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Single Cab Running
Shaun has a question for readers and asks:
“I need someway of hiding the left hand track – the other two are for a station.
And the diagonal track crosses the polarity when it reaches the station tracks.
Is there an easy wiring method to correct this to allow single cab running?”
Add your suggestions to help Shaun
5 Responses to Single Cab Running
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It should be the bottom track – it and the diagonal track go down to hidden staging and a reversing loop.
The bottom track needs some sort of thin building or hill.
Any help greatly appreciated
Regards
Shaun
With two rail running the operator controls the direction of the train, irrespective of the orientation of the loco, so really you are acting like a signalman. I.E., turn the controller to the right to go clockwise, and to the left to go counter clockwise. (Three rail allows you to decide whether the loco is running forward or backwards, which is true cab control.)
The simplest solution to your reversing loop problem uses three breaks in the track and four diodes. — 1N4001 (1A) or 1N5400 (2A)will be fine. The circuit can be seen at http://trains.manvell.org.uk/misc/ReverseLoop2.jpg . Note that the distances between the centre break and the two diode breaks need to be equal to the longest loco pick-up length, and that the three breaks should be as near to the exit from the reverse look as possible. (The arrangement is, in fact, bi-directional.) The train will stop once the loco has passed over the centre break, at which time reverse the controller.
Thanks for the diode tip – will make test track up and give it a go.
Any ideas on how to hide the bottom track.
Was thinking hill or building – but nothing I think of seems be suitable.
Regards
Shaun
Thanks for all the feedback regarding the polarity issue.
But could I also have some suggestions as to how I can hide or embellish the disappearing bottom track?
Cheers
Hiding Track Ideas:
Tunnel / Cutting leading into => Hill / Cliff / Mountain;
Trees / Woodland;
Factory Loading Bay;
Maintenance Shed or Roundhouse;
Covered Station Entrance;
Behind a building.
Brain now exhausted.
Oh, hang on, one more: Train enters large wad of cotton wool representing a fog bank !-)