Here is a video and some photos of my G-scale (1/23) 1898 Baldwin tank engine. This narrow gauge steam locomotive has a 2-4-2 wheel configuration and was built in the United States by Baldwin Locomotive Works. Most of them were made to order for a British railroad. In 1897 a workers strike in Britain kept local engineering companies from filling these orders. After construction in Philadelphia, these locomotives were disassembled, shipped to England and reassembled by Baldwin staff there. This type of engine carries it’s own extra coal and water supplies without the use of a separate tender car. This made for a simple setup but one that had a very modest operating range.
My Model started as a Bachmann G-scale plastic engine without special lights or sounds. I added a DCC (digital command control) radio receiver card, 2 sound cards, interior and exterior lighting and detailing, an engineer, and a fireman. Since I was converting this from track power to on-board LiPo battery power I had to add a car to hold the large battery. I found a passenger/baggage car perfect to house the battery and another control card but still have a passenger area where I could add more details and model figures. The basic steam engine sounds were supplied with one of the sound cards. Notice how the steam “chuffs” are correctly synchronized to engine linkage motion. I designed in and programmed an Arduino micro computer to control the second sound card and some of the lighting via the RC DCC signals. I collected and programmed sounds for the conductor, passenger, and random track noises. I, of course, had to add the lighted caboose as a finishing touch. All train motions, lights, and sounds are controlled with a small handheld RC transmitter.
Down In The Shop 