What does an engine "need" in it?

I am sorry gentlemen, but there are a couple of remarks that I need to address.

My cranky post was a result of your “Paul you need to go DCC!!!” comment on page 1. As you are well aware our club abandoned track power back in the early ‘90s and will NEVER go back. And I bet if you ask around there are a lot of people that feel the same way.



Your remark “I'm not shilling for any manufacturer, and I'm not using any free stuff from one.” is way out of line. My description of the installation of the new Train Engineer was not a sales pitch, but a factual description of the installation in my GP-40. It was posted here, even though I knew I would have to take a lot of flack from you, because it is new and a lot of people would be interested in finding out as much about as they can. It is no more a sales pitch than you lengthy thread on the new QSI USA Trains socket.

In your thread you stated, “I have never asked for any free stuff” and neither did I. In my post I stated “I was very surprised when UPS showed up at my door with it.” The difference between the two the threads are that no one dismembered the QSI post trying to pick fault with the product. We all know you have a big hate on for Aristo-Craft and we know why. Give a rest! It’s getting real stale.

As for DCC, I am going to try it, but with battery power. I mentioned about purchasing the components in several different threads.



As a matter of fact I began the QSI installation in my GP-40 a number of months back and started writing an article about it for our web site. But when I was received the new TE to test, I put it aside as many others have already covered AirWire/QSI installations, and I knew people would be more interested in something new.

http://ovgrs.editme.com/Geep40w

Back to the topic at hand, I can see advantages to both the plain and simple approach and to the complex approach. I've stripped a bunch of locos down to two leads to track power, and two leads for motor, and leads for lights. I cans see where, especially if you run batteries, you want control over what goes on when, because you want to control battery drain. Makes sense. Smoke generators are a gimmick, mostly--people smile in delight when they see it, and I turn them on for that reason, but they aren't all that effective. I like having a few to run, but they aren't essential for me. I can definitely see where battery guys want nothing in there but the motor.




But I just bought an aristo Rs-3, and I have to say when it works (and I've had it not work), the PnP socket is just great. I dropped a 75mhz reciever in there and I'm off. I can switch to batteries if I want to without tearing the loco down, I can easily turn the lights and the smoke on or off. I have a QSI card on order, and then I can control those functions remotely (except smoke). So what's not to like? Unless you really enjoy digging in and tearing everything out, you can shut off the battery draining functions at will. That's all good. Is it adding a lot of cost? I would bet no--circuit boards are cheap to produce, relatively speaking, and automatable


BobGrosh ahs a nice discussion going on about DCC can really do, and he makes a god point that you want more in there--that a large scale train can be way "smarter" than it is now, that it can easily catch up with cell phones. He has some very interesitng ideas, and if he's right, then aristo's new TE system is a dead end. And you can do DCC with batteries--hello, Airwire. Airwire gives you all the functionality of DCC on battery or track power


So I'm in favor of havng more in there and more PnP.

RE: What does an engine "need" in it?

I do not use smoke, so I don’t really need it in a loco, but I don’t mind removing it as others love smoke. I do like isolation switches for smoke and motors.

I do not care for fancy electronics, as I will remove it when I install a DCC decoder. As not all will want to install a control system it should have constant headlights, ditch lights… which work on standard DC track power.

I do not see the value of Bachmann Super Socket. Maybe a compromise to the BSS would be to wire everything back to a terminal strip (I believe some manufactures do this in large scale already?).

I do like sprung drivers. The gearing and other mechanics should be well made, save money of electronics and put it into the mechanics of the loco. Ask yourself this, what’s worse, a locomotive which won’t pull a decent length train at the risk of stripping a gear or one that does not have a glowing fire box?

I think I like sound, a prevision for a speaker is a must, but I’ll purchase the speaker and sound unit. I don’t want to manufacture wasting my money on a cheap unit which I will throw away. A sound cam is a must for steamers, as don’t want factory sound, I think the starting of a cam on a driving axle is good enough, maybe just a drum with spots to install magnets??? Or I would mind if they installed the magnets and reed switch, then all I would need to do it wire the contacts of the reed to the sound unit.

I guess in summary, I like things simply, I believe fancy electronics add points of failure to locomotives. Save money on electronics and put it into mechanics. I believe a locomotive which runs and pulls well are much better then one which has all he bells and whistles.

WOW...

This thread has given me a real ride on emotions.

From the outside and not wrapped up in any one system I must say that ALL of them are GOOD. I sincerely think that no one system is the ultimate solution.


My solution and choice comes from simply a personal approach. The intellectual discussions here are something that are astounding for a simple "hobby".


Keep up the challenging questions and arguments as we will all learn. Now for personality issues, welcome to empathy and dedication to a very serious hobby. I have been involved in others... nothing like this.


We are human. Rejoice in this.

35 years in the sales business and I can really appreciate the direction of the commentaries.


Thank you all for your input on this forum...

Gavin

RE: What does an engine "need" in it?

Paul, just to set the record straight, I was talking about MYSELF about shilling for anyone (QSI I have been accused of, and NCE too), and also it was about MYSELF about accepting free stuff. I'm sorry I did not do a good job about making sure that you did not take me literally.

Those statements were meant literally... many people think I get free stuff.. the only 2 things I have ever gotten free/accepted were 2 things that do not work, one a grease that destroys plastic, and the other, a power supply that does not work. I did not request either, but I'm not paying the shipping to send them back!

I do not request special discounts, and have refused them when offered. I do not want to be "owing" anyone.


Regards, Greg

p.s. on topic, for track powered locos, I want a good and consistent power pickup system, and no sliders, and I also want "battery" connections that are completely isolated from every wheel.

Posted By TonyWalsham on 01/16/2009 5:34 PM
Posted By NTCGRR on 01/16/2009 5:00 PM
Chuck
I think working sanders is very important in winter.


What a great idea.

However, I cannot imagine a track powered loco would be able to pick up any power once the track was sanded.

That leaves only one viable power source, Batt............


Wrong, oh mighty thinkers of the Garden Railroad World. Battery power would not be the only form of usable power. If one can develop working sanders, one could develop Miniature Diesel engines and generators. Just as "live steam" is a viable area of our hobby, why can't "live Diesal" become usable.

Bill

RE: What does an engine "need" in it?

Well, several people have made a fuel powered motor turn a generator, I've seen the videos.

I wonder how fine sand could be to not turn into a powder?

Well, if it can be made, it seems that MTH will do it!

(the traction idea reminds me of the old "magna traction" on my lionel F unit.

Regards, Greg