Buying a Loco Remote
The shop is now closed until Monday 5th January 2026.
Please contact us in the new year if you would like a Loco Remote. Thank you.
To buy a Loco Remote please email locoremote@gmail.com stating which version(s) you would like and any lights, sound and holder options. We will then send you an invoice. Most versions are available to ship within 2 working days. Please also mention if you are outside the UK. Thank you.
UK (excluding Northern Ireland) customers
Prices include free postage to the UK excluding Northern Ireland only.
Customers outside the UK
We are currently not able to ship to the European Union or Northern Ireland.
We are able to ship to some countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland. There is a shipping charge of £11 for tracked and insured air mail for up to two Loco Remotes if you are outside the UK. You may have to pay tax and/or import duty to your local mail provider before they will deliver your package. The amounts vary in every country and it is your responsibility to check this in advance with your local customs agency. Loco Remote will not refund any payments to customers who decline to pay any import fees in their country.
We have paused shipping to the United States of America. Parcels are now getting held up for very long periods in US customs despite being sent with the tariff prepaid. When these delays are resolved we will look to offer shipping to the US again. In the meantime we are very sorry about this.
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Loco Remote Guide
The Loco Remote system is made up of a very small electronic module that fits in the loco, and a controller interface that the module generates on a Wi-Fi device such as an Apple or Android smartphone.
There are two families of modules. The Mini B is for 3V to 6V motors. The Maxi and Mega are for 6V to 12V motors.
Click on the links to view or download the installation and setup guide for each type of module, advice on battery selection, and the Wi-Fi connection and controller operation guide common to all modules.
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The Mini B is suitable for 3V to 6V motorsThe Mini B can be powered by any type of battery with a suitable voltage including NiMH, NiCd, Alkaline, Li-ion and Lipo. The absolute maximum battery voltage for the Mini B is 6V. The Mini B is able to supply up to 1.6A current to the motor at the full battery voltage.
The Mini B is supplied with a cable for a 3.7V (1s) Lipo battery of this type. Search eBay for "Syma X5C battery". 4 x 650mAh batteries and a mini charger are available from UK sellers for around £16 and ideal for many small 3V locos.
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Loco Remote Mini B
26mm wide, 43mm long, 10mm high
3V to 6V battery 1.6A max current
£40 inc UK p&p |
Loco Remote Mini B with lights
26mm wide, 43mm long, 18mm high
3V to 6V battery 1.6A max current
£45 inc UK p&p |
Loco Remote Mini B with external sound triggers & lights
26mm wide, 43mm long, 18mm high
3V to 6V battery 1.6A max current
£50 inc UK p&p |
Loco Remote Mini B with internal sound card & lights
26mm wide, 43mm long, 25mm high
3V to 6V battery 1.6A max current
£55 inc UK p&p
Remember to specify sound samples required - see below |
The Maxi is suitable for 6V to 12V motorsThe Maxi can be powered by any type of battery with a suitable voltage including NiMH, NiCd, Alkaline, Lead Acid, Li-ion and Lipo. The absolute maximum battery voltage is 15V. Note that a fully charged nominal 1.2V NiMH battery has an initial output voltage of up to 1.45V so do not use more than 10 AA NiMH batteries or equivalent in series. Nominal 7.4V (2s) or 11.1V (3s) Lipos are suitable. Do not use 14.8V (4s) Lipos as they have a fully charged voltage of 16.8V. A 12V Lead Acid battery is also fine and has an initial output voltage of up to a 14.7V. The Maxi is able to supply up to 2A current to the motor at the full battery voltage. |
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Loco Remote Maxi
26mm wide, 43mm long, 13mm high
6V to 12V battery 2A max current
£44 inc UK p&p |
Loco Remote Maxi with lights
26mm wide, 43mm long, 21mm high
6V to 12V battery 2A max current
£49 inc UK p&p |
Loco Remote Maxi with external sound triggers & lights
26mm wide, 43mm long, 21mm high
6V to 12V battery 2A max current
£54 inc UK p&p |
Loco Remote Maxi with internal sound card & lights
26mm wide, 43mm long, 30mm high
6V to 12V battery 2A max current
£59 inc UK p&p
Remember to specify sound samples required - see below |
The Mega 2 and Mega 4 are 2 and 4 motor driver version of the Maxi and are suitable for 6V to 12V motors
Each of the motor outputs is capable of supplying up to 2A current. The outputs of the Mega must be connected to separate motors and not be put in parallel to a single motor as this will damage the module. Versions of the Mega 2 with all the same options as the Maxi are available for £20 more than the equivalent Maxi so a standard Mega 2 is £64. Versions of the Mega 4 are £50 more than the equivalent Maxi. Click here to see a video of the Mega 4 in high speed action. |
Cables, wiring options and fuses
Download the Battery selection and wiring guide
Battery, motor, lights and sound card cables are included as appropriate. Add 10mm to the length of the modules to accommodate connectors. The minimum length space on the loco is therefore 53mm.
If you are trying to squeeze a Loco Remote module into a very small space, the Mini B and Maxi are both available with wires soldered directly to the board replacing the connectors. This is a special option. If you are interested please enquire before ordering. This is not available for modules with lights or sound.
Rechargeable batteries have a very low internal resistance and can easily large currents when shorted. Use a RGEF 16V-200 16V 2A resettable polyfuse or a 2.5A slow blow 20mm fuse in series with the battery to protect the Loco Remote module and battery. These can be found by searching for polyfuse on eBay. |
LED light and sound options
The Loco Remote Mini B and Maxi 2 are available in 4 different versions
The Standard module drives either a 3V to 6V or 6V to 12V motor.
Lights adds 2 directionally switched outputs each capable of providing 150mA at 3.3V for LEDs at the front and rear of the loco. The module has user changeable built in current limiting resistors to work directly with clear white or red LEDs. These can be bypassed so the user can use external resistors to customise the brightness further. The high output current can power up to 8 LEDs simultaneously, making it easy to have 2 or 3 white LEDs on at the front and 2 or 3 red LEDs on at the rear at the same time. The lights can be turned on and off from the phone controller.
External sound triggers adds support for common external sound cards from manufacturers including Mtroniks and MyLocoSound. The Loco Remote provides a signal to the motor input of the sound card for variable engine speed noise and 4 buttons on the phone controller to trigger horn and whistle sounds as well as turning the engine on and off if the sound card supports this. The same battery can be used for the Loco Remote Maxi and sound card. As most sound cards require over 6V, a separate voltage converter will be needed for the sound card when operated with the Mini B. Here is a MyLocoSound installation guide showing the voltage converter.
The Internal sound card provides 4 horn and/or whistle sounds recorded from full size locos that can be triggered from the phone controller. Just connect a small 8 ohm speaker directly to the module. It does not provide continuous engine noise. If you want engine noise choose the external sound option with a separate sound card. When you order a Loco Remote with internal sound card & lights please specify which loco samples you want loaded on your card. Click on the links below to hear the currently available sound samples.
Steam loco sound samples
Diesel loco sound samples
If you would like a customised set of 4 samples, either from a combination of the locos listed above or from your own video or audio recordings then contact us by email. There is a £10 set up fee for this service added to the relevant Loco Remote module price.
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Optional 3D printed Loco Remote holders
There are 4 versions. All are 37mm long by 28mm wide. Their height depends on the module they are for - Mini B, Maxi, either module with lights/sound, and a 3.7V lipo holder.
The photo shows the 4 versions as well as a lipo and Mini B holder together on the left. These can be kept separate or easily glued together. The Loco Remote is held securely in the frame with a small 2mm screw. The holder has 3 flat sides so can be mounted in the loco in any orientation. Colours may vary.
The price of each holder is £1.50. Postage is free when bought with a Loco Remote. Without a Loco Remote UK p&p is an additional £2.00.
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