Looking for comments and suggestions for a reliable power unit for a museum model train layout.
In the past for Christmas Holiday displays I have used some K-Line and other engines with all electronics removed and connected power pickups from tender and engine together and wired directly to DC motor and lights.
Used a DC power pack with momentum control activated.
This was hooked up to a motion detector that is placed under the layout. When folks walk by the motion detector turns on power for a few minutes, lights go on the layout and Transformer turns on. As the momentum switch is on the speed is pre-set and taped so it does not get moved on the transformer, as the power comes on it very slowly moves up in volts with the momentum control to the pre set speed.
This allows the train to slowly start and move up to speed.
It still stops quickly when the power cuts off but with a good flywheel it does not slow down to fast.
All cars on the train have the coupler thumbnails removed and couplers taped shut so they will not open.
This set up has worked well for a few years each holiday with the display open for 12 hours a day mostly unattended for the month it is run.
I am looking for perhaps something similar or a better idea for a museum that would be running all year around 8 hours a day with minimal attention.
Seems the above method with perhaps Willams engines with electronics removed might work well.
Or what about the Lionel engines with Odyssey TMCC where you can pre set the speed in conventional control??
One part of the railway has grades on it, so need higher voltage going up and lower voltage coming down or an engine that can have a preset speed.
But transformer will be powered on and off by a motion detector so train cannot start and stop when power on full or cut fast as this may result in a derail or damage to the engine.
Looking for reliable Diesel engines. Something that will be easy to rebuild when it wears out or will wear well.
Thus a bit cautious of something like a TMCC board, ? overheating after hours of use?
Any suggestions??