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Well I posted this announcement at the (URL) site... Personally, I have to say that I have doubts that any battery powered system will meet the needs of clubs doing shows. Even a robust, rechargable battery system has considerable limitations. (...) (17 years ago, 1-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego)
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| | Re: The Future of Trains
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(...) Absolutely. So does powering the system through the rails, actually - in order to control multiple trains you need carefully isolated sections of track (which LEGO never made in the first place) and rigorous control, as well as booster (...) (17 years ago, 2-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains) !
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| | Re: The Future of Trains
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Eric, I am considering buying stock in battery manufacturing. How about you? I have probably already spent a considerable sum of money on powering my Mindstorms robots. Maybe someone will design a butane based fuel cell that will work. Or perhaps a (...) (17 years ago, 2-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: The Future of Trains
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(...) This reminds me - has anyone built a fully functioning overhead rail electric train layout where the power is provided by the overhead wires like this: (URL) This would alleviate the need for powered rails and do away with the battery issue. (...) (17 years ago, 2-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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(...) The only issue with this is that standard catenary has a single wire to deliver current, and metal rails act as the "ground" for the circuit. One could instead adopt a setup like that used for electric buses in cities such as San Francisco, (...) (17 years ago, 2-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | Re: The Future of Trains
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(...) Two-pole contact is needed. But most of the electrified railways use only one overhead wire (like the ex-Soviet loco in the photo). The only examples of more-wire systems I know about, are deep in the history: --Siemens' experimental (...) (17 years ago, 2-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | Re: The Future of Trains
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(...) SNIP (...) In France nowadays (and most part of Europe), almost all freight engines are electric. (thank to a highly available hydroelectricity and nuclear electricity). It remains of course some diesel engines but they are replaced for (...) (17 years ago, 2-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | Re: The Future of Trains
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In lugnet.trains, Martin Srb wrote: SNIP (...) The (URL) Tim (17 years ago, 2-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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In lugnet.trains, Didier Enjary wrote: SNIP (...) Ironically, in the UK, when the (US) Winsconsin Central took over the main freight operator, EWS, they reduced the use of electric locos, presumably because they couldn't get their heads round using (...) (17 years ago, 2-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | Re: The Future of Trains
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(...) The topic of battery life and pulling power came up today - (URL) click here> for that thread. Hopefully it can address some of your concerns. (URL) (17 years ago, 2-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains, FTX) !
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| | Re: The Future of Trains
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(...) Well, it surprises me... but then again, I've just heard folks debate it, not actually test it or try it out. Thanks! I use 2500 mAh NiMH in my NXTs and RCXs, and I've been happy with them, but an 8 hour run time pulling 20 cars is... well, (...) (17 years ago, 3-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
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(...) I just wanted to make sure folks know that my glass is also half full at the moment dispite some skepticism about pulling power and battery life. I also agree with Ben Fleskes in terms of AFOL insiders working very hard for the masses. (URL) (...) (17 years ago, 3-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: The Future of Trains
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It sounds like a survey is in order... Take all the feature wish lists from individuals and clubs, boil them down and prioritize them. I'm sure LEGO and the AFOL insiders have their own set of lists based on the tons of feedback from lugnet.trains, (...) (17 years ago, 3-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
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(...) Any idea how much weight was being pulled? 20 flatcars could be lighter than 20 boxcars. That amount of run time with that many cars does sound promising though. -Elroy (17 years ago, 3-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | Re: The Future of Trains // Wishlist
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Hi Eric, Hi Bryan, Hi all, you are right, we are under NDA and I will not comment on any posting either positive or negative about the train announcement. We AFOL insiders will read all theses posts and we will transport any suggestion into our (...) (17 years ago, 4-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: The Future of Trains // Wishlist
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Holger, Thanks for your reply. I am glad to hear from an insider even if you can't say anything. I do realize you are only a conduit for information and can't actually make the decisions. I would personally be happy to setup something as a (...) (17 years ago, 4-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: The Future of Trains // Wishlist
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(...) Point of view? I enjoy working with my LEGO trains. I put out a lot of work in 'abusing' my trains to do a show, both for the visitor and mine own pleasure. The model Railroad Hobby is the largest Hobby in the world. It is done almost in every (...) (17 years ago, 4-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
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(...) Well put Don. Better than I could have done. Every time I started to write something up I had trouble containing my anger and writing something constructive. Right now my hope lies not with the LEGO company, but with fans, finding ways to (...) (17 years ago, 4-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
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(...) Yes you do 'abuse' the system in the sense that Holger means. LEGO trains are designed for children, not hobby use. As much as this may be frustrating and there may be good reasons for TLG to support the 'abuse' of their system they are not a (...) (17 years ago, 5-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: The Future of Trains // Wishlist
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(...) Just off the top of my head, I have the following thoughts on a prospective new train system. Benn On the batteries: -I am concerned that the weight of batteries could limit long trains. So the battery weight will be just as important as it's (...) (17 years ago, 7-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: The Future of Trains // Wishlist
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(...) Why can't it be both? Imagine, if you will, a track system that's designed based around the 12v components, but with the ends of the rails being shaped to couple with the 9v/RC track instead. (17 years ago, 7-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: The Future of Trains // Wishlist
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(...) I've got a number of 4.5v/12v sleeper that have lost their clips (the little vertical pieces that click into the track), so Im' not wild about going back to that kind of track. If the design could be fixed, so the part that holds onto the (...) (17 years ago, 7-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: The Future of Trains // Wishlist
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(...) My point is that TLG should continue with the 9volt system until a new system is developed and available. Showing off our train layouts at train shows and telling visitors that it is discontinued for 2+ years will turn off the buying public (...) (17 years ago, 8-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: The Future of Trains // Wishlist
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(...) Maybe (big 'maybe' of course) there is 2 years or so of stock left of current track and motors and all. They are still selling track in old dark grey afterall - quite a while after the color change has happened. This doesn't appear to help the (...) (17 years ago, 8-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
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Hi Bryan, A survey based on wish lists could help Holger and Steve communicate with TLC especially if the results of the survey not only show products which will make the Lego train fan happier but also products which will be profitable for TLC. (...) (17 years ago, 17-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: The Future of Trains
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(...) Wow, great list, Remko. I would like to second all of these suggestions. Together they are relatively simple and easy to impliment, and they will work well for kids and adults. I really like the "assemble it yourself" metal track idea - great, (...) (17 years ago, 17-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: The Future of Trains
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(...) ... (...) Remko had a great idea about off-loading the "attaching metal strips to the rail" to the user. Too bad that ship has likely sailed. First, in defense of battery power, while a few folks have pointed to the powered rails and said, (...) (17 years ago, 18-Oct-07, to lugnet.trains)
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