06-25-2010, 03:55 PM
IIRC, I saw an article in 1963 Model Railroader about modifying an Astrac (early command control system made by GE) for walk-around control (tethered). The big advantage was being able to independently operate rear pushers as helpers.
Walkaround control was also a feature of the Ma & Pa project layout in Model Railroader in 1965. I think the PH&C series also had how to make your own walk-around controller in 1962 or 1963 in the wiring article.
Interesting points about tethered vs memory operations. I have decided I do NOT want memory operations on my 4x8 sized layouts. I see it as a disaster waiting to happen if you can't get communications back very quickly on a small layout. Murphy's Law says that the jacks, plugs, or wireless link will fail just when you need to hit the emergency stop.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
....modeling foggy coastal Oregon, where it's always 1900....
Walkaround control was also a feature of the Ma & Pa project layout in Model Railroader in 1965. I think the PH&C series also had how to make your own walk-around controller in 1962 or 1963 in the wiring article.
Interesting points about tethered vs memory operations. I have decided I do NOT want memory operations on my 4x8 sized layouts. I see it as a disaster waiting to happen if you can't get communications back very quickly on a small layout. Murphy's Law says that the jacks, plugs, or wireless link will fail just when you need to hit the emergency stop.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
....modeling foggy coastal Oregon, where it's always 1900....