Controller for small LGB railway with older loco

[railroadbill]

I've got some LGB track and an 0-4-0 tank loco to make a small temporary layout in garden.  This is an old loco, just DC. I need a controller and wondered what other people who run LGB use.  LGB's controller for DC is listed as LGB51099 "controller for small single track for basic garden layouts"  and needs LGB51090 weatherproof power pack (36W). 

That implies it can provide up to 3 amp current.

I believe the "classic" LGB motor pulls quite a lot of current, but one possibility would be a lead acid battery in an attached wagon,  however I've seen LGB running outdoors with normal track pickup in very heavy rain (!) so the track controller would do fine for what I want.

 

Has anyone used this particular controller, which I may have to hunt down anyway.

 

Are there other makes suitable, for O gauge perhaps?  that would provide enough power.  The later LGB controllers and locos seem to be their own DCC system.

 

Any suggestions welcome, this is quite old kit now. 

 

Thanks, Bill

 

 

[Sturminster_Newton]

LGB uses 18-22v so be careful you do not put a 12v unit  in place as the motor will not run at it's most efficient speed.

 

IF you want to use radio control this is feasible you'll need a 6S LiPo of about 8-10 amp/hr capacity plus a charger/balancer also a suitable speed controller with forward and reverse (surprisingly) this will give you about 4-5hours of running time.

 

This will be expensive to put in place but a 240v mains power LGB controller is not a cheap item due to the track power needed at the terminals, on a long line you'll need to lay in some 4 or 6mm bus bar feeds to help with the voltage drop.

 

IIRC the average LGB motor motor needs about 2-2.5amp to drive it down the tracks, hauling a small train. Power demand rises on tight corners and climbing gradients.

 

Onboard power is a good idea as it saves all the "£$%^&* when cleaning track which if it is more than that supplied with the loco can be an arduous pass-time. Fortunately LGB provide a power socket that you can connect your power car to and the only mod used to be the removal of the power pick-up sledges so the power from the battery does not feed into the rails.

 

Other have fed 30-50v AC permanently to the rails and provided onboard electronic to convert to DC for the loco motors the higher voltage saves on the cleaning required but it is likely to give many a 'sensation' of electricity if they touch the live rail. At least you would not be too troubled by cats...

 

If you intend to run a mainline service then the economics work back the other way and the power plough pickups will burnish the rail if you run intensive Bekonscot style services but you will still need to clean and check problem areas at least weekly.

 

Finally be aware that LGB radius 1 corners apart from their admirable braking function are worn down by the loco wheels so unless you need tram style curves. The loco wheels also wear but are harder than the rails, LGB rails are notoriously variable in the quality of the brass so you can have pristine shiny rails and flangeless loco wheels...

 

R2 is the minimum you should use and ideally R3, R4 or R5 if you have space. Much of the more modern stock is set to go around R1 but it looks more at home on R3 and above, Accucraft US outline bogie cars out of the box must have 4' radius as a minimum NOT LGB R3 as R3 is around 3'10" radius and as with all matters in life those 2" can be vital.

 

I know of LGB section 45mm R0 curves which IIRC are 16" radius but again are for loco's in the slow creeping thing stable and only if they are a demand led option due to lack of space.

 

Enjoy playing in the garden there is nothing quite like it.

Edited August 3, 2020 by Sturminster_Newton

[Nearholmer]

I use a Gaugemaster controller https://www.gaugemasterretail.com/magento/model-railways/gaugemaster-controls-brand5/gaugemaster-gmc-10lgb.html 

 

This one provides 2.5A, which is bags more than you are likely to need for a single 0-4-0 loco and mine has served 20+ years without fault running small LGB locos and running my indoor coarse-scale 0 gauge.

 

I find the comment in the preceding post about running at 12V very curious indeed. All the voltage does is control the speed of the motor: at 12V an LGB loco will amble along quite comfortably, at a speed somewhere near realistic, and will suffer no harm. At full voltage c20V it will go faster, probably slightly unrealistically so, still suffering no harm. 

 

There's a great deal more in the preceding post that doesn't align with my experience of operating small LGB railways with small locos, but I don't want to enter into a wide-ranging debate that doesn't answer your central question.

 

Kevin 

 

 

Edited August 3, 2020 by Nearholmer

[a98087]

Lgb locos draw 0.5 to 1 amp per motor,   Lgb used to provide a 0-24v dc 1 amp controller as standard.

 

 

as for radio control I use 3s lipo approx 12v on all my Lgb and it runs lovely.

 

a 12v car or lead acid battery will easily be fine to run your loco.

 

 

 

 

[Nearholmer]

LGB 50080 1Amp controllers, which I think come out of modern starter train-sets, seem to be available secondhand fairly freely.

 

If you try somewhere like Garden Railway Specialists, I think they come either brand new from split sets or ready PAT if secondhand.

 

Probably cheaper than the Gaugemaster option, but whether they are as robust and durable I don’t know.

[Phil Parker]

Just now, Nearholmer said:

LGB 50080 1Amp controllers, which I think come out of modern starter train-sets, seem to be available secondhand fairly freely.

 

If you try somewhere like Garden Railway Specialists, I think they come either brand new from split sets or ready PAT if secondhand.

 

Probably cheaper than the Gaugemaster option, but whether they are as robust and durable I don’t know.

 

I've been using one quite happily for a few years. They are underpowered for the track cleaning loco, but 0-4-0s are happy enough on them. Good starter unit.

[railroadbill]

Thanks very much for all the interesting comments posted, they've been very helpful. Apologies for being rather tardy in coming back on this.

 

In the end I bought an LGB 51099 controller which is fed by a separate LGB 51090 transformer.  20v max, very straightforward.  Suspect it's much the same as the 50080 one mentioned. Got it (new kit)  via a supplier on Ebay.  Also a 50160 connecting lead that has screw clamps on one end to attach to the track.

 

So far,I have  2 boxes of LGB track making a shortish oval, 1 0-4-0 tank engine and I bought 2 Chinese made bogie open wagons, LGB clones. And this minimalist narrow gauge line can be laid and taken up again quickly enough.  It actually looks impressive chugging round the grass, think it's the size of the track and stock. Now to look for a bit more track.

 

Anyway, I got all this ready to go just before my grandchildren came over for the first time they could after lockdown and they thought it was great.  They could put various toys in the open wagons to carry around, the 4 year old quickly got the idea of using the controller as did my 6 year old grand daughter who  told me about steam engines "this is where the coal is kept, the smoke and steam come out the chimney"  etc. so she's getting quite savvy about trains. She did like Bekonscot when we went there a couple of years ago...we all had great fun!

 

So finally got my garden railway going, even if it's a minimalist approach so far.  Also thanks for suggestions about batteries for r/c locos, have got a couple of Hunslet diesel shunter bodies I made from plasticard some time ago that just need chassis, but having the track will allow some experimenting to go on. 

 

Bekonscot was very impressive, (they use LGB track for their gauge 1 lines) got shown round their control room when we were there, a complex computerised set up.

 

Thanks again to all for help.

[Nearholmer]

If you’re within striking distance of Bekonskot, you might be within striking distance of Garden Railway Specislists at Princrs Rosborough (about 200m from the station). If so, I heartily recommend a visit.

 

Their secondhand section is good, and they know their onions.

[railroadbill]

Thanks for that, Nearhomer.  Bekonscot isn't that close to me, have to go to daughter's place first then a drive north, that was with grandchildren but they've discovered Whipsnade zoo now (which does have a railway in it...) so we may not collectively go to Bekonscot for a while, covid-19 regulations permitting of course.  But a day trip to-from Princes Risborough for me  would certainly be possible.  I think I've seen a GRS stand at exhibitions, Ally Pally perhaps?

 

Sounds an ideal supplier for a few more bits. H'mm.

 

I think my little garden line will be a Decauville style temporary railway, or an agricultural line perhaps.  Having taken over the loft for the oo layout I don't think I can really push for a permanent line in the garden...very satisfying to see a large scale train running, though. Reminded me a bit of my first ever railway, Hornby o tinplate, rather a long time ago now!

 

As an aside about Bekonscot, the chap who showed me round their control room said they were having to replace some track as it had worn out!

 

 

 

 

Edited September 26, 2020 by railroadbill