Hi GSC - newbie from Australia

G

gavin8rrr

Registered
Happy 2025 to all - but I must confess upfront that I have signed up to this forum for guidance from those more knowledgeable.
I am helping out an elderly friend who is a model railway enthusiast but isn't on the internet. He approached me to repair a custom built analogue controller and when I suggested he purchase something off-the-shelf gave me a funny look.
So here goes with the requirements:
  • 24V analog with speed adjustment. Unsure of amps but whatever is required for 1 x large loco (?)
  • Soft start upon triggering of start proximity / beam (x 1)
  • Soft stop upon triggering of stop proximity / beam (x 1)
  • Can purchase commercially now & hopefully in future
  • Must be able to post to Australia
Any advice appreciated. Happy to purchase new or used from a forum member or forum supporter.

Regards,

Gavin
 
Hi Gavin, and welcome to the Forum! I can't answer your questions but am pretty sure there'll be someone who can. We like pictures, so maybe post a couple of your friend's line, if he's happy for you to do so. Two other things: there's no such thing as a stupid question on here; and beware of the humour, some of which is truly dreadful!
 
Yeah G'day Gavin, Sorry I'm no help either, but would like to welcome to the show.
where are you and your friend located in OZ, I'm in the Penrith area and there are quite a few of us on here.
I may be wrong, but I think most are moving towards Battery powered/remote control these days, could that be an option ?.
 
Hiya Alan, I am from Tea Gardens while the chap I am helping out is near Coffs Harbour. If there is a section of the forum or some keywords I should be looking at then please suggest. I am a retired electrical engineer but there are plenty of Railway specific terms used that aren't helping me to remove my blinkers.
 
Welcome G gavin8rrr there are a few of us here from Aus, I am in NW Tas. Sorry ,even thou I am a sparky I can't offer a answer as I have no experience with handheld analogue controllers. There are a lot of knowledgeable people from the other side of the world who probably can help you , just have to wait a few hours for them wake up .
 
Hiya grizzmo....after something that is fixed and not handheld if that helps? Also by analog I really mean not digital communications. There is nothing smart about the task that really requires logic. Then again maybe going digital controls might be the way to go? I have no idea as I don't yet understand train terminology.
 
gavin8rrr said:
Hiya Alan, I am from Tea Gardens while the chap I am helping out is near Coffs Harbour. If there is a section of the forum or some keywords I should be looking at then please suggest. I am a retired electrical engineer but there are plenty of Railway specific terms used that aren't helping me to remove my blinkers.
Click to expand...
Hi welcome to the Forum, one of the things to be aware of when searching only 4 letter and above sized word searches work thus ‘LGB’ fails. Hopefully what you are trying to repair is only a 24v unit? If it is mains ie with the mains inside the box as well as the 24v control elements I would stay away from it. If a small line a modest LGB unit can be had for not silly money, I would be surprised if you could not find a local to you one on EBay. But many UK suppliers will likely send to you. GRS Princess Risborough, Rails Sheffield, Dream Steam Aylesford just a few possibilities. Sure others will pip in with some more.
 
Welcome to the forum Gavin. Not many questions that can't be answered on here, so someone will help, but it will help if we know exactly what is wrong with the controller, or at least which bit doesn't work.
 
gavin8rrr said:
Happy 2025 to all - but I must confess upfront that I have signed up to this forum for guidance from those more knowledgeable.
I am helping out an elderly friend who is a model railway enthusiast but isn't on the internet. He approached me to repair a custom built analogue controller and when I suggested he purchase something off-the-shelf gave me a funny look.
So here goes with the requirements:
  • 24V analog with speed adjustment. Unsure of amps but whatever is required for 1 x large loco (?)
  • Soft start upon triggering of start proximity / beam (x 1)
  • Soft stop upon triggering of stop proximity / beam (x 1)
  • Can purchase commercially now & hopefully in future
  • Must be able to post to Australia
Any advice appreciated. Happy to purchase new or used from a forum member or forum supporter.

Regards,

Gavin
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forum Gavin.

These days, with all the H&S and electrical safety regs, repairing a custom built bit of kit is difficult without any diagrams.

I have a friend who is trying to dispose of something similar here in the UK, but no one is prepared to take it on.

My advice would be the same as yours, i.e. purchase something from a reputable manufacturer or retailer.

Gaugemaster here in the UK make a good G Scale controller for 5A, or you could try and find a LGB or PIKO controller.

Although quite a few retailers here will no longer sell second hand mains units as they do not comply with current rules and regulations....
 
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Hi G gavin8rrr , welcome to the forum. I am from Springwood, NSW.

I cannot help with any repair advice but if you find you have to purchase a commercial unit for your friend you will find that there are only a few knowledgeable retailers left that sell items suitable for G scale trains.

Here are a couple of local suppliers for you to look at. They all will be able to give you suitable advice.

If you have some idea about the loco brand/type it may help in obtaining guidance as to what is best.

Pamak Hobbies, Bargo, NSW. Piko G | Pamak Hobbies [closed till 6-1][scroll down page for controllers, I think he has suitable transformers in stock]

G Scale Hobbies, Swansea, NSW. https://gscalehobbies.com.au/lgb/ [no prices given, not sure about stock]

Trains For The Garden, Melbourne. Transformers and Controllers [seems to have a good range in stock]

I hope this helps,

Cheers,

Ian
 
Monty said:
Hi G gavin8rrr , welcome to the forum. I am from Springwood, NSW.

I cannot help with any repair advice but if you find you have to purchase a commercial unit for your friend you will find that there are only a few knowledgeable retailers left that sell items suitable for G scale trains.

Here are a couple of local suppliers for you to look at. They all will be able to give you suitable advice.

If you have some idea about the loco brand/type it may help in obtaining guidance as to what is best.

Pamak Hobbies, Bargo, NSW. Piko G | Pamak Hobbies [closed till 6-1][scroll down page for controllers, I think he has suitable transformers in stock]

G Scale Hobbies, Swansea, NSW. LGB - G Scale Hobbies [no prices given, not sure about stock]

Trains For The Garden, Melbourne. Transformers and Controllers [seems to have a good range in stock]

I hope this helps,

Cheers,

Ian
Click to expand...
Thanks heaps Ian. I will give them a bell tomorrow and see what they recommend.
 
gavin8rrr said:
24V analog with speed adjustment. Unsure of amps but whatever is required for 1 x large loco (?)
Click to expand...

This part is relatively easy and there are a bunch of solutions on the market. If you want longevity, buy something from LGB or Piko.

gavin8rrr said:
  • Soft start upon triggering of start proximity / beam (x 1)
  • Soft stop upon triggering of stop proximity / beam (x 1)
Click to expand...

This is a lot harder, remote sensors of some sort plus additional electronics to power supply will be needed. There are really no common/standard ways of doing this so whatever is used is probably not going to meet your "Can purchase commercially now & hopefully in future" criteria.

Could you please provide more information about his existing controller and what he is using to trigger the soft stops/starts?
 
Software Tools said:
This part is relatively easy and there are a bunch of solutions on the market. If you want longevity, buy something from LGB or Piko.



This is a lot harder, remote sensors of some sort plus additional electronics to power supply will be needed. There are really no common/standard ways of doing this so whatever is used is probably not going to meet your "Can purchase commercially now & hopefully in future" criteria.

Could you please provide more information about his existing controller and what he is using to trigger the soft stops/starts?
Click to expand...
The model railway is permanently on display and when someone walks by the station, and, if not already running the train accelerates up to speed and goes around the track once. If nobody is present when the train gets back to the station the train decelerates and stops close to the station.

I imagine the soft start / soft stop was added to reduce wear and tare on the loco from years of operation. The chap who built the controller some 30 years ago was an electronics hobbyist and passed away many years ago. It is easier for me to program a smart relay / PLC and an industrial DC drive to do the same trick, rather than to reverse engineer & repair the old controller. I think the smartest way out is not to re-invent the wheel if there is something commercially available??

The start / stop signals will be NPN, PNP or dry contacts to suit whatever controller fits the bill. If there is more than 1 x choice of controller I will investigate further and take the easiest path..

If someone knowledgeable advises me to convert over to DCC (?) as it makes it a walk in the park then I wouldn't rule that out either. I am still learning train stuff.

Thank you everyone for your time...much appreciated.
 
Okay people, I moved this thread as we seem to have already advanced from 'hello' to what is to me techie mumbo-jumbo.
I used EPL for my G railway but now use DCC for my layout. Don't ask about the coloured spaghetti.
 
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gavin8rrr said:
if not already running the train accelerates up to speed and goes around the track once. If nobody is present when the train gets back to the station the train decelerates and stops close to the station.
Click to expand...

OK, so it is an external trigger, not specifically related to the location of the train, which reduces the complexity quite a bit.
 
A 'one-shot' from a push-button (or commercial proximity detector) can start things off..
If you are happy with the programming, then a PIC controller can be programmed to do the rest..

For a commercial unit, look for 'shuttle units' as many can be used to continue, rather than shuttle back and forth..

PhilP
 
Welcome aboard Gavin.
 
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