Battery Operated versus Electrically Operated G-Scale Railroading
Hi,
I'm relatively new to Garden Railway and five years ago I faced the same question you are asking. In our area we don't have an abundance of Garden Railroading enthusiasts to consult with. I know of only two other Garden Railway's besides mine, one is track powered with an excellent Bridgewerks transformer system, the other is battery operated with Remote Control using the Airwire 900system. Both work extremely well. I spoke with both operators at length. There are pros and cons to each system.
The track power operator has transformer power supplied to multiple locations around the layout through underground conduit installed before the layout landscape was done. He keeps his track clean with an LGB track cleaning Loco to ensure good power to the power pick-ups on his locos, tenders and rolling stock. He has installed jumpers across all track joints to ensure consistent power to the rails across the layout. He uses LGB Code 332 track. He can operate any locos right out of the box. Debris that falls on the track such as leaves, paper, etc, will stop the train as it interupts the flow of power from rail to power pick-up.
The Battery/R.C. system using Airwire 900 components also works very well, doesn't require multiple power/track connections, doesn't require track cleaning, no jumper wires across rail joints, and debris on the track won't stop the train if it doesn't derail. But, and this is where the expense comes in, all locos will require conversion from track power to battery/r.c. using whatever manufacturer's circuit boards you decide to go with. Batteries don't last forever either.
After looking at both options and doing alot of reading on the subject I based my decision on our local conditions and my skills with taking things apart and fixing them. We get a bit of winter here in Canada. Heavy frosts that will freeze any moisture in the ground cause frost heaving. Frost heaves move the track, move your bridges, tunnels and anything else sitting on the surface of the ground, all of which loosen rail connections. Thus the need for power jumpers across the rail joints for rail power. In our neighbourhood we have alot of trees, both evergreen and deciduous, so lots of leaves flying around in the fall. Snow in winter and frost on the rails are other sources of possible rail power problems if you run in winter. (Watching your locos plow snow is not much of a novelty here....a snow blower car is an asset, sure wish I had one). After seeing the amount of work involved with using track power in our climate both for installation and maintenance I opted for battery/r.c power. I still installed underground conduits but for landscape lighting, village lighting, water lines to water features, and air lines to my SVRR turnouts. I also spread four dump truck loads of 3/8 minus gravel to build up my layout and provide good drainage and reduce frost heaving. I went with the Airwire 900 system and I do all my own loco conversions. I'm sure Dave at Airwire could connect you with someone to do your conversions if you're not a 'jack of all trades / take it apart to figure out how it works' kind of person. There is good YouTube video on darn near any topic you want to learn. The Airwire manuals are excellent. (I have to re-read them every spring due to the grey factor).
I'm happy with my decision despite the added cost. I spend less time on track maintenance/installation. I can change my track layout when I dream up some other idea without major excavation work for track power wiring. I work on loco conversions when the snow is too deep to plow.
Again, with proper installation both systems work well. Read up on the topic and make your decision based on your needs and abilities, not necessarily on what others tell you. Welcome to the hobby!
Phill
