Battery Powered Engines

Are they "really useful engines", or just a luxury item for those too posh to push?

Battery powered engines do have their place in the Thomas Wooden Railway. Every enthusiast should first serve their apprenticeship by pushing the standard engines around their railway. Only by pushing, can you fully interact with all the engines, and destinations they pass through. Young children seem to enjoy pushing for this very reason. It brings them closer to the characters, and encourages decision making along the route they follow.

Battery Powered James.

Battery Powered James.

The battery powered enthusiast tends to stand back from the railway, allowing the track structure to direct their engine's journey. This requires some forward planning in the design of their railway. Otherwise the engine may follow a simple circle route, and miss some of the better set pieces. There is however, a degree of satisfaction derived from watching a powered engine journey around a personalised track.

A nightmare come true for railway engineers.

There are definitely advantages to both types of engines. Younger railway engineers (3-5 years) tend to be more comfortable pushing their engines. Fortunately the powered engine range in the Thomas Wooden Railway, have a dual free-wheeling system. They can be either pushed or powered around the track. As a word of caution, you should always be wary of derailments with powered trains. Particularly when they negotiate tight corners, and special track features.

Battery Powered James & the Express Coaches
in a terrible spot of bother.

Old Salty struggles up the Lighthouse Bridge.

Some of the track destinations available for the wooden railway have gradients too steep for the powered engines to climb. Old Salty never seems to make it over the Lighthouse Bridge, without a small nudge to clear the crest.

Old Salty after the author intervened.

Old Salty spinning his wheels on the Lighthouse Bridge before the author intervened.

Technical Stuff:

Engines in the powered range include Thomas, James, Lady, Percy, and Salty.
Non-rail vehicle Bertie, appeared in powered guise between 2003 and 2005.
Each engine is powered by a single battery which seems to last forever.
The powered engines can also be pushed.
The wooden track has a textured surface to assist the traction of powered engines.
An alternative to the powered engines, are the Sights and Sounds Engines. They make "chugga chugga" noises as you push them along. A working headlight, and whistle sound are further features.

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