I've been in S gauge from the beginning [my beginning 1957] first as a American Flyer collector, then into S scale with Frank Titman and the Delaware Valley S Gaugers [1962] a mighty influential group of S scale modelers back then.
Now, 50 years later I find myself wondering about all the equipment I have accumulated and where I'm going with it, especially after just reading Peter Vanvleit's posting ...... "Today I completed the installation of the S-CAB with battery power supply system into my American Models FA-2 engine. I started Friday and worked on it over the weekend as I had time. This is my second install of this system, so it was a lot easier. I didn't have to figure out where all the wires needed to go. Overall the installation went smoothly. I took my time (no deadlines). The engine, of course, has a lot of space inside. However, I opted for the custom-order two-battery solution for fear of the motor and gearing being too much of a drain on the normal single-battery solution. I still need to do my "endurance & quota; test (to see how long this battery lasts), but so far so good. The one BIG thing I noticed was that I have a completely different engine now. This thing is smooth, quiet, and responds wonderfully. I previously had a Digitrax decoder in it, so the only real significant difference is the pure-DC battery power that the motor is driven by. I still need to play with the CVs to set the overall speed curve. The S-CAB system has 28 speed steps, but I could only max it out at speed step 15. It was super fast; too fast for my small layout." I guess all of us have to wonder about the modern technological advancements of future model railroading. Myself? I'm already behind the proverbial "Eight Ball", as my layout is fine, but is technologically old in so many ways. Shortly, a year, maybe two, many more model railroads will be operating on batteries, which I think is a great idea and I'm only sorry that I'm not young enough to switch over to. But I have enough trouble brain wise keeping up with what I now have. Yes, I love my desk top computer and my cell phone and my model railroad that operates off of three DC Powers packs and so on, but I know my old fashioned ways are coming to an end in so many ways. So, as Jim Kindraka just put it ...... "O.K., back to the workbench... And in the interest of full disclosure, the concept of "digital natives/ digital immigrants" was originally described over 10 years ago by educator Mark Prensky, certainly not me! You can whip out your iPad and "Google" his name!! (GRIN)... Enjoy the ride!!!!!... " Amen, Bill (Fraley)
