I'm considering a wireless solution.
I assume that is for command. Any circuit which would sense direction and turn on a relay or transistor? Maybe a pendulum hitting a contact upon acceleration. A pinball tilt thing come to mind.
Dale H
This has been discussed before, but the only reasonably reliable circuit seems to be some sort of encoder on a wheel. That's a lot of work.
For a PS/2 or PS/3 locomotive, you have a backup light signal in the locomotive, conventional or command. The signal is a PWM signal in either case, so it's really a chopped waveform. So, if you drive the transmitter with this signal, you get a corresponding signal at the other end. That is used to light the lights.
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:
Yep, I'd like to make it look like the real thing with the backup light if I can.
Since my photo was taken, I did pull the bulbs. I have a white LED in the right housing...not hooked up. So I have the look without the function. It would be neat to wire for backup. On the left I put a slow blinking red LED. I believe 3mm is the size I used.
I wonder if blinking or steady would be prototypical for the red lamp? If I put the white one in, I want it to be functional, that's a requirement. 
Just an idea.. How about a cam on the Observation rear axle that engages a contact to close the circuit when in reverse. In forward, the cam would break the circuit contact to the backup led. ???
Something like that might actually work.
I visualize a little mechanical arm that is friction fit to the axle and rotates until it hits a stop going forward or the switch to enable the backup light going backwards. That's probably easier than the wheel mounted rotation sensor. The only downside is the friction of the arm riding on the axle.
I'm still leaning to my little RF solution, but this is an alternative option.
FWIW, I would add a simple spst switch underneath the rear car to turn on or off the white light, Come to think of it, Whould that white light be for back-up or a spotlight at night for passengers to see out the rear. Some PV's had this.
I have a second Aerotrain locomotive that I'm going to convert to TMCC. When I do (after I get moved), I'm going to put a ERR MC in the observation car so it will automatically switch the white light.
I have two of the ps1 sets. I reversed the motor leads on one engine and run it with a engine in both front and back, it looks very futuristic and I can easily pull the 7 cars I have. And the horn is very loud with two. The only thing I miss is seeing the end observation when I run it A---A.
I have all 10 cars and one of the original run Loco Sound versions which will pull all 10 without a problem but the Proto 3 version I have is good for about 6 or 7 cars.
Originally posted by OLDCARSRULE:
I have two of the ps1 sets. I reversed the motor leads on one engine and run it with a engine in both front and back,
it looks very futuristic and I can easily pull the 7 cars I have.
How can you have a PS-1 set when the set debut in PS2?
Did you gut out the electronics and add PS1 electronics in it?
My Aerotrain is Loco-sound.......pretty sure PS-1 was the option at the time.
prrhorseshoecurve posted:Originally posted by OLDCARSRULE:
I have two of the ps1 sets. I reversed the motor leads on one engine and run it with a engine in both front and back,
it looks very futuristic and I can easily pull the 7 cars I have.How can you have a PS-1 set when the set debut in PS2?
The Aerotrain was originally released in PS1, I see them on eBay all the time.
John, yes, you are so correct.... With the ERR boards now available, to install one in the observation car for the back-up light solves it very well. Great input, sir.
Jesse
It was originally offered with PS1 and Loco Sound, I procrastinated and only bought the Loco Sound because Nicholas Smith was sold out of the Proto1 sets. The engine sound is ok but the horn and bell leave much to be desired. Loco Sound didn't have the start up and shut down sequence.
I don't find any ProtoSound 1 versions on the MTH site, it doesn't appear it was ever offered in PS/1. The first version was released in 2001, that was in the PS/2 and LocoSound timeframe. A search of eBay current and completed auctions doesn't yield any PS/1 version.
gunrunnerjohn posted:I don't find any ProtoSound 1 versions on the MTH site, it doesn't appear it was ever offered in PS/1. The first version was released in 2001, that was in the PS/2 and LocoSound timeframe. A search of eBay current and completed auctions doesn't yield any PS/1 version.
https://mthtrains.com/30-2210-0
Your right John he was sold out of the Proto 2 sets. I didn't have DCS until about February 2003.
The locosound is probably what I am seeing then. I am not that familiar with the differences between it and PS1
In a nutshell, PS/1 had better sound, Locosound had speed control. LocoSound was very basic sounds, most unimpressive.
Well I stand humbly before you to correct my earlier statement. My Aerotrain is PS2.
I bought the MTH Rock Island version of the Aerotrain with an add'l car. I was born & raised in Peoria, IL and the RI assigned the Aerotrain as the Peoria Rocket for a time. When I was a teenager, I rode the Aerotrain from Peoria to Chicago - a memorable event. So I wanted the train in my collection along with many other RI trains.
Called "the train of tomorrow" by RI PR guys, the train showed its GM auto design heritage: an Oldsmobile grill with a floating bar, a Chevy hardtop cab, and useless but pronounced tail fins. Ironically, the name became an embarrassment.
As others have observed, the ride was rough. The train was originally geared to run at 99 mph, but that gearing was lowered. Even then, the ride was too rough. However, the condition of the RI roadbed was poor - the result of deferred maintenance - and that surely contributed to the rough ride. The Aerotrain was removed from service as the Peoria Rocket and re-assigned as a commuter train running between Joliet, IL, and Chicago, where a lower speed could be tolerated.
When all were withdrawn from service, one of the three Aerotrains was scrapped, but the two others now rest in museums - one in Green Bay, WI and the other at the outskirts of St. Louis, MO. The train in Green Bay was placed inside a building, so it was protected. The train at St. Louis was parked outside for years and the weather took its toll. When I visited that train many years ago, a tree was growing through one of the cars. Shameful neglect. It has recently benefited from a restoration effort, but it's still parked outside.
Mike
From what I have read, there were only two Aerotrains. There were three engines though.
As a note of interest, Rock Island leased the Aerotrain to Canadian National in the mid sixties.
It ran from Montreal to St Hyacinthe ...
