Garage-Ceiling O-Scale 24/7 train with security cameras build

[WatDoin45]

Hello,

Please forgive the noob-ness of this stream of thought and questions in this.

I am wanting to build a O-Scale train in my 3 car garage. I want it to have multiple cameras on it that will act as security in my garage.
Nothing complex about the curves but maybe add some cool 3d printed trestles and bridges for fun.

So far I know I want to have a Bigboy as the loco but also am aware that this will design limit me to larger curves so that want might change to a smaller steamer.
Cameras to pull power from the track. e.g.: 120v AC to simple USB 5V DC.
3x cameras. 1 forward mounted, 1 side mounted and 1 rearward mounted.
Train to be 10 to 20 cars
Train to have a built in track cleaner. My thoughts on this is brushes that dynamically brush the track from inside top and outside. Dynamic in that they will spin from motor or forward motion of the train.
I think it would be cool for the train to have lights on board

I am curious if anyone has done this.
Recommendations for brands with the best bearings for longevity?
Safety mitigation from fire point of view?
Track recommendations?
Track cleaners?



Appreciate any and all comments or links to other existing forums I failed to see!!
Thank you and Merry Christmas!!!

 

[timlange3]

Wow! First your track power will be less than 20 VAC (or do you want to kill anything that touches the rails? Varmints?) You will need to rig multiple power pickups on the cars with cameras to get a half decent power supply. If the train goes around all four walls I would think the cameras will be pointing in a useful direction only a quarter of the time. Using motion sensing will be useless. Running 24/7 means replacing wheels every few months, locos probably every year. The temperature changes (depending on your yearly climate) and humidity changes will be hard on the track and equipment. Will the noise bother those in adjacent rooms, especially at night?

 

[WatDoin45]

Wow! First your track power will be less than 20 VAC (or do you want to kill anything that touches the rails? Varmints?) You will need to rig multiple power pickups on the cars with cameras to get a half decent power supply. If the train goes around all four walls I would think the cameras will be pointing in a useful direction only a quarter of the time. Using motion sensing will be useless. Running 24/7 means replacing wheels every few months, locos probably every year. The temperature changes (depending on your yearly climate) and humidity changes will be hard on the track and equipment. Will the noise bother those in adjacent rooms, especially at night?

Thank you

20VAC? Thank you I did not know. I assumed it was 120VAC. I misread that some where.

Ok, so replace the wheels, check.
Noise, not so much of an issue but could be in the future.

Is there a better gauge that is more silent and has better wheel life/longevity?

I am interested in the temp change comment. I did not realize this was an issue. Is it a CTE (coeff thermal expansion) concern?

Humidity here in the high desert is about 25-35% normally. What would be the impact if the humidity spiked or dropped?

 

[timlange3]

I see G scale used in commercial settings where they leave the train run all day. Both those too do wear out, bigger wheels probably last longer.

My thought is to put up security cameras where it makes the most sense and power them through POE. Then get the train in the scale that makes sense for your space and you. Combining security cameras with a train running around the garage seems to me as two very, very, different setups that would not work well at all with each other.

CTE is a concern, you will have a lot of thin, but long metal pieces you want to keep a certain distance apart. Humidity will not affect the rails and ties, but will affect the subroadbed, the wood you put the track on.

 

[migalyto]

So just a thought on this.

Why not just put up security cameras around the garage area that can monitor 24/7. Then set up the shelf layout using the scale
you choose and enjoy it as strictly a layout? Seems much less complicated than figuring the security camera in a train scenario.
Then you wouldn't have to leave it on all the time but still have around the clock cameras running.