17 Collectable Model Trains: Railscope
Description
This article is from the Model Trains FAQ, by Christopher D Coleman with numerous contributions by others.
17 Collectable Model Trains: Railscope
What the heck is Railscope?
Railscope is an invention of LTI which involves a miniature B&W camerasmounted in a locomotive sending a signal to a remote TV. The signal isssent through the rails. The Railscope system includes the locomotive,sreceiver enclosed in a simulated lumber pile, coax cable, coaxsadapter, two inductors and a capacitor. A Lionel 4-1/2" TV was offeredsseparately. On larger layouts use of chokes and resistors on all tracksconnections is necessary to filter out noise that will distort thespicture received. The earlier engine cameras were powered by a 9 Vswhich lasted only about 30 minutes of run time. Later units containsadapters for 6 AA batteries which will last longer. The receiver alsosuses a 9 V which lasts much longer.
First introduced in 1988 with O gauge GP-9 and HO FA-2 with "LionelsLines" markings, all units ran on one 9-Volt battery in the locomotivesand one in the receiver. They suffered from the exhausted locomotivesbattery problem. In 1989 the line was the same except for the additionsof a large scale (G) 0-4-4 and S gauge PA-2, also in Lionel Linessmarkings. In 1990 Two additional O GP-9's were added, one in UnionsPacific and one in New York Central, and both cameras were to runstrack power with a 9-V in the receiver. Neither unit was produced,sthough. The S gauge was replaced with a PA-2 in Nickel Plate Roadsmarkings, but it is reported that neither S unit reached production.sThe previous HO, G and O were still offered, but with adapters tossubstitute 6 AA batteries. There have been no units cataloged sincesthen.
At the HORDE rock concert a few years ago, Lionel (a la Neil Young)shad a layout showcasing coming Lionel innovations. Among them wassLionVision, and improved version of Railscope. LionVision does notstransmit the signal on the track, thus eliminating many sources ofsnoise. Also the image was color and the demo at HORDE included sound.sIt is unclear when or if LionVision will hit shelves.
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