The kids will be running a train with a bike power dynamo . At RAILROAD DAYS in Pleasant Hill, MO ,on the first week end in May.
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I for one would be interested in the electrical set up for that... Especially if it's a Lionel ac train set.
Yes! Please post some pics / video of the setup if you get a chance. Thanks!!
Too bad Bob Denver isn't alive to demonstrate it. I believe he had experience generating power that way. 
Twenty plus years ago, at the Technical Museum in Stockholm, there was a kid-sized wheel like in a Hamster/Gerbil cage that powered a G-gauge train. I believe that the wheel powered a DC generator that powered the trains directly. The nice feature of the exhibit was that the trains stopped when the wheel stopped turning and the speed of the trains were related to the speed of the wheel.
While one could build an AC generator or charge a battery and run the trains using an inverter, it is more dramatic to have the trains run directly from the bike.
Not a need for an inverter to make ac. Our AC brush motors and most moderns will run ok on dc.
A dynamo or alternator could run an open frame, though a cheap starter set's dc only motor would be more reactive to low voltage/need less amperage, etc.
Running it slow from battery (solar?) with an rpm boost from hampster wheel movement might be good an in-between. Sitting static could be "dangerous" to success with some crowds. Some crowds are just watchers you can't always fight it, they just want to watch.
You'll have to dangle a dollar or candy from a stick for them to chase 
Better wear your sneakers incase though Gilligan
