Large Scale Central

Li-Ion Batteries & Tunnels not such a good idea!

Electronics Power and Sound
#1

Most of you know that the protection circuit in a Li-Ion battery pack will shut the power off when the charge gets too low. I found out tonight that this feature can cause a bit of problem if the loco is in a tunnel when the battery circuit signals end-of-life :o

Fortunately, the loco that did this was my light-weight Porter 0-4-0 pulling 1 car and a caboose. A rescue train was called in led by a 45 Tonner. The rescue engine was able to couple to the train and drag the engine out of the tunnel. A 5F crane was used to get the Porter on to a flat car for the return trip to the shops.

I was concerned about clearance when entering the house but was surprised to find that the Porter sitting on a flat was no higher than my AMS caboose :smiley:

#2

What Jon, no access hatch??? Yikes!! LOL Regal

#3

Yes, there is a hatch but that means getting flat on the ground and reaching in. Dragging the train out with the rescue engine was a lot less effort :smiley:

#4

No puictures? Come on jon on you know we like pictures.

#5

I had the same thing happen with NiHM’s while visiting a friends layout. Battery died while going through a tunnel. Fortunately the cars were still outside the tunnel.

#6

That 5F crane comes in handy, doesn’t it.

#7

Absolutely!..:wink:

#8
Shawn said:
No puictures? Come on jon on you know we like pictures.
I'll have to re-create it just for you :)
#9

Jon Radder said:
Yes, there is a hatch but that means getting flat on the ground and reaching in. Dragging the train out with the rescue engine was a lot less effort :smiley:

Jon I always keep one of these handy for gettin into those tight places where I can’t reach!! Hah LOL He Works cheap a banana or two a day for his pay.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/blueregal/_forumfiles/article-1298302789314-0D4BE54A000005DC-6370_466x310.jpg)

Couldn’t resist the devil made me do it! LOL

#10

“He Works cheap a banana or two a day for his pay.”

He also looks so photogenic climbing that large scale model of the Empire State Building. I just hate having to replace all those radio-controlled biplanes after his climb to the top. ;>)

Best,
David Meashey

#11

At Shawn’s request, railroad management re-created yesterdays engine failure and rescue for the staff photographer. Results follow. DRAMATIZATION C.V.S.Ry. #3 was leading a short excursion featuring a caboose recently acquired from the Jackson & Burke…

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post2/RescueTrain01.jpg)

Just as #3 entered Deep Cut Tunnel, the locomotive suffered a disabling mechanical failure stranding it in the mouth of the tunnel…

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post2/RescueTrain02.jpg)

Fortunately, all C.V.S.Ry. locomotives are Radio Equipped and a rescue call was placed to the dispatcher. Soon thereafter a rescue train arrived backing up the main-line to Deep Cut…

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post2/RescueTrain04.jpg)

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post2/RescueTrain03.jpg)

After assessing the situation, it was decided that the disabled engine and it’s train could be dragged out of the tunnel . Coupler matches were checked and the hook was made…

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post2/RescueTrain05.jpg)

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post2/RescueTrain06.jpg)

Porter #3 and train emerge from Deep Cut, being dragged by the rescue train…

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post2/RescueTrain07.jpg)

The disabled locomotive is dropped from the rear and the rescue train continues down-grade…

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post2/RescueTrain08.jpg)

Unfortunately, our crack photographer must have been on crack or something, because out of 120 some pictures taken, only those shown so far came out. Apparently a camera setting was changed accidentally. Photos of switching that occurred at Indian Hill Junction to re-order the train and a move through the wye were lost completely to severe under-exposure. Once the rescue train had traversed the wye, it’s flat car was positioned as close as possible to the locomotive. The image that follows was digitally enhanced to make the image visible. It suffered severe detail loss in the process…

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post2/RescueTrain09.jpg)

Shots of the 5F crane in action were totally lost, but we did managed to salvage this one of the locomotive positioned on top of the flat…

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post2/RescueTrain10.jpg)

We got lucky in that one shot of the locomotive on the flat was taken in the bright late afternoon sun…

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post2/RescueTrain11.jpg)

And finally, another salvaged shot of the locomotive rounding Coal Dump Curve atop the flat…

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post2/RescueTrain12.jpg)

C.V.S.Ry. management sincerely apologizes for the loss of photos and the poor quality of the salvaged photos. The staff photographer will be disciplined.

#12

Nice reenactment Jon. Thanks for the pics. As far as the ruined photographs go, maybe the photographer was laughing to hard to pay strict attention to his job. You can’t blame him

#13

Jon - You need the new RailBoss Plus control. It would have warned you when you only had a few minutes run time left before the safety PCB kicked you off. Otherwise, Murphey’s Law says it will always puke in the tunnel, on the hill, 300 feet from the train shed, etc.

#14
Del Tapparo said:
Jon - You need the new RailBoss Plus control. It would have warned you when you only had a few minutes run time left before the safety PCB kicked you off. Otherwise, Murphey's Law says it will always puke in the tunnel, on the hill, 300 feet from the train shed, etc.
Cool feature. What is used as a warning?

EDIT - No need to answer; I just read the manual: Flashing headlight and 50% speed reduction.

#15

Which is resettable to 100% to get the train back home.

#16

If this was a dramatization to show what happened and the pictures turned out bad, couldn’t there be another dramatization to show what happened that went wrong during the dramatization? I think, for historical accuracy and future viewings on the History Channel, management should pay overtime to recreate the dramatization correctly.

#17
Ric Golding said:
If this was a dramatization to show what happened and the pictures turned out bad, couldn't there be another dramatization to show what happened that went wrong during the dramatization? I think, for historical accuracy and future viewings on the History Channel, management should pay overtime to recreate the dramatization correctly.
I can't stand the pressure.
#18

Hey, it’s an excuse to run trains…:wink:

#19

Your running trains, I’m laying rock. Suck it up and take some more pictures.

MMMMM - hit one of those magic words. Would be spelled like sock, but with a “U”.

#20
Ric Golding said:
Would be spelled like sock, but with a "U".
Souk? Home, James, and don't spare the camels.