Self propelled train

[Dkelly0802]

Hi everyone, I’ve always wanted a Santas Express train for my lawn at Christmas. I picked up ride on Thomas from peg perego and was wondering if anyone has ever converted one of these things. There is a button you hold down to make it move. I’m wondering if I could rig it up so that I could control it with something like a renstick. Anyone ever tried something like this?

[algerdes]

Do you mean like Walter Monkhouse's train? http://www.magicchristmas.org/

[Dkelly0802]

I wish I had something like Walters. This is a child’s toy. Like a power wheel. I tried to upload a pic but it fails to upload.

[algerdes]

I haven't done one (yet), but investigation over the years has been simply exchanging the built in controls with appropriate relays/dimmers controlled by either DMX or a channel on a Pixel controller. It would be interesting to see how you do it. And then, of course, is a method to make it stay on some sort of a track.