Building a Hi-Railer - Revision history

Dnevil: /* External Links */

2023-04-17T16:03:54Z

External Links

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:03, 17 April 2023
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	* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151023023323/https://www.ridetrains.net/motor-controller-handheld.htm Schematic and pin-out for hand-held controller from Ride Trains (from <i>Archive.org</i>)]		* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151023023323/https://www.ridetrains.net/motor-controller-handheld.htm Schematic and pin-out for hand-held controller from Ride Trains (from <i>Archive.org</i>)]
			* [https://www.discoverlivesteam.com/magazineold/83.html "Building a Personal Rail Vehicle", <i>DiscoverLiveSteam.com</i>]

Dnevil: /* External Links */

2023-02-22T14:53:56Z

External Links

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:53, 22 February 2023
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	== External Links ==		== External Links ==

	* [~~http~~://ridetrains.net/motor-controller-handheld.htm Schematic and pin-out for hand-held controller from Ride Trains]		* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151023023323/https://www.ridetrains.net/motor-controller-handheld.htm Schematic and pin-out for hand-held controller from Ride Trains (from <i>Archive.org</i>)]

Dnevil at 14:50, 22 February 2023

2023-02-22T14:50:55Z

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 == External Links ==
 * [http://ridetrains.net/motor-controller-handheld.htm Schematic and pin-out for hand-held controller from Ride Trains]

Dnevil at 15:08, 6 January 2021

2021-01-06T15:08:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:08, 6 January 2021
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	Further research showed me that in my state and the surrounding area was pretty much exclusively 7-1/2 inch gauge. Something like an F unit was not only going to be out of my price range at well over $10,000 but at seven feet long and several hundred pounds I would have neither a means of loading it or transporting it.		Further research showed me that in my state and the surrounding area was pretty much exclusively 7-1/2 inch gauge. Something like an F unit was not only going to be out of my price range at well over $10,000 but at seven feet long and several hundred pounds I would have neither a means of loading it or transporting it.

	It was around 2007 when I finally took the dive and decided that I was serious about getting into the live steam hobby. This was still a few years before the Galloping Goose kits became readily available. The cheapest entry level engine I could find was a featureless box essentially. It was nice because it didn’t require a riding car, but it didn’t resemble anything “real life.” It did however, give me an idea.		It was around 2007 when I finally took the dive and decided that I was serious about getting into the live steam hobby. This was still a few years before the [[Galloping Goose]] kits became readily available. The cheapest entry level engine I could find was a featureless box essentially. It was nice because it didn’t require a riding car, but it didn’t resemble anything “real life.” It did however, give me an idea.
	My ideal train, or in this case rail vehicle, would be about three feet long and resemble something found in the real world. It also had to be light enough to be lifted and fit in a small SUV. I was not about to purchase a trailer and I couldn’t afford to upgrade my car to something bigger.		My ideal train, or in this case rail vehicle, would be about three feet long and resemble something found in the real world. It also had to be light enough to be lifted and fit in a small SUV. I was not about to purchase a trailer and I couldn’t afford to upgrade my car to something bigger.

Dnevil: /* External Links */

2018-07-06T14:19:52Z

External Links

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:19, 6 July 2018
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	== External Links ==		== External Links ==

	* [http://ridetrains.net/motor-controller-handheld.htm Schematic and pin-out for ~~cand~~-held controller from Ride Trains]		* [http://ridetrains.net/motor-controller-handheld.htm Schematic and pin-out for hand-held controller from Ride Trains]

Dnevil: /* Videos */

2016-04-21T16:35:26Z

Videos

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:35, 21 April 2016
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	<videoflash>cng0HYzcSco</videoflash>		<videoflash>cng0HYzcSco</videoflash>
	<br><br>		<br><br>

			== External Links ==

			* [http://ridetrains.net/motor-controller-handheld.htm Schematic and pin-out for cand-held controller from Ride Trains]

Dnevil at 14:35, 21 April 2016

2016-04-21T14:35:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:35, 21 April 2016
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	<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2">		<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2">
	File:HighRailerGrandTruck.jpg\|The High-Rail truck decorated for the Grand Trunk Railroad.		File:HighRailerGrandTruck.jpg\|The High-Rail truck decorated for the Grand Trunk Railroad.
			File:HighRailTruck Frisco.jpg\|The High-Rail Truck decorated for Frisco. Notice the fold-out foot foot rests that hide behind working doors.
	File:HighRailTruckFedEx.jpg\|The High-Rail truck decorated for FedEx.		File:HighRailTruckFedEx.jpg\|The High-Rail truck decorated for FedEx.
	File:HighRailTruckFedExSide.jpg		File:HighRailTruckFedExSide.jpg

Dnevil at 20:59, 20 April 2016

2016-04-20T20:59:56Z

Dnevil at 20:58, 20 April 2016

2016-04-20T20:58:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:58, 20 April 2016
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	[[Category:Beginners]]		[[Category:Beginners]]
	[[Building a Hi-Railer]]		[[Building a Hi-Railer]]
	[[File:MikeScherpenberg CokeTruck HALS byRickWhite.JPG\|thumb\|right\|300px\|[[Michael Scherpenberg]] on his famous "Coke Truck" touring the [[Houston Area Live Steamers]] track. Photo by Rick White.]]		[[File:MikeScherpenberg CokeTruck HALS byRickWhite.JPG\|thumb\|right\|300px\|[[Michael Scherpenberg]] on his famous "Coke Truck" touring the [[Houston Area Live Steamers]] track, May 2014. Mike built the truck for less than $500. He changed the paint scheme every year. Photo by Rick White.]]

	by [[Michael Scherpenberg]]		by [[Michael Scherpenberg]]

Dnevil at 20:55, 20 April 2016

2016-04-20T20:55:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:55, 20 April 2016
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	[[Category:Beginners]]		[[Category:Beginners]]
	[[Building a Hi-Railer]]		[[Building a Hi-Railer]]
	[[File:~~MikeScherpenbergHiRailHALS~~.~~jpg~~\|thumb\|right\|~~400px~~\|[[Michael Scherpenberg]] ~~enjoys a spin~~ on his ~~High-Rail truck at~~ [[Houston Area Live Steamers~~\|HALS~~]] track.]]		[[File:MikeScherpenberg CokeTruck HALS byRickWhite.JPG\|thumb\|right\|300px\|[[Michael Scherpenberg]] on his famous "Coke Truck" touring the [[Houston Area Live Steamers]] track. Photo by Rick White.]]

	by [[Michael Scherpenberg]]		by [[Michael Scherpenberg]]

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	File:HighRailTruckFedExSide.jpg		File:HighRailTruckFedExSide.jpg
	File:HighRailIceCreateTruck DublinAndRioGrande 20110312.PNG\|The High Rail Ice Create Truck about to tour to [[Dublin & Rio Grande]] railroad at the [[Southwestern Live Steamers]] meet, 12 March 2011.		File:HighRailIceCreateTruck DublinAndRioGrande 20110312.PNG\|The High Rail Ice Create Truck about to tour to [[Dublin & Rio Grande]] railroad at the [[Southwestern Live Steamers]] meet, 12 March 2011.
			File:MikeScherpenbergHiRailHALS.jpg\|[[Michael Scherpenberg]] enjoys a spin on his High-Rail truck at [[Houston Area Live Steamers\|HALS]] track.
	</gallery>		</gallery>

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:59, 20 April 2016
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	The basic frame itself had coupler pockets already mounted with open wheels and a 1/3 horsepower motor that was chain driven. All that was needed to finish it was a body, batteries and a controller. [[Ride Trains]] sells and recommends [[Dimension Engineering]]’s 25A motor controller (SYREN-25). This control board is versatile and capable of working both from radio control and a wired remote control. Over the years, I have found the board to work well for this hobby and the few times I have had the board burn out, Dimension has been great about sending out a new one when I returned the old one without any questions or hassles.		The basic frame itself had coupler pockets already mounted with open wheels and a 1/3 horsepower motor that was chain driven. All that was needed to finish it was a body, batteries and a controller. [[Ride Trains]] sells and recommends [[Dimension Engineering]]’s 25A motor controller (SYREN-25). This control board is versatile and capable of working both from radio control and a wired remote control. Over the years, I have found the board to work well for this hobby and the few times I have had the board burn out, Dimension has been great about sending out a new one when I returned the old one without any questions or hassles.

	<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px">		<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2">
	File:RideTrains3FootPoweredFrame.jpg\|Three foot powered chassis by [[Ride Trains]].		File:RideTrains3FootPoweredFrame.jpg\|Three foot powered chassis by [[Ride Trains]].
	File:SyRen25big.jpg\|The SyRen25 motor controller by [[Dimension Engineering]].		File:SyRen25big.jpg\|The SyRen25 motor controller by [[Dimension Engineering]].
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	The next challenge was to build a body. While I have some experience with electrical work, I knew nothing about welding and fabricating and realized I was going to need to outsource. At the time [[Ride Trains]] had not developed one and I really wanted to make it look like a delivery van. After checking around, I found a local shop that dealt with metal and concrete work. They had no prior experience in fabricating anything like this before but agreed to take on the project. The builder provided me with some 3-D CAD drawings based on the tiny van I’d provided for reference. After a few minor revisions, they set to work building the body and a few weeks later, I got the completed rail vehicle.		The next challenge was to build a body. While I have some experience with electrical work, I knew nothing about welding and fabricating and realized I was going to need to outsource. At the time [[Ride Trains]] had not developed one and I really wanted to make it look like a delivery van. After checking around, I found a local shop that dealt with metal and concrete work. They had no prior experience in fabricating anything like this before but agreed to take on the project. The builder provided me with some 3-D CAD drawings based on the tiny van I’d provided for reference. After a few minor revisions, they set to work building the body and a few weeks later, I got the completed rail vehicle.

	<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px">		<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2">
	File:HighRailTruck3DSide.jpg		File:HighRailTruck3DSide.jpg
	File:HighRailTruck3DOrtho.jpg		File:HighRailTruck3DOrtho.jpg
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	I requested the coupler pockets be removed since this was not a locomotive. A few cross bars were added to support the body and it was connected to the front of the frame with hinges allowing it to lift up to get access to the inside. One neat addition on the part of the builder was adding working sliding doors. The doors opened to reveal to hinged foot pegs that dropped out on either side. Initially, I ran the cable for the control box through the door and used it as a handheld controller. Later, I mounted a potentiometer directly on the roof and an on off switch. Eventually, after having trouble with routing the cables and dealing with broken wires, I decided to order the more professionally done complete control system from [[Ride Trains]]. I opted to mount the hand held box directly on the roof.		I requested the coupler pockets be removed since this was not a locomotive. A few cross bars were added to support the body and it was connected to the front of the frame with hinges allowing it to lift up to get access to the inside. One neat addition on the part of the builder was adding working sliding doors. The doors opened to reveal to hinged foot pegs that dropped out on either side. Initially, I ran the cable for the control box through the door and used it as a handheld controller. Later, I mounted a potentiometer directly on the roof and an on off switch. Eventually, after having trouble with routing the cables and dealing with broken wires, I decided to order the more professionally done complete control system from [[Ride Trains]]. I opted to mount the hand held box directly on the roof.

	<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px">		<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2">
	File:HighRailTruckHingedTop.jpg\|Hinged top of the High-Rail truck.		File:HighRailTruckHingedTop.jpg\|Hinged top of the High-Rail truck.
	</gallery>		</gallery>
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	Eventually, I decided to sell my hi-railer as I got into the smaller 1 inch scale which was a more manageable size despite its limitations as to where I could run it. It served me well and I got a good seven or eight years out of it and it was still going strong when it went to its new home.		Eventually, I decided to sell my hi-railer as I got into the smaller 1 inch scale which was a more manageable size despite its limitations as to where I could run it. It served me well and I got a good seven or eight years out of it and it was still going strong when it went to its new home.

	<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px">		<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px" perrow="2">
	File:HighRailerGrandTruck.jpg\|The High-Rail truck decorated for the Grand Trunk Railroad.		File:HighRailerGrandTruck.jpg\|The High-Rail truck decorated for the Grand Trunk Railroad.
	File:HighRailTruckFedEx.jpg\|The High-Rail truck decorated for FedEx.		File:HighRailTruckFedEx.jpg\|The High-Rail truck decorated for FedEx.