O Gauge Guy posted:Might it help to run either O or HO locos with only DC motors? I was also thinking that, rather than using a transformer, the track could be powered by a large DC battery e.g. lead-acid car battery which could taken to a 'safe' location to be charged.
Yes, that is my idea as well. Actually, Lionel AC motors run just fine on straight DC. You can replace the E-unit with a bridge rectifier and switch directions by switching track polarity a la HO practice. If you install capacitors from each brush to ground as is now standard Lionel practice you would eliminate any tiny amount of ECM created by brush-commutator arcing. For power a DC car battery the way the O scale guys used to, being charged while you aren't in the room.
Lew