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A decade ago, there was a product called ChooChooCam (kit) which I bought and installed in the cab of a Williams SD-90 dummy.  I subsequently build another train cam for a fraction of the cost.  At that time, the R/C helicopter guys were installing cams in their aircraft and their websites had a lot of good technical info.  These days, drones with cameras provide the same capabilities.

For a custom installation which you need for a locomotive cab, you need three components:

1.  Camera  - probably a "board camera" or "spy camera" - that can fit in the locomotive.

2.  Wireless video transmitter and receiver.

3.  Power supply that converts track power (18vac) to 5v or 12v DC needed by the camera and transmitter.  (batteries can be used if you don't care to build one).

We used to cannibalize X10 wireless cams for the camera and transmitter boards which, after the ugly housings were discarded, would fit into dummy locomotive shells or rolling stock.

K-Line produced a video car that had a camera that looked very much like an X10 cam.

In the years since the original ChooChooCam, the wireless video gear has gotten a lot smaller and cheaper.  There are numerous threads on this forum describing solutions.  I can't recommend specific components since what is currently available changes constantly, but you might search for "mini 5.8 ghz wireless spy camera".  That kit (camera with built in transmitter, plus receiver) is small and may fit within your equipment along with a 9v battery and not require extracting the camera and transmitter from the plastic housing.

 

FWIW....

Some time ago I saw an online video of a camera installation in a model passenger car that gave a through-the-window sideways view of the passing scenes.  VERY convincing and clever!  The technique simply involved a small mirror mounted within to allow best packaging alignment of the camera in the car, but turning the view to a different perspective.

I've often thought that this technique could be of advantage in an O scale diesel such as a Geep or GE/Alco hood unit, giving an engineer's forward view through a small window while accommodating the easier packaging of the camera.

Perhaps a mirror might be of use to you in considering how to get the view you're looking for?

As for small cameras...they're everywhere available now.  If you have a LHS in the area that well serves the R/C planes/helicopters/drones end of the hobby, they have small cameras that we've occasionally rubber-banded to an HO flatcar to show our (LHS) customers how easy it is to dazzle yourself or your friends with a different view of your (HO, in this case) layout.  Our store layout never looked so good!!!!!

Just a thought....

KD

Last edited by dkdkrd

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