Would a receiver and controller pulled from a broken RC car work as a simple (and cheap) way to create a dead rail loco? Nothing fancy, just something to pull a trackman 2000, no sounds, no reverse, just motion required.
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YES! I did it a few years back with a Spekrum 2.4 radio RC airplane receiver, speed control and radio. I used an 11.1v 3 cell Lipo.
Have Fun!
Ron
In 2011 I built a battery powered R/C setup using a two-channel 49Mhz receiver from a $15.00 toy car. It has speed and direction control and still works beautifully today. A demo is contained in the LCCA on-line video archives.
This sounds like a fun project, thanks for the responses, let the search begin.
Not a bad idea. Attached is a simple inexpensive setup for pulling a track cleaner based on a $15.00 wireless receiver.
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Any cheap RC car or train electronics should work.
The main limit is how much power the motor uses.
Just don't use any air craft RC electronics, just ground type.
Unless you want crash any toy airplanes or drones in the air nearby.
Yea, but you might want to disable the throttle return and/or figure a way to lock the throttle unless you like the "deadman" aspect.
As mentioned, the board needs to be for a large as/larger motor than what you are using now.(amps)
The cheap remote trains (G) have a single speed fwd/rev board that I've activated with a car type throttle on the same freq. ... once moving it couldn't be stopped, only reversed or forward, lol.
If you wanted hands free, 1 speed, a latching relay(s) controlled by either type board could pull it off. On a switch; hands free option. Maybe latching only on top speed etc ... (latching means it stays active (powering itself via active + output), until "told" to drop out (remove coil power - leg/visa versa)
If you use the single speed/relay method the board can be for a smaller motor.... the board only powers the low amp relay's coil, the relay's points can be rated for much higher amps/volts (and pass ac or dc). The relay points deliver your pre-chosen motor power.
And you could get the rev. commands actual reversal of polarity to make the relay unlatch (diode fun) (stop...or go, it can be set either way really 
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