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I feel like this is really something that could propel operating cars into the future but maybe I just don't know enough about how they were originally marketed or sold.  These K-Line, Lionel, and Williams operating cars could be activated by remote control and have really transformed how we can use these on our layout at home.  I don't need to line it up on an activator track, these work anywhere on the track.  Especially handy for layouts that have more curves than straights, you can unload boxes, logs, oil drums, all sorts of stuff from a handheld remote.  We made a video on it recently if you haven't seen these in action before.

Having something like this to use with Bluetooth for application with modern control systems like a WTIU or Base 3 would really allow more interactive play.  For those more familiar with when these were originally marketed, I'd be curious to know if their initial reception was positive.  I'd love to hear your opinions if this is something you think could be successful for future products.  And in the meantime, I hope you enjoy the video we made on ours!

Special thanks to Art and Del for sending me some footage to use of your operating cars in the video, too!

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Back when the ERR Mini Commander boards were available, there was a host of conversions for many cars to let them run from TMCC/Legacy.  MTH never did offer a similar capability.

Yeah as usual with many things I've been learning as I dive into this hobby... I missed a lot of great stuff in recent years.  Someone was kind enough to send me a Hotbox Reefer with a Mini Commander installed already!  Been messing around with that quite a bit and essentially this works the way I wished more operating cars did.  Right from my remote I can activate the features... I feel like this is my next mission in 2025.  To find out how to add more features through that ERR commander board.

And about as quickly as that seemed like a good idea, some basic research on the matter shows that I have a much higher mountain to climb.  Man, would be nice to get things operating through the remote.  I have some fun MTH operating cars that would be really nice to convert to control through my Base3 and CAB-1L. 

There's always a way to skin the cat, sometimes it just takes some more effort.

I designed these remote control rigs to allow automation of a variety of rolling stock.

Remote Control for Lionel Sound Boxcars

If you really wanted control from the TMCC/Legacy remote, you could add the matching transmitter to an ASC2 or similar I/O controller.  The whole project is described here.

The Universal Wireless Remote Control Topic

Last edited by gunrunnerjohn

I also was using the decently robust MTH air whistle board to adapt operating cars (dump, coal load, operating signalman, operating reefer).

By using this board- you can wire it to use bell or whistle command from the transformer to trigger action rather than the pickup shoes. This is how MTH wired the operating signalman caboose.

https://www.mthtrains.com/products/ai-0300000

MTH has been out of the board for a while and I decided to roll my own new design using more recent transistors (the old ones MTH used are obsolete).

Edit- I should add, I put 3 holes for mounting in this design. It roughly matches the original MTH mounting with the 2 outer holes, and matches the center hole single post mount of the Lionel whistle board.

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Last edited by Vernon Barry
@texgeekboy posted:

@Vernon Barry,

Would your board be able to control the milkman car?  Now that would be cool.

My board probably won't work for a milk car.

But- flipside is- the better solution for a milk car is replace the solenoid with a cheap 9g RC servo and simple 555 timer circuit https://ogrforum.com/topic/809...42#80973530429155642

Here is info using the newer Lionel board to do it https://ogrforum.com/topic/179...6#179510176861958466

The milk car discussion reminds me of the version that was part of the Lionel 120th Anniversary Santa Fe Set. It was a great looking remake...BUT...used a servo instead of the old solenoid set up for much smoother operation.

I tried to find one for months on separate sale as a set break up to no avail. Maybe I'll try again.

Last edited by johnstrains

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