Review: 1865 Nelson Rain Train traveling water sprinkler

Submitted by thegeek on Sun, 04/30/2006 - 5:10pm
Rain Train

Grown Up Geek's Review

Nelson 1865 Rain Train Traveling Water Sprinkler
Reviewed by: Ralph Becker (GrownUpGeek associate)
Purchase date: Summer 2001
Purchased from: Home Depot
Price paid: $50
Overall grade/comments: Great sprinkler, has lasted years. Sometimes comes off the 'track' or digs a hole.

Every summer I would have to run to the store for a new sprinkler. I would then have to install it, run it, move it to a new spot and repeat. One day I saw the Nelson 1865 Rain Train sitting on the shelf and decided to purchase the pricey item.

The Rain Train: A heavyweight

The Rain Train is heavy, weighing in just over 20 pounds. It is very yellow, with plastic white wheels that have
points on them. The points help the Train [It looks more like an old fashioned tractor] to dig into the grass and move forward.

Rain Train: Waters your entire lawn

How to use it. Just lay out your 5/8" up to 200 feet long hose on the lawn you wish to water. It can spray water from 15 to 50 feet in a circle while traveling along the hose. Make sure any turns are gradual as the RainTrain may "jump" off the track. Select the speed you wish for it to run. Hi speed will allow it to travel up to 60 feet per hour. The 1865 Rain Train has a neutral gear which will let the train just stay in one spot. Next place the ramp at the other end of the run and turn the water on and let it run. The ramp will hit a shut off button on the bottom of the train to stop it from running.

During my years [yes I finally found a sprinkler that lasted more than a year!] of using the train, I had only one problem with it. Sometimes it will get stuck and just sit there, digging a hole and making a lake of water. But for the majority of the time the Rain Train runs great.

I use the Rain Train on fresh cut to grass that is 2 to 3 inches tall. I have used it on inclines and flat lawn.

About me:
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Comments

Anonymous

Mon, 07/24/2006 - 9:48pm

whoo.. that's one crazy looking water sprinkler!
what ever happened to the little $6 whirly-sprinkler that just lays there?

Trev

Tue, 07/25/2006 - 11:38pm

Dude! it's the 21st century! if it's not fancy, it's not 'cool'.. and nobody wants to buy something that isnt.. COOL.. Even something that's going to lay around in the front yard and rust..

Dennis

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 2:43pm

Actually it has nothing to do with "cool". It's about lazy. Ya lay out the hose, turn it on, have a few beers & watch the game. Yard waters itself. (Actually that's pretty cool after all.) Know what's NOT cool? Having to run out and change the sprinkler every 1/2 hour.

We had the worst drought this summer, in our history (who didn't right?) I used two of the traveling sprinklers, every day in the back year, every three days in the front (cul de sac lot). Had green grass all throughout the drought. (Getting rain now, actually raining today as I write this).

RainTrain lasts and lasts (nothing on it to rust). One in front yard is over twenty years old. Just put a new motor on it in July. Runs like new.

Elkslip

Fri, 04/06/2018 - 10:36am

The rain train is sooo much better than a sprinkler that just lays there. I have to keep moving them to get the entire yard watered and they're a pain in the backside. I don't care if the Rain Train is "cool" or not, but it's my choice to save my back, my time and my temper.

Anonymous

Tue, 08/01/2006 - 4:59pm

What water pressure does it work best at and will it work at 10 pounds pressure?

Anonymous Visitor

Fri, 06/15/2012 - 11:36am

I don't think it will work very well at 10 psi. I'm on a well, and at low pressure *as the pump is about ready to kick on) it's not turning fast at all. That would be around 30-35 psi (at the pump, perhaps 15 psi out at the sprinkler.) It will run, but poorly.

Robert Grigsby

Wed, 06/27/2018 - 3:29pm

Will it work on low pressure? What's minimum?

FUJIMONOW

Tue, 06/02/2009 - 10:27am

I HAVE USED RAIN TRAINS FOR YRS. AND THEY R PRACTICALLY BULLETPROOF! I HAVE ALSO SEEN IT COME OFF THE HOSE, AND GO OFF IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION! I THINK IT DOES THIS DUE TO LOW WATER PRESSURE IN THE HOSE, THE HOSE MUST STAY INFLATED TO KEEP HER ON TRACK! I WISH TO FIND A WAY TO MODIFY THE NOSSLES FROM A STREAM TO A MISTING SPRAY! HAS ANYONE DONE THIS? I COULD USE SOME TIPS (NOSSELS) HEHEHE!

Anonymous Visitor

Wed, 08/04/2010 - 8:17pm

Mine keeps jumping off the hose too. What I did to get more of a mist is using a small piece of screen over the ends held on with a piece of wire.

Anonymous Visitor

Fri, 06/15/2012 - 11:38am

hose size. I find 5/8" hose to be the best. I ran 3/4" heavy rubber hose and it jumped quite often. Added a 50' cheap 1/2" on to the end and it jumped as well. With 5/8" it never jumps unless I make too sharp on a turn or when it tries to drap more then 200' of hose.

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