Garden Railway Forum

Peter Lucas (of MyLocoSound) has asked me to conduct a survey on his behalf to discover what sorts of power sources you use for your locos. I assume it's so he can get some sort of feel for potential markets for his sound cards. I have no financial interest in MyLocoSound, this enquiry has arisen simply because I have been in communication with him after he asked for permission to use one of my videos on his website.

Please feel free to clarify eg over which is the most prominent source of power on your railway, whether you intend to explore a new option or whatever.....

Battery/rc and a single live steamer.

RC live steam, but I'd love a whistle sound card operated by the third channel switch. ☺

same as You, and on my wish list would be the same soundcard....

Frederic

Mostly battery power with some live steam (used to be the other way round). There may be a future experiment with compressed air if I can get some other projects out the way.

Analogue track power. But one day, live steam...

I am mostly battery (15 locos) plus one occasional live steamer.

Rik

4 Battery (petrol/diesel outline) and 1 Live Steam - hope to add a steam outline battery soon - keen to see an easy fit card/speaker for the soldering nerds like me!

Live steam for me all the way, floreat vapor!

Killian Keane wrote: ↑Sat Oct 28, 2017 9:23 pm Live steam for me all the way, floreat vapor!

A man after my own heart!

Live steam and analogue track power

Mainly steam but I am starting to see the benefits of battery as the prime mover rather than a back up.

Big Jim wrote: ↑Sun Nov 05, 2017 7:18 am Mainly steam but I am starting to see the benefits of battery as the prime mover rather than a back up.

Vivat potentia altilium

Rik

I have 2 R/C battery, one battery that i want to convert and a r/c RH Billy...want more of both...with easy fit whistle same has markoteal...

10(ish) battery "diesels"
1 Battery steam outline
2 Live steam
1 Solar powered

Johnnie2sheds wrote: ↑Mon Jan 15, 2018 6:41 pm 10(ish) battery "diesels"
1 Battery steam outline
2 Live steam
1 Solar powered

Solar powered? That sounds intriguing.

Rik

Intriguing? I prefer Frustrating OK Its on my little web blog thing, but I saw, on youtube this little fella.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfmT8yMpHNc

And I thought, If I copied the idea but made it a boxcab.....Have a look Rik. Its fairly simple stuff, most of the roof is a solar panel
but I did not account for the fact that we in England live in perpetual darkness so charging isnt brilliant to be honest.

THis is about as far as Ive got with it, it works elecrically but need finishing off. Soon.

I like the look of that. Be interested in seeing a video when you get it finished.

Just a thought, could you incorporate rechargeable batteries to change over if it runs into a shady patch - rather like solar powered garden lights?

Yass Phil, there are 8 x AA NiMh batteries. The panel charges the batteries (on two days a year)
I don't have a railway at the moment, I'm trying to flog a house and settle into something smaller.
I'd love to bore everyone with a construction thread at some point. So you might have to wait for the video

Presumably, if you leave it in the sun between running sessions, then it should get topped-up without needing to be connected to a charger. It depends on how long you leave it between sessions, maybe?

Rik