Crest TE System

I too am interested. Aristo are supposedly releasing a new receiver especially designed for O gauge this year I know Ben at the NJ Hirailers has good things to say about the system, he's been using the present system for the past year or more.

The battery powered option is practical, you will get several hours of running, although I'm not sure about the exact figures.

I also will add it to some Williams E7's, and F3's. I have a few ABA and ABBA sets so the battery will easily fit in a B or dummy A unit.

I love the battery idea, meaning I can put it on any 2 or 3 rail system without  or with any power, while other trains are being run. It's the most realistic way to go, just like a real train. The other important point with the Aristo system is of course the transmission signal, direct from the the hand held controller to the loco, with some hundreds of feet range through walls etc. no loss of signal through the track ever.

Im waiting for the smaller stuff with sound too. I have a couple units running and its pretty tight in there if you add a sound board like I did. Onboard sound and a smaller reciever would really help out. I had a battery powered RS-3 running on a battery stuck on a flatcar and it performed real well, but it was just alot easier for me to use track power indoors so at this time I dont have any on battery power. TE just needs to be a little more O gauge friendly to really get going.

At first I was a bit hesitant about the batteries. Too many memories of batteries that wore out on Christmas morning!  LOL!

I'm slowly coming around to it the idea. I'm hoping I can house the batteries in the non-powered A, and use the same tether that would connect to the main A for recharging. Or possibly re-wire the pickups so the charging is done by simply setting it on a piece of track? Maybe a blocked off siding?  Kinda like the Chevy Volt - - - Park n Charge!