Category Archives: Videos

BlueRail Trains – scripted train operation (to Christmas music)

BlueRail Trains collaborated with accomplished rockabilly guitar player Buzz Campbell (Lee Rocker Band, Hotrod Lincoln) to record a collection of train inspired Christmas songs designed to sync with operation of model trains. The idea was to create a musical motion/light experience for trains around the Christmas tree or for use with Christmas villages. Each song depicts the train leaving and arriving from station to station (with matching train sound effects, bells, train whistles, winter wind and tempo changes). The audio respects whether you have your train set to “diesel” or “steam” for synced horn/whistle sounds, and is about 15 minutes of music (for all 9 tracks). Campbell’s classic rockabilly and Chet Atkins style gives the music an authentic train feeling.

If Christmas trains aren’t your thing, this demonstrates this system’s ability to record and playback scripted train operation. This would be useful for users saving custom behaviors of their train traveling from station to station on your layout, or easily generating back and forth routes for a shelf-top train or trolley. In the most general sense, this demonstrates that this system opens new doors to what trains can do.

BlueRail Trains – operating under battery power

Here is an early video of our first usage of battery to run a BlueRail Train. You are surely impressed by that circle of track. Because bluetooth smart does not rely on signals through the track, it is a perfect candidate for battery operation. All BlueRail plugin boards have 2 connection points to which you can attach a battery. The trains will draw from the rails if they find power there, and look to the battery connection if they do not. We do not support charging from the rail at this time.

BlueRail Trains – controlling a train with an MFI game controller

We have added support in the BlueRail protocol for MFI supported controllers. We have tested with the Mad Catz CTRLi on iOS. In theory iOS phones/tablets should function with any MFI controller . Once you have paired your controller with the smart device, connect to your trains in the app. At this point you can operate your trains with the controller. To control your train, the BlueRail app must be opened and on the Train Control screen.

BlueRail Trains – controlling a model train from 150 ft

Here is a video demonstrating range testing of bluetooth smart locos. Locomotives with a plastic shell had a range of ~150 ft. Locomotives with a brass shell had a range of ~100 ft. Indoors the signal travels through 3 interior walls. We have tested these at crowded floor shows without seeing any loss of range caused by interference, wi-fis, or other bluetooth devices. Despite having a strong range, Bluetooth Smart is designed to accommodate many devices operating in close proximity.

BlueRail Trains – first plugin board

Here is the first plugin board BlueRail Trains is releasing. The current specs are as follows:

• 58mm x 28mm x 7 mm
• 9-pin NMRA connector
• 24 max vDC
• 2.0 AMP max current
• 100+ ft range
• 4 lights/accessories
• wireless firmware updates
• expansion port
• battery connection

 
For information and preferred status on future board orders, please use our contact page.