.

I don't believe deep down that anyone looks down on any other modeller or type of modelling. Sometimes we tread a lonely path but that's what makes this forum interesting.

PS can't explain why I like steam but Jim's explanation is probably close.

Big Jim wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:12 pm

BTW - I don't like the expression 'electric mice' - mine are bigger, more like electric ferrets; no they are more ponderous, electric tortoises maybe rather than electric hares.........

Rik

How about an electric Rat?

I did consider 'electric rats', but the PR image of this particular rodent is not that good. I think the term 'electric mice' is often used in the 16mm world scathingly rather than affectionately and so felt, if I was going to embrace the concept, I needed to somehow project a more positive impression. I do regard my battery powered progeny with considerable paternal affection and respect and so would like to find a suitable sobriquet.

Rik

Southern188 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:45 am Hello everyone, an interesting thread for my first post.

I have an Electric Accucraft Lew and converted it to battery remote control, the battery is in the boiler and electronics underneath the cab. Yes, it is expensive but I'm really pleased with it. I have an electronics background and zero mechanical skills so I'm happy to buy ready to run locos and add the remote control.

For me, it is my layout that has influenced my preference for electric over steam. Despite the addition of 2 tons of topsoil and a 40cm high wall at one end, my layout is mostly on an incline and very challenging for my Accucraft Steam Lyn even with remote control. I get a maximum of 15 minutes running and it needs constant watching.

I therefore mostly use my electric Lew. The sight of it, with coaches, slowly climbing up an incline is realistic enough for me. If I had a completely flat layout it might be different.

Michael

Welcome, Michael
I think you can see from the posts generally that this forum is a broad church and so all forms of motive power are welcomed and admired in equal measure.

Fascinated already by your experiences with your battery powered Lew. Like you, my mechanical skills are negligible and so the majority of my locos use commercial motor blocks, which is one of the main reasons I use 45mm gauge (but also because I love 3' gauge railways - (and 2'6" or 2'9")). A pity there aren't more readymade mechs for 32mm.

Like you, I find battery powered locos are less needy than live steam so more time can be spent operating or just sitting back and watching. Love to see some pictures or video.

Rik