Hi - I would like to set up a switch so that it automatically flips to the opposite direction as soon as a train has gone through. I think I can use a reed switch and caboose magnet to sense when the train has completed traversing the switch, but does anyone know how I can make it flip to the opposite direction?
Dear Steve,
Is your intent to have a following train take the other route, or is it a single train in a turn around loop?
I know that 3 rail O is different, but Stan Roy has a relay controlled Lionel layout that allows 32 trains to run at once, toggling turnout directions automatically.
The “train detex” in this case is an isolated outside rail, which is shorted across by conductive wheels and axle.
I believe that 2 rail sense is a high resistance between two normally isolated wheels. The small leakage current can be detected within isolated track blocks and (amplified and) used to toggle the proper relays.
Stans 3RO layout is highlighted in this video tape:
"Great toy train layouts of America. part II [videorecording]
Tom McComas and James Tuohy.
New Buffalo, MI : TM Productions, 1989.
1 videocassette (60 min.) 1/2 in. VHS format.
Video features layout of collector Stan Roy (32 trains on three levels)"
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
Tom Ruby has a way of doing this totally mechanical with a spring pin. Hopefully, he can post some pictures and a diagram.
Tom’s method is just a spring that holds the switch in the last direction it was pushed to.
The request is to have the switch change to direction “B” after the train goes through in direction “A” if I read correctly.
You could do it with a magnet on the caboose and reed switches in each of the 2 routes, and the reed in route “A” switches the switch to route “B” and vice versa, pretty simple to implement.
Regards, Greg
Hi Joe,
Yes, my intent was to have the following train take the alternate route (on my layout, it is atcually the same train alternating between different loops back to the main line, but I may eventually add another train.)
Steve
Joe Satnik said:
Dear Steve,Is your intent to have a following train take the other route, or is it a single train in a turn around loop?
I know that 3 rail O is different, but Stan Roy has a relay controlled Lionel layout that allows 32 trains to run at once, toggling turnout directions automatically.
The “train detex” in this case is an isolated outside rail, which is shorted across by conductive wheels and axle.
I believe that 2 rail sense is a high resistance between two normally isolated wheels. The small leakage current can be detected within isolated track blocks and (amplified and) used to toggle the proper relays.
Stans 3RO layout is highlighted in this video tape:
"Great toy train layouts of America. part II [videorecording]
Tom McComas and James Tuohy.
New Buffalo, MI : TM Productions, 1989.1 videocassette (60 min.) 1/2 in. VHS format.
Video features layout of collector Stan Roy (32 trains on three levels)"
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
I did something like this on my layout. I used a reed switch and magnet. My magnet is on the loco and the track gets killed when the switch trips. I run two trains at one time on the same main. video is on my website. I used all LGB stuff but I know there is a guy that makes this for g scale. Let me see if I can find his website and I will post it.
Geoff
Hi Geoff,
Thanks, I saw your video and I like the way those trains alternate. Please let me know how you did it, as I would like to run a second train in from a switch, but I don’t want to have it go if there is a train nearby that it could run into. So something similar to what you did could work, where the power shuts off if there is a train in the way.
Geoff George said:
I did something like this on my layout. I used a reed switch and magnet. My magnet is on the loco and the track gets killed when the switch trips. I run two trains at one time on the same main. video is on my website. I used all LGB stuff but I know there is a guy that makes this for g scale. Let me see if I can find his website and I will post it.Geoff
Steve I can’t find the link right now. I will have to call the guy and get it. once I do that I will post it. the stuff was real easy to do and should work for what you wont to do.
geoff
Steve found the website
http://www.track2.com/ingram/trkplan/trkplan.shtml
this should help you find everthing you need to do what you would like. This guy has some great stuff and is very willing to help everyone out. Let me know who it goes.
Geoff