Acela Pantograph's eye view

What was the issue with the pantograph?

Mechanical? Electrical? Both? 

Just curious (it's been a long time since I last ran mine).

---PCJ

The Pantograph would not operate in any mode. Turned out the motor's armature hit a "dead spot". I opened up the motor, manually moved the armature and that fixed it. Buttoned up the engine and it's worked flawlessly. Can't say the same about the IR  tethers. 

Looked good and more importantly, it sounded good!

Thanks. 

Hi Ed

Nice video, it sounds, looks, and runs great. 

Alex 

Nice video.  What's the safest scale speed that you can run the train on your layout?

Wow!! Now that is a pretty cool video, I like the perspective. Your layout and train room are both beautiful!

Good post.  When I( first received my Acela I was not very happy.  The advertising stated it could take overhead power.  What they failed to state was it was useless as it did not have enough pressure to make good contact with the wire for overhead use.  Good job Alex.

Lagerstout, thanks for the positive comment.   As far as speed, not sure. I'll  have to run it with one of my Legacy or MTH engines to determine that, but, actually, it will go very fast...my 5yr. old Grandson tested it out!    However, speed often causes the IR tether to break signal which is annoying.  I wish I had a much, much longer straight.

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

Good post.  When I( first received my Acela I was not very happy.  The advertising stated it could take overhead power.  What they failed to state was it was useless as it did not have enough pressure to make good contact with the wire for overhead use.  Good job Alex.

Thanks Marty.   I contemplated trying a catenary but concluded it was a bridge to far for my skill set and I've decided to add a second level to run a trolley from the platform you see the Acela travel under above the lower level perimeter line the Acela runs on.  Glad I didn't in any case in light of your comment.  I've sent you a private message regarding the tether.

Thanks for posting this. All I've seen about the Lionel Acela before were negative. I like the sound especially.

ALEXM, thanks for the comment...it couldn't have happened without you!

CONRAILFAN, thanks for the comment.  I'm fortunate in that my wife loves the trains as well so commandeering our basement fun room to dedicate to trains met with wild enthusiasm...she also tolerates my Harley.  I know I'm blessed.   As you can see, the layout is a work in progress, but, as I've often read here on the forum,  that's a permanent state of affairs with this hobby.  The train room also forces me to keep from gaining weight if I hope to move around it's perimeter.   I'm thinking of starting a video series on my YouTube channel documenting my efforts. I started building very late in life and I hope others that find themselves where I was...apprehensive... will  just "do it."   Also, my  grandson loves watching trains on YouTube.  I suspect this response is more than you bargained for, but thanks for your patience.

cjack posted:

Thanks for posting this. All I've seen about the Lionel Acela before were negative. I like the sound especially.

Chuck, you are welcome and thanks for the comment.  I have some pretty great engines like the BigBoy, but this is my favorite.  It looks cool stopped (doors just fascinate me...for me it's like staring at a fire in the fireplace)  and in motion and I agree, the  sounds are the best. 

Toledo Ed,

What did I do wrong? Been following the manual and this https://www.legacystation.com/...ut_Memory_Module.pdf Not getting half of those announcements. Let me know how to do that. I’m using a Legacy 990 remote and have a 180 power master for power.

post like this is making me really want a acela. ryan stated that a legacy acela is comming but its way down the road. I will definatly get one if that ever happens. 

Ill do a video on how I programmed it today and you guys tell me what I goofed up on.

Robert Cushman posted:

Toledo Ed,

 

What did I do wrong? Been following the manual and this https://www.legacystation.com/...ut_Memory_Module.pdf Not getting half of those announcements. Let me know how to do that. I’m using a Legacy 990 remote and have a 180 power master for power.

Got it figured out. 

Robert Cushman posted:

Got it figured out. 

Excellent. 

Nice video. My Acela is plagued with issues, but one day I'll have the time to fix her up. For now she makes a great shelf queen.

I got lucky with mine. I only had to pop a panto baxk in its place 1 time. Trying to get it to work on the dcs app.