Re: [EVDL] Converting G-16 Amusement Train to Electric?

[Lee Hart via EV]

Robert Bruninga via EV wrote:

As for electrifying a kids trian:

I built a 10" gauge track in my yard and was going to electrify it, but in
the initial build, I used bicycle pedals mounted at hand height for
propulsion.  Glad I did.  Kids from miles around found their way to our
house, but then tired after a few rounds and went home.  If it was
electric, they would never leave!


Hah! Thanks for my laugh of the day. :-)

What a great project! You must have been the #1 dad in the neighborhood.


I suggest electrifying the rails at 56 volts or so and use that to charge
an onboard 48v battey.  The battery provides the surge power and the rails
keep it charged.


The battery is a good idea, so the train can accelerate faster or start 
with a heavier load. It lowers the peak current and voltage drop in the 
rails.


56v seems kind of high for something kids will be around. Some electric 
trolley systems used high voltages for the rails, but sensed when the 
car was actually on it, and only turned on power to that specific section.



My rails were made of 1" angle iron with strips of PT lumber for the ties.
Problem is, pruning. So over the 30 years, the tracks have all disappeared
under the foliage and are abandoned.


I've seen some commercial "yard-size" train sets like this (complete 
with train powered by pedals). They had sections of track that plugged 
together, just like a toy train set, so you could put them down and pick 
them up quickly.


Lee Hart
--
If happiness is on your mind, here's a daily list to find:
- something to do
- something to look forward to
- someone to love
- someone to take good care of
- and misbehave, just a little
--
Lee Hart, 814 8th Ave N, Sartell MN 56377, www.sunrise-ev.com
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Re: [EVDL] Converting G-16 Amusement Train to Electric?

[Robert Bruninga via EV]

As for electrifying a kids trian:

I built a 10" gauge track in my yard and was going to electrify it, but in
the initial build, I used bicycle pedals mounted at hand height for
propulsion.  Glad I did.  Kids from miles around found their way to our
house, but then tired after a few rounds and went home.  If it was
electric, they would never leave!

I suggest electrifying the rails at 56 volts or so and use that to charge
an onboard 48v battey.  The battery provides the surge power and the rails
keep it charged.

My rails were made of 1" angle iron with strips of PT lumber for the ties.
I coule lay 8' of track an hour.  But curves were harder.  I made a
hacksaw kerf about 1/2" deep every 8 inches or so in the angle iron and it
would then bend into a nice 10' radious bend.  Wheels were 4" pulleys fully
articulated like real ones with automotive valve springs between each pair
of wheels and then each pair of wheels joined into a 4 wheel truck..

Problem is, pruning.  My wife and I have permanent disagreement on
pruning.  She wont let me prune back the bushes, and she insists on using a
pair of scissors to cut off only the outer layer.  So over the 30 years,
the tracks have all disappeared under the foliage and are abandoned.

Bob, WB4APR

On Sun, Mar 29, 2020 at 10:38 AM Lee Hart via EV  wrote:

> mark hanson via EV wrote:
> > The Roanoke Zoo (Mill Mountain ZooChoo) kiddy train (G-16, 16" wide
> track)
> > has been inoperable for a few years and the 100hp Wisconsin VH4D 4-cyl
> > tractor engine (about 1970').  They would like me to fix it, don't seem
> to
> > know why it was abandoned.  I think the engine is seized and the
> gasoline -
> > varnish.  It has 3 cars and goes about 1000' back & forth.  Has anyone
> > converted a mini-train, runs about 6mph for 8 hours?
>
> Hi Mark,
>
> What an interesting project that would be! I remember them fondly, and
> rode in a couple different ones; on in MI as a kid, and one in Brainerd
> MN at Paul Bunyan Land.
>
> I'm surprised they used a 100hp engine. I can't imagine needing that
> much power for something that only goes 6 mph and is rolling on steel
> rails. Maybe they wanted it to sound like a real diesel engine?
>
> I saw an interesting home-made one in Holland MI. A machinist had built
> it in the style of a steam locomotive. The boiler was a pressure tank,
> and it ran on compressed air. Four cylinders and a valve mechanism drove
> the wheels like a real steam engine. He'd fill it with an air
> compressor, and then run it around the track, chuffing and puffing like
> the real thing.
>
> > Maybe a 8 or 9" Advance DC motor and control?  Lithium LiFePO4 is nice
> (with
> > the attracted complexities of balancing/monitoring) but would ye-old
> cheaper
> > Lead work in this application (maybe not run time).
>
> Weight is not normally a problem in trains. The engine *needs* to be
> heavy to provide traction. It wouldn't surprise me if there are weights
> in the engine for precisely this reason. In this application, lead-acid
> batteries make sense. Probably an industrial pack from a fork lift; they
> run all day on a charge, for thousands of cycles.
>
> I would think an ADC/Netgain 9" motor would be big enough. A 10,000 lbs
> fork lift doesn't have that big a motor.
>
> I wonder if it could be an "electric" train, with no batteries and
> electrified rails? 36v or less between the rails should be safe enough.
>
> Lee Hart
>
> --
> If happiness is on your mind, here's a daily list to find:
> - something to do
> - something to look forward to
> - someone to love
> - someone to take good care of
> - and misbehave, just a little
> --
> Lee Hart, 814 8th Ave N, Sartell MN 56377, www.sunrise-ev.com
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Re: [EVDL] Converting G-16 Amusement Train to Electric?

[John Lussmyer via EV]

On Sun Mar 29 10:44:58 PDT 2020 ev@lists.evdl.org said:
>It occurs to me that it might be possible to re-purpose a complete
>electric fork lift drive system; batteries, controller, motor, gearbox,
>and axle assembly. Heavy, rugged as hell, and already built for low speeds.

You might be able to just use one (or several) Forklift Hydraulic units.
I scrapped out several forklifts some years ago, and each had several 
motor/pump units (shunt wound I think).
Some were only 1hp electric motors, but some where up in the 10hp range.


--

Bobcats and Cougars, oh my!  http://john.casadelgato.com/Pets
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Re: [EVDL] Converting G-16 Amusement Train to Electric?

[Lee Hart via EV]

Mark Hanson via EV wrote:

Thanks.  I’ll check. Just got back, actually has a 2-cyl 20hp motor


That makes more sense. The one I heard in MN sounded more like a 1 or 
2-cyl garden tractor engine than a 4-cyl.



Running a hydraulic pump to wheels and travels 3-6mph with 3 trailing
cars.  The inspector said the air brakes need repaired with air
compressor so probably need to hire a train air brake eggspurt


Hydraulics make sense as an easier way to drive multiple axles (looks 
like the engine has 4 axles). And, that makes sense if the engine 
doesn't weigh a lot, so it can get more traction.


It occurs to me that it might be possible to re-purpose a complete 
electric fork lift drive system; batteries, controller, motor, gearbox, 
and axle assembly. Heavy, rugged as hell, and already built for low speeds.


Don't forget to add a stereo system to produce the distinctive train 
sounds. :-)


Lee Hart
--
If happiness is on your mind, here's a daily list to find:
- something to do
- something to look forward to
- someone to love
- someone to take good care of
- and misbehave, just a little
--
Lee Hart, 814 8th Ave N, Sartell MN 56377, www.sunrise-ev.com
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Re: [EVDL] Converting G-16 Amusement Train to Electric?

[Mark Hanson via EV]

Thanks.  I’ll check. Just got back, actually has a 2-cyl 20hp motor Running a 
hydraulic pump to wheels and travels 3-6mph with 3 trailing cars.  The 
inspector said the air brakes need repaired with air compressor so probably 
need to hire a train air brake eggspurt 
Stay charged
Mark

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 29, 2020, at 9:27 AM, Rod Hower  wrote:
> 
> 
> Shawn Lawless probably already has a system available that would work,
> Parade Floats
> 
> Parade Floats
> 
> 
> 
> On Sunday, March 29, 2020, 09:05:03 AM EDT, mark hanson via EV 
>  wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi Folks,
> 
> 
> 
> The Roanoke Zoo (Mill Mountain ZooChoo) kiddy train (G-16, 16" wide track)
> has been inoperable for a few years and the 100hp Wisconsin VH4D 4-cyl
> tractor engine (about 1970').  They would like me to fix it, don't seem to
> know why it was abandoned.  I think the engine is seized and the gasoline -
> varnish.  It has 3 cars and goes about 1000' back & forth.  Has anyone
> converted a mini-train, runs about 6mph for 8 hours?  
> 
> 
> 
> Maybe a 8 or 9" Advance DC motor and control?  Lithium LiFePO4 is nice (with
> the attracted complexities of balancing/monitoring) but would ye-old cheaper
> Lead work in this application (maybe not run time).
> 
> 
> 
> Original company:
> 
> https://amusementparkives.com/2017/01/31/miniature-train-company/ 
> 
> 
> 
> Restored mini train, better color photos, enthusiasts:
> 
> https://heritagerail.org/2018/10/remembering-the-miniature-train-company/ 
> 
> 
> 
> Have a renewable energy day,
> 
> 
> 
> Mark
> 
> 
> 
> Mark E. Hanson
> 
> 184 Vista Lane
> 
> Fincastle, VA 24090
> 
> 540-473-1248 phone & FAX, 540-816-0812 cell
> 
> REEVA: community service RE & EV project club
> 
> Website: www.REEVAdiy.org (See Project Gallery)
> 
> UL Certified PV Installer
> 
> My RE Circuits: www.EVDL.org/lib/mh 
> 
> REEVA Demo:   http://youtu.be/4kqWn2H-rA0 
> 
> 
>  75b8d/signature> Fincastle Solar Weather Station
> 
> 
> 
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Re: [EVDL] Converting G-16 Amusement Train to Electric?

[Lee Hart via EV]

mark hanson via EV wrote:

The Roanoke Zoo (Mill Mountain ZooChoo) kiddy train (G-16, 16" wide track)
has been inoperable for a few years and the 100hp Wisconsin VH4D 4-cyl
tractor engine (about 1970').  They would like me to fix it, don't seem to
know why it was abandoned.  I think the engine is seized and the gasoline -
varnish.  It has 3 cars and goes about 1000' back & forth.  Has anyone
converted a mini-train, runs about 6mph for 8 hours?


Hi Mark,

What an interesting project that would be! I remember them fondly, and 
rode in a couple different ones; on in MI as a kid, and one in Brainerd 
MN at Paul Bunyan Land.


I'm surprised they used a 100hp engine. I can't imagine needing that 
much power for something that only goes 6 mph and is rolling on steel 
rails. Maybe they wanted it to sound like a real diesel engine?


I saw an interesting home-made one in Holland MI. A machinist had built 
it in the style of a steam locomotive. The boiler was a pressure tank, 
and it ran on compressed air. Four cylinders and a valve mechanism drove 
the wheels like a real steam engine. He'd fill it with an air 
compressor, and then run it around the track, chuffing and puffing like 
the real thing.



Maybe a 8 or 9" Advance DC motor and control?  Lithium LiFePO4 is nice (with
the attracted complexities of balancing/monitoring) but would ye-old cheaper
Lead work in this application (maybe not run time).


Weight is not normally a problem in trains. The engine *needs* to be 
heavy to provide traction. It wouldn't surprise me if there are weights 
in the engine for precisely this reason. In this application, lead-acid 
batteries make sense. Probably an industrial pack from a fork lift; they 
run all day on a charge, for thousands of cycles.


I would think an ADC/Netgain 9" motor would be big enough. A 10,000 lbs 
fork lift doesn't have that big a motor.


I wonder if it could be an "electric" train, with no batteries and 
electrified rails? 36v or less between the rails should be safe enough.


Lee Hart

--
If happiness is on your mind, here's a daily list to find:
- something to do
- something to look forward to
- someone to love
- someone to take good care of
- and misbehave, just a little
--
Lee Hart, 814 8th Ave N, Sartell MN 56377, www.sunrise-ev.com
___
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Re: [EVDL] Converting G-16 Amusement Train to Electric?

[Rod Hower via EV]

 Shawn Lawless probably already has a system available that would work,Parade 
Floats


| 
| 
| 
|  |  |

 |

 |
| 
|  | 
Parade Floats


 |

 |

 |




On Sunday, March 29, 2020, 09:05:03 AM EDT, mark hanson via EV 
 wrote:  
 
 Hi Folks,

 

The Roanoke Zoo (Mill Mountain ZooChoo) kiddy train (G-16, 16" wide track)
has been inoperable for a few years and the 100hp Wisconsin VH4D 4-cyl
tractor engine (about 1970').  They would like me to fix it, don't seem to
know why it was abandoned.  I think the engine is seized and the gasoline -
varnish.  It has 3 cars and goes about 1000' back & forth.  Has anyone
converted a mini-train, runs about 6mph for 8 hours?  

 

Maybe a 8 or 9" Advance DC motor and control?  Lithium LiFePO4 is nice (with
the attracted complexities of balancing/monitoring) but would ye-old cheaper
Lead work in this application (maybe not run time).

 

Original company:

https://amusementparkives.com/2017/01/31/miniature-train-company/ 

 

Restored mini train, better color photos, enthusiasts:

https://heritagerail.org/2018/10/remembering-the-miniature-train-company/  

 

Have a renewable energy day,

 

Mark

 

Mark E. Hanson

184 Vista Lane

Fincastle, VA 24090

540-473-1248 phone & FAX, 540-816-0812 cell

REEVA: community service RE & EV project club

Website: www.REEVAdiy.org (See Project Gallery)

UL Certified PV Installer

My RE Circuits: www.EVDL.org/lib/mh 

REEVA Demo:   http://youtu.be/4kqWn2H-rA0 

 
 Fincastle Solar Weather Station

 

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