RC tracks + 9v tracks?

[PSPguy]

Would one be able to have a track using both types if you had a 9v motor in the front and back of the train. Take this pic for example:

Think about this. The red is the back and yellow is the front. The black boxes are the motors. The blue lines are 9v and finally grey line is RC. Would this work as long as one motor is on a 9v track?

[Siegfried]

It would depend on the design of the track. You need to have an unbroken line of metal from the power conectors and the motor. Thus, if you do this once, probably, twice, probably no. You could cheat and use wires though....

[PSPguy]

So what your saying is that if you use a wire to connect all the 9v tracks it would work? Like so:

[JINZONINGEN73]

Weight, rather, speed are the issue here. The train needs to be going fast enough to make it over to the next electrified terminal.

Go too slow and EEEEEEERT! A bunch of pissed off commuters.

However, depending on layout, adding "dead" tracks here and there might actually be a fun thing to do. (Not even sure why, just brainstorming).

[legotrainfan]

I think it works. But it won't work when you use two 9V tracks, two RC tracks, two 9V tracks, and so on. Then you would have to use a speed regulator for all two 9V tracks. I thought about inserting one RC track to be able to build routes that would normally short cut but I haven't yet tried it. With two motors it should be possible as long as one motor is on the metallic tracks.

Edited February 22, 2008 by legotrainfan

[PSPguy]

Weight, rather, speed are the issue here. The train needs to be going fast enough to make it over to the next electrified terminal.

Go too slow and EEEEEEERT! A bunch of pissed off commuters.

However, depending on layout, adding "dead" tracks here and there might actually be a fun thing to do. (Not even sure why, just brainstorming).

Thats why we have two motors. ;-)

EDIT: I just reread legotrainfan's post and that is exactly what I am talking about.

Edited February 22, 2008 by PSPguy

[Siegfried]

So what your saying is that if you use a wire to connect all the 9v tracks it would work? Like so:

Yes. But as the others said it may only work at speed. It could also be a pain to connect the wires, but that would let you give the train a power boost...

[Dfenz]

This sounds like a good way of utilising the double cross-over track piece provided the 9V tracks eventually loop back to the controller or two controllers are used for two isolated segments of track.

Presumably there is enough power in one motor to push a train over a dead section of track, e.g the double cross-over section? There is no 'neutral' gear on the temporary non-operating motor so it will presumably be resisting movement once the power disengages. Not sure if the resistance would be enough to cause derailment problems.

Sounds like an opportunity for someone to experiment.

David

[PSPguy]

I would if I could but I have no RC tracks and no easy way of getting them. So...Who has RC tracks?

[Siegfried]

I would if I could but I have no RC tracks and no easy way of getting them. So...Who has RC tracks?

So you're asking this question but you don't own any..... OK. Well I have RC tracks, but oddly I bought them, and even more oddly, I want them. ;-)

[PSPguy]

Well wont if I got them and my plan didnt work? ;-)

[legotrainfan]

I would if I could but I have no RC tracks and no easy way of getting them. So...Who has RC tracks?

I got two RC tracks by phoning the LEGO replacement parts service. If you phone, it's easier for the LEGO employees to find the element you want when you give them a set number. So just tell them you want some straigth tracks which are in set 7896, for example. Or, even easier, give them the element number: 4279714 (product name: rail straight 16M). I know the number because I bought two once to - as I've mentioned before - build layouts that would normally cause a short circuit. But since I got them I've only used them to make sidings longer. The two straight RC tracks cost 2.72 Euro; at least when I bought them (excluding shipping costs). Maybe the price has gone up a bit since then.

EDIT: When you ask yourself what you could do with the tracks if your plan did not work: to make sidings longer as I've done.

Edited February 22, 2008 by legotrainfan

[SavaTheAggie]

Using RC track to break up sections of 9v track have been used in the past very successfully, but not for the sake of stretching out the amount of usable track. What these people have done is create power 'blocks', sections of 9v track powered by a Mindstorms RCX brick. As a train travels block to block, the RCX(s) control where the train is going and if it needs to stop. This way you can not only have an automated start/stop (like at a train station) but you can have two or more trains on the same loop of track.

--Tony

Edited February 22, 2008 by SavaTheAggie