Locomotive Mounted Video Camera From 1988! Let's See If It Works!

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  • Опубликовано: 30 июл 2024
  • Lionel Railscope Video Camera System Donated to the Channel. Lets do a unboxing, pull some maintenance in this 36 year old Locomotive and see if the electronics and cameras still work.
    #classicmodeltrains
    #lioneltrains
    E-mail me at: classicmodeltrains@aol.com
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    Mailing Address: Classic Model Trains
    1507 Old Hardin Road
    Billings, Mt. 59101
    ‪@classicmodeltrains‬
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Комментарии • 303

  • @classicmodeltrains
    @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +8

    Mt. Clemens, MI. Now I had three guesses, Mississippi, Missouri, Michigan. I guessed the wrong one. Please........ Many have set me straight. I know I Effed it up 🙂

    • @jebbohanan2626
      @jebbohanan2626 5 месяцев назад +1

      Some we good folks make a mistake.

    • @Benthetrainkid
      @Benthetrainkid 5 месяцев назад

      MI - Michigan
      MS - Mississippi
      MO - Missouri

    • @johnramirez5996
      @johnramirez5996 5 месяцев назад

      33% we forgive ya lol. You know your truck reminds me of my childhood. My dad had a Scottsdale 4x4 same color. Loved that truck, still favorite of all trucks today. Going to be building a truck soon. One of my boys has 7 gear to gear Chevy transmission and transfer cases. Going to get 1 thinking of doing 6.0 with it in a 85 s10 🛻. I know cpl people who have some Dana 60 axles. Either this in s10 or Tahoe? Haven't decided yet on all details. But gotta save some cash for locker setups. Love building things. Whether rockets 🚀, trains, nitro RC cars quads, off road karts or cars trucks. Just let me to my tools welder cutting tool sand blaster and a project and I'm good.

  • @ArcadiaJunctionModelTrains
    @ArcadiaJunctionModelTrains 5 месяцев назад +24

    This got massive promotion and hype when it came out and I was living on Long Island at the time. They even demonstrated it at Trainland but the guy told me not many were selling. It blew my mind at the time lol!

  • @czwij
    @czwij 5 месяцев назад +8

    that was hilareous.(hilleroose? highlareous?.....). I remember the ads in MR for these. wow. what an obscure thing to show. Thanks, I was blown away.

  • @Serererererer
    @Serererererer 5 месяцев назад +3

    You remind me of my dad, aspiring and talented at an old age.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      Old Age?

    • @Serererererer
      @Serererererer 5 месяцев назад

      @@classicmodeltrains Yea he’s in his 50s and still going strong.

    • @gmaneis
      @gmaneis 3 месяца назад +1

      @@Serererererer😂🤣😆

  • @leverettrailfan5414
    @leverettrailfan5414 5 месяцев назад +8

    This particular model was the last hurrah for some tooling that dates back to the 1950s- John English's HObbyline had ALCo FAs. In 1959, Lionel bought a lot of former HObbyline tooling to kickstart producing HO trains in the Lionel factory- they completely redesigned the mechanism, but the shells stayed very similar. The design went through a few changes between 1959 and 1966 when Lionel pulled the plug on selling HO. Come 1974, Lionel, under MPC, tries HO again- this time with a new drive system that used a GE can motor. The ALCo FA got some changes to the shell, including a more realistic roof fan and cheapening the metal horns for plastic ones. At some point however, to cut costs further, they started contracting with Kader (Bachmann's supplier) to make their drives, and everything went over to the pancake motors. By 1978 or so they decided to pull the plug on HO again. When Railscope came out, they revived the ALCo tooling, but after that I don't think anyone's seen or heard from it. And of course, today's Lionel HO is all either repurposed Polar Express tooling or ex-Model Power tooling, which in turn came from Marx.
    Funny thing about the Lionel HO equipment, Lionel made Geeps and ALCos in HO from '59 to '66 but they always had ALCo trucks. Then in the '70s under MPC, they finally gave the Geeps proper blomberg trucks... but this time, they also put the blombergs under the ALCos!
    The most reliable drives they put in the ALCo are probably the "helic" (spring belt) drive from 1963-1964, direct worm drive from 1966 (only one axle is driven, but it has tires, and the chassis is just a solid lump of diecast metal), and the GE motor drive introduced in '74. The latter often has problems with broken truck cover clips, but otherwise not a horrible design.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +4

      WOW!! Thanks for this great bit of information. You have this stored in your head? I would have to research for hours, write a script, say it in the video, and promptly forget everything I researched :-)

    • @leverettrailfan5414
      @leverettrailfan5414 5 месяцев назад +5

      @@classicmodeltrains Easy! I just store it in the space you're supposed to use for remembering people's names, what you did two weeks ago, or what today's date is!

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад

      @@leverettrailfan5414 XD!!

    • @asteroidrules
      @asteroidrules 5 месяцев назад

      That detail about them using Alco trucks is rather funny because in the modern era Lionel produces few (I think just one) Alco models in O gauge, and they use EMD trucks on them because they're made on a repurposed FT mechanism.

    • @mathuetax
      @mathuetax 4 месяца назад +1

      I had/have one of the can motor HO Lionel locos, it worked pretty well!

  • @1950FarmallH
    @1950FarmallH 5 месяцев назад +4

    I remember selling these Railscopes in Lionel's O27 gauge engines when I worked for a Lionel & Schwinn bicycle dealer in the late '80s. They were just ok then but expensive as well!

  • @sernajrlouis
    @sernajrlouis 5 месяцев назад +3

    As a 7 year old at the time, i really wanted that. Lol. I remember seeing it in the 1989 Toy Fair Edition of Lionel at the time. I can't remember. I remember it was in the back of the catalog

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +2

      I bet all the young-uns were wanting one of these back than :-)

  • @turdferguson4124
    @turdferguson4124 5 месяцев назад +2

    I remember when these came out. They were really cool. I’m not surprised that the picture quality and battery life were a little disappointing though. Pretty bold product for 1988.

  • @rinnmhor
    @rinnmhor 5 месяцев назад +2

    Wow, didn't know such a thing even existed, what an incredible relic. Enjoyed the 'poltergeist' reference too!

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад

      Weird things pop into my head during production :-)

  • @AEStudt
    @AEStudt 5 месяцев назад +2

    I've heard of those but never seen one. Good video on it Ron

  • @JosephEHernandez
    @JosephEHernandez 5 месяцев назад +1

    Calling out the CEO and the jingle "How much cheaper can they make this - I want to beat some bean counters..." makes my day.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      Just popped into my head. almost edited it out :-/

  • @avshutsach
    @avshutsach Месяц назад

    To be honest, for such a small camera system in 1988 is pretty cool. I would have lost it at how flipping cool it looks.

  • @mjamesb66
    @mjamesb66 5 месяцев назад

    That one cool set. Great job getting it up and running. 33%

  • @dougvalmore1450
    @dougvalmore1450 5 месяцев назад +3

    You showed "one of these little fellers" (cylinder w/coaxial connection on one end & twin spade connectors on the other) but didn't explain what it was for. It's a "balun" (for BALanced/UNbalanced) typically used to match impedance between twin leads coming from a TV antenna to the coaxial input of many TVs (really old ones just used two screw connections on the back to connect the antenna).
    When I first saw the idea of a camera in an HO loco I was excited - until I saw the demo in the train shop. Black & white & no matter how much noise suppression (choke coil/capacitors/etc) there was MUCH video noise from the track pickup of the video signal. I passed... (your cleaning of the wheels actually made a pretty usable - B/W - signal!)

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      I was surprised at how stable and clean the image was after the cleaning. Wonder if my MPC transformer had anything to do with that?

  • @davidkaralus7464
    @davidkaralus7464 5 месяцев назад +1

    Another wonderful video, Thanks, Ron!

  • @casstelles
    @casstelles 5 месяцев назад +3

    I knew that the video quality was comparable to a cheap security camera, but I did not know that the drive system was Bachmann. If you look at the frame, it appears to be a modified version of the F9 frame. The shell may go back to Lionel's early 1970s version of the FA locomotive offered in HO scale. This idea may have seemed groundbreaking, but now it appears to be a hobbyist's idea of throwing parts together to make something work.

  • @stevegerber2076
    @stevegerber2076 5 месяцев назад

    Another great video. History lesson and made me smile. Good job.

  • @markwakeley3835
    @markwakeley3835 5 месяцев назад

    Cool video. I hope you had as much fun tinkering with the trains as we had watching uou. Always a blast. Thanks Ron

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      Thanks Mark. It was pretty cool seeing this old tech I couldn't afford back in the day

  • @klemenradoman2052
    @klemenradoman2052 5 месяцев назад +1

    Top! This is first time for me too even heard about this set! One of your best videos!

  • @ronaldjoyce7374
    @ronaldjoyce7374 5 месяцев назад

    OMG, ILMAO! This have to be your funniest one yet 😂😂
    Great job 🤣

  • @SantaFeBob
    @SantaFeBob 5 месяцев назад +2

    I have this engine camera still in the package. I got it on eBay years ago, but never tested it. Thank you for showing how bad it is so I won’t be “as disappointed” when I hook it up someday. I appreciate your demonstration videos.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      Thanks SF Bob! Always trying to help :-)

    • @SantaFeBob
      @SantaFeBob 5 месяцев назад +1

      @@classicmodeltrains Mission accomplished.

  • @darrenrawlinson6344
    @darrenrawlinson6344 5 месяцев назад

    Very interesting video, and great to see the hat back!

  • @elsdp-4560
    @elsdp-4560 5 месяцев назад +2

    Thank you for sharing. I am sure glad the camera train left Ohio and found its way to Montana. LOL👍

  • @josephv.agliatojr.851
    @josephv.agliatojr.851 5 месяцев назад +1

    Thanks Ron, you are a master model railroad mechanic, great interesting vlog, you are the best!

  • @henrydoes4332
    @henrydoes4332 5 месяцев назад +4

    Mt Clemens , Michigan Lionel Factory

  • @leedooley502
    @leedooley502 5 месяцев назад +1

    You have the patience of Job my friend. That mess wouldn't have lasted 10 minutes for me, but I enjoyed your perseverance. Technology has come a long way since then.

  • @firefly0282
    @firefly0282 5 месяцев назад

    Wow,I just discovered your RV channel !! It's cool. Pretty entertaining!

  • @Tonyfishtail
    @Tonyfishtail 5 месяцев назад

    I remember when this came out! I never went for it. After seeing your video im glad i never did!😊 Great concept but the tech was so lacking at the time. Love your vids, keep em coming! You tackle some pretty hard things and take us all on the journey with you!! 😊😊

  • @TomzTrainzandAccessories
    @TomzTrainzandAccessories 5 месяцев назад +1

    I’ve had both of my Rail Scopes (HO and O) since 1989, and they still both work very well. They do eat up 9 volt batteries. So I used the alternate battery holders for the HO and the. scale. I never drilled holes in my HO locomotive. I just run 6 Cell “AA” battery holder wires through the powered HO body shell because there’s a lot of wiggle room between the shell and the body when using the tiny thin wires. In the O scale, I just run it along the side of the handrails, then down into the belly of locomotive where the 9 volt would go. I use the 6 “C” cell batteries, and put it in a Standard “O” boxcar because there’s a lot of room inside that size boxcar to put the battery holder. With the “Stack O Lumber” receiver, I use a 9 volt battery AC plug adapter to connect constant power into it so you don’t have to worry about any batteries going dead. As far as lighting is concerned, you need to play around with the Contrast and the Brightness control knobs in the back of the TV set. This will give you the best picture when adjusted to the lighting. Yes, natural sunlight is best for this Rail Scope to work the way you want it too, but if you have good overhead lighting, you will get a good clear picture as long as your track rails are clean, and tight rail connections to get a good signal. I use mine around my Christmas tree every year, and I have it integrated with my TMCC, Legacy, MTH DCS, LCS and WIU WiFi’s. Everything works perfectly, What really looks cool, is when you have a lit up passenger set going by in the opposite direction. The Rail Scope camera picks up the lights in the passenger cars very well. Even when you pass by lighted accessories, and lampposts, the camera picks that up very well also. You just need to play around with it a bit, and it will become enjoyable to use. When I have company over during the holidays, it’s definitely a great conversation piece when they see my layout from the Rail Scope on my TV. And when I tell them how old this system is, they can’t believe that there was this kind of technology back then which still operates well to this day. Even though it’s in black and white, I still love it to this day after 35 years! Tom

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +2

      Thanks Tom for this great comment. Very nice indeed and your the first Feller to have good things to say about it. Like your upgrades for power. Now I kinda want to see it pass a lighted passenger set. sounds like it would look pretty cool :-)

    • @TomzTrainzandAccessories
      @TomzTrainzandAccessories 5 месяцев назад

      If look up my RUclips channel, the Rail Scope was my very first RUclips video using my “O” Gauge locomotive. I tried my best to make a good video, but I had to do this in 1 take because I didn’t know how to do editing yet. I would like to add a couple of addendums, but I don’t know how to do that yet either. LOL If you do get a chance to watch it, I think you’ll see where I was trying to go with it. LOL

  • @TomasTrains7
    @TomasTrains7 5 месяцев назад +1

    Your reaction is priceless 😂 Thanks for the awesome video 🙏

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      thanks! Love your emoji photo!! Rockin the train hat and red bandana :-)

    • @TomasTrains7
      @TomasTrains7 5 месяцев назад +1

      @@classicmodeltrains You could say I found my inspiration from someone who knows a lot about classic model trains 😆

  • @MattKonsol
    @MattKonsol 5 месяцев назад +2

    Nice video of this!

  • @carltesh9612
    @carltesh9612 5 месяцев назад +2

    Ron you are so comical keep up the good work

  • @stevenwaller192
    @stevenwaller192 5 месяцев назад +1

    Wow!! I remember seeing the ads for those. Somewhere along the line I heard negative reviews. So I didn’t make efforts to get one.
    But thanks for making the Video .
    I look forward for all your videos. Lots of good content!

  • @whip-its_dad4239
    @whip-its_dad4239 5 месяцев назад +1

    Great video sir . I remembered see the ad's for Rail Scope when you showed the advertisements .

  • @lynnmccurdythehdmmrc2561
    @lynnmccurdythehdmmrc2561 5 месяцев назад

    33%er here. I've seen a lot of Camera cars, even have a couple of my own (Go Pro and iPhone) but Never seen nothing like this. Just thinking, in 1988 I was using "Juneau" for Internet. Great Video, keep'em coming.

  • @fepatton
    @fepatton 5 месяцев назад

    I was at the Great Train Show in Santa Clara this weekend and somebody had one of these for sale in the box! I assumed it was O, and was surprised to see that it was HO. I didn't check the price, but whatever it cost, I'm glad I saved the money. 😂 Still, pretty clever design and miniaturization for 1988, even if it was nearly 10 years past the Apple II and TRS-80. Good job fixing it up!

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      OOooooooh Train shows!!! Wish I was at one this last weekend. :-)

  • @jamesbach2021
    @jamesbach2021 5 месяцев назад +1

    Back in '88 I was using a Commodore 64 computer. There were bulletin boards back then, but it was so slow it was practically useless. Fun video as always!

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад

      C64's were the BOMB!!

    • @animalyze7120
      @animalyze7120 5 месяцев назад

      BBS's were quick enough and live chats on those systems that ran multi user dial ins could even play BBS games together. Downloads were the slow thing, 3 hrs for 664 blocks lol but the wait was worth it for some games.

  • @azmike1
    @azmike1 5 месяцев назад +1

    What a farce! 1988? Figures. The go-pro kicks butt! Looks great!

  • @n4pwx
    @n4pwx 5 месяцев назад

    Hello Ron I got to see my first clear video of you today, and it was great. I just had my eyes operated on and I can now see again. Thanks for the wonderful video friend. PS I hate to tell you this but I am in the 100% club. 😜

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      Hello Dennis!! Glad to hear everything went good!!!!

  • @rexxumus
    @rexxumus 5 месяцев назад +1

    That was a good effort, Ron! Aren't you glad we are no longer at the mercy of pre-Windows 95 technology? Great video!

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      A shiver ran down my spine when I read "Windows 95". ;-)

  • @richardryan517
    @richardryan517 5 месяцев назад

    I never heard of this product, although I'd been out of the hobby for a few years. I thought I kept up on things for awhile but apparently didn't. An interesting video, Ron. Keep it up.

  • @dannyjones3840
    @dannyjones3840 5 месяцев назад +1

    I remember wanting one of these so bad ass a teen. After seeing how crappy it performs, I'm kinda glad we couldn't afford one lol. Thanks for another great, laugh filled video Ron!

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад

      You bet Danny! How much were they. I thought I read $70 bucks. I guess 70 sounds cheap now compared to then

  • @johnbanicki7232
    @johnbanicki7232 5 месяцев назад

    I have to stay so I can see who the Classic Model is. LOL We sure have come a long way with the digital technology since the late 80's. I remember when these came out, everyone was wanting to buy one. But the picture was not good and they did not work as well as they advertised. Thanks for sharing.

  • @colbymitchell1137
    @colbymitchell1137 4 месяца назад

    You would think Lionel would have a better quality train than those. Great technology for the time though. Love your show Ron.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  4 месяца назад

      Thank you Colby, and I agree with you. One would think that but even their O gauge stuff was really poor at this time.

  • @4everdc302
    @4everdc302 5 месяцев назад +2

    Definitely from the kids on the rich side of town🤔🚂🇨🇦🇺🇲

  • @jamescotter5376
    @jamescotter5376 5 месяцев назад +2

    Good video

  • @TomzTrainzandAccessories
    @TomzTrainzandAccessories 5 месяцев назад +1

    By the way, I never took a stab at your Classic Model of the week. That’s none other than Charlene Tilton. Her claim to fame was from the TV show “Dallas”!

  • @williamsantangelo
    @williamsantangelo 5 месяцев назад

    Thank You Ron, I'm staying in my post war, vintage Era, at least I know I'm safe! Modern Technology? and A i

  • @MaineCentral1
    @MaineCentral1 5 месяцев назад

    Ron, Love your videos! haven't been leaving comments I have been watching you on the big screen I.. Still trying to figure out how to connect keyboard..

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  4 месяца назад

      Thank you! Didnt know you could connect a keyboard to a tv? Technology these days :-)

  • @CannonCountry
    @CannonCountry 5 месяцев назад +2

    I like Bachmann passenger cars.
    I just bought a set of g scale.
    Gonna take them apart and repaint them and make a custom road name. I’m also adding body mount Kadees and making all the railings metal.
    I might add people and lights to them while I have them apart.

  • @GreatBowlsAfire
    @GreatBowlsAfire 5 месяцев назад

    "....all the grease in here is very very...... broken..." 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💯

  • @jamesdenny4734
    @jamesdenny4734 5 месяцев назад +1

    Charlene Tilton, I think?
    Off of one of those prime time soaps!

  • @stephendollahan425
    @stephendollahan425 5 месяцев назад

    At the time these came out, i belonged to a model railroad club in Reno Nevada, located in a train stores backroom. We had a relatively large layout, and after we started scenery, we kicked around the idea of using one of them to check our work, but killed the idea after the shop owner had to replace the pusher engine on a couple of sets he had sold. We decided that those Kader ( Bachman) Drives just weren't worth the time and trouble, and a photographer in ourclub could take much better resolution stills than the video from the Rail Scope.

  • @thomasmoroney4993
    @thomasmoroney4993 5 месяцев назад

    Lights! Camera! Action!…..lol….pretty cool…lol

  • @anthonylautzenheiser3802
    @anthonylautzenheiser3802 5 месяцев назад +1

    Cutting edge in 1988. The Commodore Amiga was the computer to have as the IBM 386 was a couple thousand dollars. Amiga was rather prophetic, as it means girlfriend in Spanish.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      I forgot how much computers were until I read your comment.

  • @davecrosson5018
    @davecrosson5018 5 месяцев назад

    Wow Ron! Your channer rocks! Who would of thought that this was going on in 1988! I guess they had to cheapen the guts out of those trains to make it affordable to buy with the camera tech? A pity they didn't spend any love on those terrible FA molds. Also, two pancake motors! One of those things is loud enough! Do you reckon the noise suppression made a difference. Keep rolling the content buddy :D

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад

      I believe that noise suppression was very important. Thanks for the compliments Dave!

  • @chasesrailwaylinesrr6447
    @chasesrailwaylinesrr6447 5 месяцев назад

    I've always wanted to see more information about these Trains they look so unique back then but now you can just stick a GoPro on the train And have it drive around your layout. These trains are very unique Made by Lionel

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      yup!

    • @chasesrailwaylinesrr6447
      @chasesrailwaylinesrr6447 5 месяцев назад

      How did you hook up your GoPro to the TV? Just because you did that made it look a lot more realistic Even though I knew in reality that that wasn't what the rail scope actually looked like

  • @CZ350tuner
    @CZ350tuner 5 месяцев назад

    When I created a camera loco, back in the early 2000's, I used a miniature 1" x 1" x 1" sugar cube type colour wireless spy camera on a chassis of an 0-8-0T German BR82 class steam loco, along with its PP3 9 volt battery, all taped together. The camera has its own UHF antenna that transmits to a dedicated receiver. It worked fine, but the novelty soon wore off, so it sits on a shelf unused.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      That sounds like a pretty cool camera loco you made!

  • @normancoreyBuildingTrains
    @normancoreyBuildingTrains 5 месяцев назад

    There could be a can on the circuit board you can adjust to lighten up the camera amazing a bachmann that actually works with out fixing it. Great video.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      I did look for a pot to adjust on the board and could not find one. Yeah I was shocked it ran as well ;-)

  • @user-tr3py5nz2j
    @user-tr3py5nz2j 5 месяцев назад

    That woman is the Infamous “Poison Dwarf” a.k.a. Charlene Tilton, IIRC. 😂 She was a regular on that nighttime soap opera, Dallas.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      Poison dwarf!! ha. ha ha. ha. love it. I always hated her character on Dallas.

  • @F40M07
    @F40M07 4 месяца назад +1

    I want a Lionel TV!!

  • @silvertrain7945
    @silvertrain7945 5 месяцев назад +1

    The camera was a good idea, just poorly executed. But like you said, the technology wasn’t there. Thanks for the video!

  • @raymondbuterbaugh3117
    @raymondbuterbaugh3117 5 месяцев назад

    Now, you can make your very own. Classic model train commercial, with that special camera. Like maybe "adds" for upcoming videos. In the video playing. Just an idea

  • @Benthetrainkid
    @Benthetrainkid 5 месяцев назад +1

    Kadar made the drive systems for Lionel and Bachmann, which explains why they used the pancake motor design similar to Bachmann's

    • @bracdude181
      @bracdude181 5 месяцев назад +1

      Yeah around 1976 Lionel started switching over to these. Big mistake IMO

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      its not similar its exact. back in the day Lionel outsourced all its HO inventory

    • @franktino6676
      @franktino6676 5 месяцев назад +1

      Wasn't some of Lionel HO's roster made too- briefly by Rivarossi?

    • @bracdude181
      @bracdude181 5 месяцев назад +1

      @franktino6676 yeah the really early stuff from before like 1957-58 then it was made by athearn then Lionel made the trains themselves for a while. Around 76 they outsourced to Kader.

  • @johnramirez5996
    @johnramirez5996 5 месяцев назад

    Was going to get one of those while back. Glad I didn't. Never knew camera was that bad. And it's Mt Clemens Michigan lol.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      Yup, I effed that one up and it slipped thru editing.

    • @johnramirez5996
      @johnramirez5996 5 месяцев назад

      @@classicmodeltrains lmao. Would love to take you trail riding and have few drinks with ya. Love your sense of humor. Great video keep em a comin.

  • @brentpodoll5848
    @brentpodoll5848 5 месяцев назад

    That was fun I graduated in87

  • @TopHotDog
    @TopHotDog 5 месяцев назад

    Well publicized during it's tenure.
    Didn't catch on because of price. The receiver was a widely available b&w portable TV selling for $19.99 at many supermarkets or drug stores such as Longs. I bought mine at Alpha Beta.

  • @johnknippenberg-LandmarkYards
    @johnknippenberg-LandmarkYards 5 месяцев назад

    They should have put some RF&P logos on those F units. Very clever idea, for the 80's. Reminds me of a Toy Trains video with the Sun light. The boxcar power option. 😂Charlene Tilton?

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +2

      Yup you got the gal right. These are Alco PA-2's not EMD F units. They just made a poor example of the front end of a PA-2

    • @johnknippenberg-LandmarkYards
      @johnknippenberg-LandmarkYards 5 месяцев назад +1

      @@classicmodeltrains Oh yes, PA's not FA's. 😉

  • @sort187
    @sort187 5 месяцев назад +1

    Gah! Mt. Clements MICHIGAN! 😄😄😄 I have one of these. And yes, the wheels on the camera locomotive's trucks SUCK! Zero smooth rolling right out of the box!🤣

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      Sorry I blew it. MI. Mississippi, Missouri, Michigan, I had 3 to choose from. I blame my Government education ;-)

  • @ruagoof2
    @ruagoof2 5 месяцев назад

    Kewl...1988 Nuff Said...
    Rich...

  • @jonpowell-ov3yh
    @jonpowell-ov3yh 5 месяцев назад

    Yeah, there may be some adjustments on the board for video level, but this is very early CCD technology. At that time chip cameras were notorious for their lack of resolution and sensitivity (what you have is basically an early CCD CCTV security camera on wheels). Obviously, it only took a few years for them to evolve and completely displace pickup-tube based cameras. Very cool to look back at how things have changed, thanks. 👍

  • @gbwdude
    @gbwdude 5 месяцев назад

    I think my new favorite song is "Wanna Beat Some Beancounters"

  • @michaelmejia3822
    @michaelmejia3822 5 месяцев назад +4

    Mount Clemens, Michigan. Not Missouri.

  • @trollinmace
    @trollinmace 5 месяцев назад +1

    proud to be a 33%r

  • @joesask857
    @joesask857 5 месяцев назад

    nice

  • @richardsweeney197
    @richardsweeney197 5 месяцев назад

    Bachmann still makes some of the Lionel products. Many the lumber pile is HO scale redwood lumber😊 I think model expires sells a gondola with a camera that sits in it.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      Sure there is other camera cars out there. Would love to test them out as well

  • @spencercorby4571
    @spencercorby4571 5 месяцев назад +2

    I think that this is a good idea in all honesty, it would be cool if they did this today and in a nice, modern model locomotive cab, like a view through the window and the control panel peeking on the bottom.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      It could certainly be done a lot better today for sure. Wonder if anyone will step up to the plate?

    • @GlennFresch
      @GlennFresch 5 месяцев назад +1

      @@classicmodeltrainsRoco makes engines where you can both run and get a cab view of them with your phone or pad. Like a drone! They’re ok, but have issues with signal interference at train shows.

    • @spencercorby4571
      @spencercorby4571 5 месяцев назад

      @@GlennFresch oh cool, do they make American style locomotives with that feature? If not I'm half tempted to buy an old athearn and and old phone camera to throw in there, and for kicks, maybe a 3d printed interior for realism.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад

      @@GlennFresch that control system sounds cool minus the interference

    • @GlennFresch
      @GlennFresch 5 месяцев назад

      @@spencercorby4571 these days it’s all European.

  • @raymondleggs5508
    @raymondleggs5508 5 месяцев назад +2

    He bought the most expensive 9v battery in the store! 😆

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +2

      Took longer to get it and come back than it lasted.

  • @raysrails2164
    @raysrails2164 5 месяцев назад

    I remember how great that was back when !

  • @ecidaho
    @ecidaho 5 месяцев назад +1

    Cool video!! My distrust of Lionel any runs deep from HO layouts growing up. Only good thing for Lionel were rolling stock with springs in trucks. Locomotives stunk.
    Wierd proportions of the FA. Bad. Also Bloomberg trucks nit GE trucks like would be more accurate

    • @williamsantangelo
      @williamsantangelo 5 месяцев назад +1

      Yup Lionel HO engines did stink, the worst drives ever built into an engine I Say! Their O gauge wuz terrific! But as you said HO rolling stock is kool! Their couplers were fun but???

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      Thanks Erick. Yes there HO always was a disappointment

  • @TheRobertSterling
    @TheRobertSterling 5 месяцев назад

    Great video Ron. Thanks for the trip back to the future..of model trains 🚂.
    You're right..ugggly. All that money spent on technology and put an ugly body on it... 😂. You should try the Tyco action sets next...
    Always a pleasure seeing your videos.
    Cheers.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад

      Thanks Robert. Tyco Action sets? Like the "A" team set and the Transformers ones?

    • @TheRobertSterling
      @TheRobertSterling 5 месяцев назад

      @@classicmodeltrains They seemed to be popular in the day..the Transformer set seemed to have a lot going on...for that time. No one seems to like them, but they sure had us hooked as kids with the cartoons for sure.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад

      @@TheRobertSterling yup, the beginning of product branding and hooking them kids to it.

  • @JBG1968
    @JBG1968 5 месяцев назад +1

    I don't think they were very concerned about the appearence since the engines themselves wouldn't be in the video

  • @johnorlitta
    @johnorlitta 5 месяцев назад

    Hi Ron, I'm surprised that the camera car didn't have small pots on it for adjusting the contrast and brightness. Maybe they didn't have Mini pots back in 1988?

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +2

      I looked for them but didnt see any without removing the board

  • @goinsomewheretogether
    @goinsomewheretogether 5 месяцев назад

    Enjoy your vids. Me thinks Lionel was Mt Clemens, MI (Michigan) and not Missouri (MO).

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      Thank you and yes I blew the state. I had 3 to pick from, just picked the wrong one :-)

  • @johnsadventures6783
    @johnsadventures6783 4 месяца назад

    Here's your project for an upcoming episode. See if you can wire up a tender or boxcar with a cell phone or normal batteries to run the locomotive instead of the truck powered system.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  4 месяца назад

      That sounds like what they call "dead rail". Loco is operated by blue-tooth I believe

  • @davidokelly1140
    @davidokelly1140 5 месяцев назад +1

    I hope you were kidding when you said Missouri.😂

  • @huntercoleman460
    @huntercoleman460 5 месяцев назад

    I personally would like to see Lionel bring back Rail Scope.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      with full color, sound, and Wi-fi/bluetooth to a iPad

  • @startrekking359
    @startrekking359 5 месяцев назад

    She played Mary Ellen Walton on the series The Waltons.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      Charlene Tilton from Dallas night time drama back in the day

  • @retr0bits545
    @retr0bits545 5 месяцев назад

    Computers of the time I would imagine Apple II+s IBM PC ATs, Tandy 1000s would also be common but would have ceased production by that 1988 time frame.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      wished I had gotten into computers back then instead of mechanics.

  • @jeremyjohnson457
    @jeremyjohnson457 5 месяцев назад

    I had a 386 Pentium computer when I was 7 years old in 1995

  • @steelcityrailroad5095
    @steelcityrailroad5095 5 месяцев назад

    Kinda depressing, like Sea Monkeys were 😂 I always wondered how well these worked. Glad I have a GoPro.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      I had sea monkeys. I was lied to!

    • @franktino6676
      @franktino6676 5 месяцев назад +1

      They have taken over my house. 🤪🤣😆🐙🐒. You have to had bought the ones advertised in a 1988 comic book.🤣

  • @johnsadventures6783
    @johnsadventures6783 4 месяца назад

    The hoods are too short. I had this idea about 20 years ago. I had no idea that someone else did too.

  • @DavidSmith-rc7hs
    @DavidSmith-rc7hs 5 месяцев назад

    It was trash then and it's trash now, dealers could not give these things away......a lemon is a lemon......I remember these well. I am not a young dude.... Great show by the way....

  • @zaboha
    @zaboha 5 месяцев назад

    I wonder is a modern wifi camera could be installed and replace the camera and circuit board? Some of these new cameras are tiny enough to fit.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      If a Feller really wanted to it could be done for sure

  • @williamkaczmarek3996
    @williamkaczmarek3996 5 месяцев назад +2

    Perhaps that's why they didn't sell.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад

      I believe your right William :-)

    • @williamkaczmarek3996
      @williamkaczmarek3996 5 месяцев назад +1

      @classicmodeltrains I remember when they debuted Rail Scope way back in the dark ages, and I thought it was a good move, but then I saw the images and the chintzy little TV you had to buy and thought nah, I can waste my money better buying guns.

  • @jasonbrown4239
    @jasonbrown4239 5 месяцев назад +1

    I always wanted the o gauge version of this

    • @mlw2613
      @mlw2613 5 месяцев назад +1

      I was too only the ho variation but after seeing the footage im gonna pass on it and just get a micro cam and board and put it in a loco myself.

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад

      They sure promised the world to us back then.

    • @jasonbrown4239
      @jasonbrown4239 5 месяцев назад +1

      @@classicmodeltrains hey I still love it thoe I kinda want the o gauge one because of the color scheme

  • @chrisgwynn773
    @chrisgwynn773 5 месяцев назад

    Hi Ron, I’ve been wanting to do this on my layout for years. What would be a good way to create my own video train car. I model O Gauge. Wondering if there is a small Bluetooth camera that would work ?

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад +1

      many ways it could be done. depends on your level of fabrication skill sets and funding. Many camera's are available out there for sure.

  • @mathuetax
    @mathuetax 4 месяца назад +1

    I have one somewhere. It ate batteries like it was candy.
    At one point I obtained the smallest lead-acid battery I could find and set it on a depressed center flat car and wired it to the camera car. The flatcar was not happy about it and it didn't ride very well, let alone the power locomotive was put under quite a bit of strain. Even with its poor video quality I enjoyed seeing my layout from such a viewpoint and it actually was useful to for landscaping, placing structures and determining how smooth my track work was. Since it bobbled a bit as the camera locomotive moved one could easily see from the camera where a styrene shim was needed or track joint was subpar.
    I did record a small little bit of video back then. ruclips.net/video/IivPFaN6kYE/видео.html
    I was unaware of the battery kit Lionel had for it :-D

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  4 месяца назад +1

      Cool story but now I wonder if you had a HO one or a O gauge one. If it was HO that's one heck of a load!

    • @mathuetax
      @mathuetax 4 месяца назад +2

      @@classicmodeltrains It was the HO version, the video snippet might not make it obvious.

  • @diesel10rules23
    @diesel10rules23 5 месяцев назад

    Imagine a modern version

  • @131Dusty
    @131Dusty 5 месяцев назад

    Charlene Tilton. Guess I am showing my age. She was a "Smoke Show" (back then)... lol

    • @classicmodeltrains
      @classicmodeltrains  5 месяцев назад

      Yup. I dont know what a smoke show is but I sure hated her character on Dallas

    • @131Dusty
      @131Dusty 5 месяцев назад +1

      @@classicmodeltrains Smoke Show...A VERY good looking "hottie"