Battery Operation for LGB Trains

 LGB locos initially were designed for track power operation. So, to switch from track power to battery power requires some major changes for your LGB loco.

LGB was designed as an outdoor model train to be run in your backyard or garden layout. The tracks were built to withstand weather and climate influences. Track accessory and the LGB locos were also made to withstand those influences like sun, wet morning dew, temperature changes etc. Track power supported these challenges best. In the beginning of LGB (the late 60’s) there were no batteries around that would have supported such power needs. Nor were there any control systems available for battery operation.

That all changed in the early 2000’s with the first wireless handheld controls to come onto the market, first for track power and shortly after for battery powered model trains. However, the supply side kept being limited to only a very few manufacturers. In addition the availability of suitable batteries was indeed very much limited. LGB locos and the garden layout would require batteries being capable of supplying at least 1 Amp at 14 to 18 Volts for a duration of at least 3 hours or more. Regular batteries like gel cell batteries or NIMH batteries were too bulky and required a trailing car to carry the power pack. 

Within the last five years lithium-ion batteries and polymer-Li-ion have entered the market fulfilling the power requirements and the size requirements in one. Now it is possible to install a battery pack into a properly sized Diesel loco (like F 7 or Alco Diesel-- Switcher Diesel locos are yet missing out, but see below) or into a tender of a steam loco (like a Mogul or a Mikado, a smaller steam loco like the Forney is still missing out, but see below). 

A Mogul #  22194 w/ Vanderbilt Tend before installation

Nowadays, battery operation may be a real alternative to track power. Especially outdoors and with excessively large layouts, keeping the tracks clean becomes a growing challenge and a time consuming job. Being independent from track power makes operation possible at any given time without any track cleaning. Battery power control systems presently do not catch up to the versatility of a grown digital control system with up to 28   functions, various consists possibilities, and switch operation.  Battery operated systems often give only limited access to additional functions. 

The # 22194 w/Vanderbilt Tender
after installation and TLC by Klaus

For the analog operator the battery operation adds 2 or so more functions to his loco-control ability.  For the digital train operator, especially when comparing to “fully blown DCC-systems “ like Lenz (with 29 functions), ESU (20 functions) or Dimax (16 functions), battery operation with the Revolution (by Aristocraft)  throws you back significantly to 6. The AirWire set  is a bit bulky but delivers more functions.

Klaus installs battery operated wireless controls into LGB locos – so far into Moguls and Stainz w/tender. His customers are VERY happy with the results. It is not that easy to put all the components into the LGB loco since you need to remove the LGB electronic first and then install e.g. the Revolution components. The Revolution comes with an interface 'pack' which is a bit bulky and needs to find its space in the loco or tender. And of course the battery pack needs to go somewhere, too. That's why the large LGB Steam and Diesel locos make it possible to install into the loco or tender. However, for smaller engines there is always the possibility to install the components into a boxcar which then 'fuels' the train.

 It takes a bit of time to get the job done. A decoder support plate is also required due to space and installation reasons. Klaus manufactures those plates in his workshop. Once all is in place Klaus checks for proper functioning, test-runs the engine and control system, and off it goes to its customer-based layout.