MRC Trainpower 6000?

I am running the Trainpower 6200, which is 60va split between the DC and AC posts of the transformer.  It will handle a single open frame motor All Nation/Atwater F3(which are door stops being all diecast).  With a pair of powered ones, it will get pretty hot after an hour, but never so hot that it trips out or has an issue.  I plan to use the old Marnold "Marn O Power" transfomer/control station designed for older O scale with 4 or 5 amp output.  Those are rheostat style control and not the best for lower draw can motors.   Look at Bridgewerks, they make high amp DC transfomers for the G scale track powered layouts.  Those will work well on a bigger 2 rail layout that is DC with blocks.  Or MRC did one called the Powermaster G with 10amps of power.   The 6000 or 6200 would work, but might get a bit warm on longer op sessions with long trains.  Obviously you want to be in the high power/LGB mode for O scale trains.  Thats the higher amp mode on both the 6200 and 6000.   I wish MRC did a nice metal case high amp set up back in the day, but they did not.  2.5amp was the limit.  Marnold was 4 or 5 amp.   Many old school 2 rail layouts had home brew throttles back then with a high amp rheostat, Lionel Z or ZW transformer at full throttle and a rectifier to change AC to DC power.  That can still be done today as well.   Parts are easily found on ebay to do that.   The large old school HO club I belonged to for years had a pair of ZW's that powered 5 mainline cabs on a 15x50 layout.  Each cab had its own rectifier circuit, throttle circuit with momentum and brake along with full set of block switches for each of the 3 divisions of the layout.  The same would work in O scale as long as everything is designed for the amp draw and had fuses/breakers in case of a dead short.    Mike

@artfull dodger posted:

I am running the Trainpower 6200, which is 60va split between the DC and AC posts of the transformer.  It will handle a single open frame motor All Nation/Atwater F3(which are door stops being all diecast).  With a pair of powered ones, it will get pretty hot after an hour, but never so hot that it trips out or has an issue.  I plan to use the old Marnold "Marn O Power" transfomer/control station designed for older O scale with 4 or 5 amp output.  Those are rheostat style control and not the best for lower draw can motors.   Look at Bridgewerks, they make high amp DC transfomers for the G scale track powered layouts.  Those will work well on a bigger 2 rail layout that is DC with blocks.  Or MRC did one called the Powermaster G with 10amps of power.   The 6000 or 6200 would work, but might get a bit warm on longer op sessions with long trains.  Obviously you want to be in the high power/LGB mode for O scale trains.  Thats the higher amp mode on both the 6200 and 6000.   I wish MRC did a nice metal case high amp set up back in the day, but they did not.  2.5amp was the limit.  Marnold was 4 or 5 amp.   Many old school 2 rail layouts had home brew throttles back then with a high amp rheostat, Lionel Z or ZW transformer at full throttle and a rectifier to change AC to DC power.  That can still be done today as well.   Parts are easily found on ebay to do that.   The large old school HO club I belonged to for years had a pair of ZW's that powered 5 mainline cabs on a 15x50 layout.  Each cab had its own rectifier circuit, throttle circuit with momentum and brake along with full set of block switches for each of the 3 divisions of the layout.  The same would work in O scale as long as everything is designed for the amp draw and had fuses/breakers in case of a dead short.    Mike

Thank you very much Mike!  Your reply is greatly appreciated.  It does a fantastic job of answering all my questions about what to do for powering my layout.  It saves me from additional postings when I start actually building my layout.

You're very wecome Jim.  Hopefully I can find some more folks in central/north central Indiana and get either a modular or club layout started soon.  Be nice to stretch the legs on my engines on a bigger layout that is not DCC or has the option to run either.  I love vintage 2 rail O scale trains.    Mike

Most late model 2 rail trains have can motors and can operate on 2 amps or less 12-volt power.

@harley rider posted:

Most late model 2 rail trains have can motors and can operate on 2 amps or less 12-volt power.

Thank you, good to know as I move forward.

I use a MRC HO power pack for my O scale 2 rail.