GGG posted:Big Boy and Rusty, I realize in a true dead rail you do not even need rails. Tested plenty of battery operated G on the kitchen floor
BUT please read the original post the op was asking about. He was going to use his pickup roller to transfer battery power from his battery car to the train. That means it will go across rails. In which case for 3R engines, you need the center rail. I was trying to stay on topic. That was my context when replying.
G
Exactly what is the advantage of having a battery car power the rails?
It doesn't do anything to eliminate the issues with dirty track (the BIG advantage of Dead Rail,) loss of contact over switches and crossings or complicated trackwork. If anything, now there's two potential issues with electrical contact with the track contact by the locomotive and the battery car.
Plus, anything else parked on uninsulated tracks with a load will also draw power from the battery.
Other than as an experiment, I see no advantage to powering the track from a battery car.
Rusty
