Lionel Trains - Lionel Train Forum - Model Train Forum

Specific Lionel Train Forum - Pre War, Post War, O, G & HO Scale => G Scale => Topic started by: tommyheadleycox on December 23, 2014, 08:39:39 am

Title: Introducing myself, plus info request
Post by: tommyheadleycox on December 23, 2014, 08:39:39 am
Greetings and Merry Christmas,

My name is Tom Cox and I live in Chapel Hill, NC.  I only have TWO Lionel items, but I love them.  They are large scale, 1:32.  They are a powered Burlington Northern GP-20 with Rail Sounds installed, and an  un-powered unit to go with it.  I bought these at a train show circa 1998-2000.  I'd love to talk with others who run Lionel Large Scale.  I see there is a Large Scale Forum here, but there's only one post.

Here is a nice story that shows the realism of Railsounds.  About 15 years ago, I had a big oval of track set up on our front patio, for my GP-20.  One morning my wife and mother in law went for a walk around the neighborhood. While they were gone, I came out and started running my GP-20, blowing the diesel horn and activating the bell.  Several hundred yards away, completely out of sight,  my mother in law turned to my wife and said,  "I didn't know there was a railroad track in this neighborhood."  That's how loud and realistic the sounds are.

I'd like to learn more about the possibility of adding Command Control.  But this GP-20 is DC powered.
I've read the manual carefully but still have some questions.  If anyone knows of a good resource, I'd appreciate it.

Regards and Happy Holidays,

Tom
Title: Re: Introducing myself, plus info request
Post by: djacobsen on December 23, 2014, 02:27:45 pm
Tom
Hello & Welcome to the Forum!
That GP-20 is a nice locomotive.
There are a few of us here on the forum that are multi-scaler's who play with Large Scale as well as the smaller scales. 

There are R/C control systems available that you can plug the receiver in between your power supply and track available & have a hand carried transmitter for control.
G Scale Graphics
http://www.gscalegraphics.net/store/p54/10_amp_Trackside_R%2FC_%28Transmitter_%26_Receiver%29.html

AristoCraft/Crest offered their Basic Train Engineer (stop/go, speed/forward/reverse) before they went out of business. They can be found fairly inexpensively at the online auction sites.

There are R/C type control systems that the receiver is installed in your locomotive, using batteries to supply power to the locomotive.
Radio Control Systems
http://www.rcs-rc.com/
Airwire
http://www.cvpusa.com/
Crest Electronics.
http://www.crest-electronics.net/

R/C & battery means never having to clean track again.
Track power means never having a dead train because you forgot to charge the batteries.

The referenced systems are some of what's available in C.C. that I am familiar with.
Me, I'm a track power/analog guy, but I do have a Basic TE & 18V battery that I use in my B-mann 45 tonner for pushing my snow plow.

Happy Rails!
       &
Merry Christmas!

Dave