LGB 1015U, 1201, and 1203

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LoveOnRails

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So, I inherited a bunch of G-scale track from a now deceased G-scaler, and am in the planning stages for building my own G-scale garden railroad from this. Amongst the track components is a piece having 3 components fastened together, a 1015U, a 1201 and a 1203. See attached pic. IMG_0729.jpegI googled what each of the pieces do, but as a trio I’m baffled as to what collective function they have. I also saw this trio of components sold as a unit at a recent G-scale train show. What especially puzzles me is why a switch machine (1201) is attached without a turnout. As configured, I would say that when a train passes over the 1015U, it throws the switch on the parallel track, but I fail to see why that would be useful.

So, I’m looking for enlightenment over this contraption. I would appreciate your insights.
 
Welcome to the forum.

I too can't think why a point motor would be attached to a 1015U. It's an isolation track and the motor and auxiliary switches don't seem to be required.

Unless someone else would know....
 
The only thing I can think of is the point motor, with the attached auxiliary switch, is use as a remote way of switching on & off a dead section of line passed the isolation rail.
 
LoveOnRails said:
So, I inherited a bunch of G-scale track from a now deceased G-scaler, and am in the planning stages for building my own G-scale garden railroad from this. Amongst the track components is a piece having 3 components fastened together, a 1015U, a 1201 and a 1203. See attached pic. View attachment 326056I googled what each of the pieces do, but as a trio I’m baffled as to what collective function they have. I also saw this trio of components sold as a unit at a recent G-scale train show. What especially puzzles me is why a switch machine (1201) is attached without a turnout. As configured, I would say that when a train passes over the 1015U, it throws the switch on the parallel track, but I fail to see why that would be useful.

So, I’m looking for enlightenment over this contraption. I would appreciate your insights.
Click to expand...
I would believe the 1201 motor is being used with a control box to trigger the relay in the 1203, which provides power (or not) to the 1205U. It would be paired with another 1205 for the isolated section. Basically its just a way to control power in an isolated section of track. The EPL system was/is pretty sophisticated.
 
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Most likely it is was being used as part of some EPL based automation to switch power on/off to a section of track as required for whatever the automated function required.

You can just see a red wire from the 1203 heading under a sleeper on the 1205u isolation track section. The 1201+1203 combination in this case is simply being used as a relay, which is conveniently located at the track section concerned.
 
Welcome to the forum! As you have found out, there's a lot of useful information on here, just beware of the humour.
It wouldn't be a way of changing a signal by any chance?
 
Paul M said:
It wouldn't be a way of changing a signal by any chance?
Click to expand...
I did wonder about that, but it is a point motor rather than a signal motor....
 
I'm glad someone replied to this with the correct drawings and info! LGB EPL circuits are very powerful and useful. I have an LGB Technical Guide book around here, and you can do a lot with the supplemental switches attached to LGB switch motors, turns them into DPDT relays. I actually build custom boards with 2 of these combined units to run 3 trains on a loop with a siding. As shown above you can do advanced blocking in a yard with various LGB components, and you can do signal stops, station stops, and so much more. There are ways to control DC trains completely if you learn the LGB system well. You can do an automated reversing loop easily, with just one switch machine and a couple of track contacts without diodes and those special 6 inches 1015 tracks that lgb sells. See diagram below.

LGB reverse loop diagram.jpg
 
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LGB EPL is a much underrated (by some) system of automation using analogue control. I have managed a circuit with 3 trains circumnavigating the same way. I have an article in the LGB house mag that showed a set of 3 trains 2 going one way 1 the other which is what I was heading towards but never spent the time to experiment and get that going.
 
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