Can these Lionel sets be converted to conventional operation?

How about adding a pair of inexpensive Tablets (android or apple) to run the two trains. Mount them in an appropriate holder and program one for each train. I'd bet that kids would jump on them in a heartbeat.
Good way to show how modern tech has merged with our toys too. The bluetooth only needs to connect to the engine, no wifi network needed.

https://www.google.com/search?...bih=624&dpr=1.36

For conventional operation, a Dallee reversing board could replace the LC boards but I'm not sure you could keep the sounds.

Bob

You will lose any sounds, but it's easy to convert them to conventional operation as Bob suggests.

Bob / John; thank you for the quick responses! Based on your posts, replacing the existing boards with Dallee reversing boards sounds like the way to go then. Loss of sounds isn’t really an issue as generally the noise level around the layout from kids all talking (yelling) at once tends to drown out any sounds from the trains. Too, we also have buttons mounted along the edges of the layout for kids to sound an assortment of steam whistles and diesel horns. That tends to keep everyone busy making noise till they can get a turn at running one of the trains.

Bob, your suggestion to use tablets kind of dovetails with the rationale a number of us had for wanting to try these LionChief sets. We figured it would appeal to the interest in electronic devices even the youngest children have these days. Despite our best efforts though, it’s next to impossible to prevent the remotes from being dropped onto the concrete floors in the show venues. Too; we weren’t able to dream up an effective way to limit the maximum speed. Tablets or other electronic devices would share the same issue. Transformers - especially with the speed governing modifications we have added - have proven to be remarkably robust despite the “best efforts” of thousands of kids.

Curt

No problem Curt. Hadn't considered "Ludicrous Speed" as a problem......

Good luck with the conversions.

If remote controlled forward and reverse isn't a requirement, you could just install a rectifier in the locos and run them from track voltage.  Thomas in particular doesn't have a flywheel.  So if you're going to run him on DC, a large capacitor might save wear and tear on the gears from abrupt stops.  I guess the CW80 is a good choice because IIRC it's already designed to ramp up and decrease the voltage slowly.

Adding diodes between the pickups and the motor will further reduce the voltage getting to the motor.  It sounds like you somehow figured out how to limit voltage going to the track.  In preventing derailments, curves are the last frontier.  My experience with floor layouts on carpet suggests that O36 Fasttrack tolerates much higher speeds than O31 tubular.  FWIW.

Ted:

You raise a good point regarding repeated  sudden stops causing wear and tear. I’d like a dime for every time I’ve watched kids slam the throttle open then just as abruptly shut it off. Repeat over and over. We’ve kind of accepted that and perform maintenance and repairs on the engines following every train show.

Insofar as governing speed, we installed potentiometers in all of the CW80’s we use on the layout. This allows us to adjust the max speed for the trains running on each track. We located these pots in such a manner they aren’t obvious to kids or their parents. We’ve been using these same transformers now for probably ten years and it’s proven a reliable means to minimize trains derailing. In fact, I’d guess 99% of our train show derailments are caused by little hands and not excessive speed.

Curt

@RSJB18 posted:

How about adding a pair of inexpensive Tablets (android or apple) to run the two trains. Mount them in an appropriate holder and program one for each train. I'd bet that kids would jump on them in a heartbeat.
Good way to show how modern tech has merged with our toys too. The bluetooth only needs to connect to the engine, no wifi network needed.

https://www.google.com/search?...bih=624&dpr=1.36

For conventional operation, a Dallee reversing board could replace the LC boards but I'm not sure you could keep the sounds.

Bob

That’s exactly what a local club had done for shows. Don’t be fooled though they always have a at least 2 people keeping an eye on everything

If you don’t need sounds, or reverse, you can easily bypass everything in the engine with out ruining any electronics, and just wire in a simple bridge rectifier …..total cost, .59 cents each, plus some scrap wire……😄

Pat

I would encourage you to keep the LionChief remotes. I believe all your concerns can be easily addressed. To avoid them from being dropped on the floor, create a bracket that secures it to the corner of the layout. To limit the speed, use the function in the LionChief app and it will be remembered when using the LionChief remote (this allows limiting speed and sound). I have two year old grandchildren who have no problem using the LionChief trains (they do tend to walk away from the layout with the remote in their hand so bolting it down is a good idea).