How many of you really like running AC? Nothing fancy just basic 3R railroading with full hands on operation. Your observations are encouraged here
Dave, LBR
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How many of you really like running AC? Nothing fancy just basic 3R railroading with full hands on operation. Your observations are encouraged here
Dave, LBR
Replies sorted oldest to newest
For me, lots of reasons.
But it's kind of like going to the movies today and seeing all the special effects. And they are impressive, no doubt. But then I watch an old black and white movie, and sometimes those movies are more effective without all the special effects. There's something to be said for things left to the imagination.
I know I'm in the minority view on this forum, but I can guarantee I enjoy the hobby as much as anyone else without trying to keep up with the latest trends. I've learned to repaint and scratchbuild, and I do the whole thing on a budget.
Or to make another analogy, for me, it's like fine arts painting. There's photo-realism where you try to recreate a scene down to every last precise detail. And then there's impressionism, where you're creating a representation of the real thing... an impression.
That's exactly how I view my trains. But like the art world, different techniques and different results, yet it all works. And ultimately, it's the same picture, just seen differently.
For me, lots of reasons.
But it's kind of like going to the movies today and seeing all the special effects. And they are impressive, no doubt. But then I watch an old black and white movie, and sometimes those movies are more effective without all the special effects. There's something to be said for things left to the imagination.
I know I'm in the minority view on this forum, but I can guarantee I enjoy the hobby as much as anyone else without trying to keep up with the latest trends. I've learned to repaint and scratchbuild, and I do the whole thing on a budget.
Or to make another analogy, for me, it's like fine arts painting. There's photo-realism where you try to recreate a scene down to every last precise detail. And then there's impressionism, where you're creating a representation of the real thing... an impression.
That's exactly how I view my trains. But like the art world, different techniques and different results, yet it all works. And ultimately, it's the same picture, just seen differently.
Amen to imagination. A lot of that has gone by the way side with all of the hi-tech now days.
Dave, LBR
Toy trains from the postwar era are my cup of tea; the new technology is wonderful, but I prefer an ease of operation and an ease of mechanical repair.
I like the above parallel to art, personally Rembrandt and Rothko are my favorites.
enjoy your trains...
I run conventional, TMCC, and DCS. I generally prefer the more realistic operation of command control, but playing with a transformer is fun too. I built my layout with an inner loop that is set up for lots of postwar-style accessories, and while it's set up for command, I often run postwar-style conventional equipment on that loop, because it's more like the original experience. I'd forgotten how fussy a job it was to line up a piggyback car with the platform until I tried it on the new layout. An e-unit and a high threshold voltage make fine movements a challenge!
Dave,
I have never ran the newer stuff. My last layouts were powered with Lionel Z Type. The vintage Std Gauge will not run on the newer low power transformers. This does not mean that I do not like watching the newer tinplate trains run.
I have two layouts set up with the former dining room being for my layout that does Legacy/TMCC/DCS/Conventional with an elevated loop of O31 and the table track being Fastrack. My second layout is a portable O27 layout in the living room that I use a KW to run trains. There are many days after work I will just plug in the KW and run something then to bed since my work days start pretty early.
I'm strictly conventional AC. At train shows I see the operators fumbling with remotes. There are so many questions here on the control systems by puzzled members. There is the high cost of the new technology. I have no desire to "upgrade", as I just know I'd be frustrated by all of it.
I grew up with conventional trains in O gauge and like them better then the ones with all the fancy electronics in them. I have 2 pre war trains that were my dad's, the only thing I do is regular lubrication and other maintenance, so far so good except for the 224E as the E-unit went bad so I bought a re-built one and put it in and works great now.
I have some Williams engines, all before the Bachmann/Williams era. The only thing I did to any of them was to replace the circuit board as one didn't start the way I wanted it to.
I have bought a few MTH PS-2 engines and have the DCS command control system.
The problem with the DCS unit is that you need to update it for newer engines. Even the PS-2 engines need to have the battery charged up.
I would rather have conventional engines that have good pulling power then all the newest electronic gadgets.
Lee Fritz
Alone, I push the handles.
Company however is more impressed with command. It also lets me chat and still have control over the trains.
Strictly running trains with my ZWs. I don't need the technology interfering with my nostalgia--its swell to be 10 again.
Scotie
I still have some older transformers like the post war Z, ZW, KW and an RW. All four work great, except that I keep my newer engines off the older transformers.
I have 2 MTH Z-1000 transformers and one Z-750 power brick. Most of my Williams engines I use the Z-1000 with them.
Lee Fritz
Add one more who runs conventional with vintage transformers. I spend my days dealing with new technology at work. When I want to relax with my trains I think old school is cool!
Conventional. I like stuff that works, and don't want to have to become a computer
geek to fix trains, that, from all the posts on here, seem to have too many problems.
Like they say about computers, technology is great, when it works.
Conventional. I like stuff that works, and don't want to have to become a computer
geek to fix trains, that, from all the posts on here, seem to have too many problems.
Like they say about computers, technology is great, when it works.
Amen to technology is great, when it works.
The best of both worlds is to up grade the older E&T's with LED's only. Just a wee bit of new technology added to a lot of old technology makes for a lot more appealing operations.
Dave, LBR
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