Model Trains have had many innovations over the years such as trains that smoke to rail sounds and now we have whistle smoke and disappearing coal loads.
So what do you think will be next?
Passengers talking or walking inside car, trains that ask you for permission to proceed, programmable stations so you can make your own stops, trains that stop based on signals given, diesels that smell like diesel (lol),bosses that yell at you when your not on time.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
My guess would be innovations in communication.Trains that can communicate and interact with each other.Video capabilities that can be uplinked to the internet.Nick
A operating interface that will automatically control trains through the command system. It will start, stop, make meets, control switches, speed and station stops. It will require you to enter your track plan via a software track plan. Enter all loco numbers and create a schedule. Then you sit back and watch.........but not me...I run conventional!!!!
PS I know this is being done now....and has been....but never offered from a manufacture as a plug in install.
Nice if Lionel will bring back the Station Sounds Car for their future sets.
I think the next big innovation will be trains that work out of the box
Freight cars with electro-couplers
I am making my own ones for the cars that will be in my yard so I can do away with the un-couplers in the track!
A operating interface that will automatically control trains through the command system. It will start, stop, make meets, control switches, speed and station stops. It will require you to enter your track plan via a software track plan. Enter all loco numbers and create a schedule. Then you sit back and watch
We've had that for decades.
It's called standing trackside by a prototype railroad.
Looks pretty realistic, too.
Rusty
Freight cars with electro-couplers
I am making my own ones for the cars that will be in my yard so I can do away with the un-couplers in the track!
Kadee already has it for G Gauge.
Rusty
Passengers that wave as the train goes by. BigRail
A operating interface that will automatically control trains through the command system. It will start, stop, make meets, control switches, speed and station stops. It will require you to enter your track plan via a software track plan. Enter all loco numbers and create a schedule. Then you sit back and watch
We've had that for decades.
It's called standing trackside by a prototype railroad. Looks pretty realistic, too.
Rusty
You edited out the '.but not me...I run conventional!!!!' as I do it your way!!!! But if a dollar is to be made....someone will sell it!
I'd like to see someone develop a modern "talking station" with announcements and sound effects. I've always questioned why there was so much effort made to have "talking trains" like MTH's station announcement sounds. It would make more sense to have the train pulling into the station, stop and then leave and the station would be where the sound was coming from. It could be made to operate automatically, controlled by the train itself or perhaps by a separate control from the operator. Sometimes, in real life, station announcements are made when there is no train in the station at the time. Naturally there should be various recordings offered because you'd have a different announcement for different trains. All this could be programed into a modern, electronic station sound effect. Of course, if you have more stations, each one would require such a device.
Paul Fischer
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
