Neil Robinson
Registered
Do you wish to operate manually or would you like one train to automatically stop each and every time it reaches a platform, thereby starting the other train in the opposite direction?
Yes.Newby said:Thanks Steve, this should do very nicely. I also hope to automate the passage through this section by using track sensors. Is this feasible?
Neil Robinson said:Yes.Newby said:Thanks Steve, this should do very nicely. I also hope to automate the passage through this section by using track sensors. Is this feasible?
One way is the following slight modifications on Steve's diagram. It needs an additional auxiliary switch on the other point motor.
The point motors are both wired to be operated simultaneously by track contacts as before. Switch 1 reverses the power to the common, bi-directional track section. Switch 2 is wired so that one half is closed when the other is open and feeds the relatively short isolating sections in each loop. These are sited a short distance ahead of the triggers as it's important that a train doesn't stop with the operating magnet within range of the trigger.
Start with a train in each loop, one a fair bit farther from a trigger than the other. Apply power and both trains will move in opposite directions. When a train passes over a trigger it isolates the relatively short section of track ahead, sets the points in front of that for the other loop and changes the track polarity to suit. When the second train reaches a trigger it does the same so the first train restarts, passes on to the common section, goes round the layout and eventually triggers the second train.