Planning a new layout but need an electronics question answered. To simplify the issue, imagine a basic oval with a siding along one edge; like parallel staging tracks I'll call A and B. Hard wired, not DCC. Want to run two trains, one in each direction. What to make train #1 run one oval and then automatically stop on A. Wait 30 seconds, then automatically change switches then run train #2 in opposite direction once round. Stop on siding B. Then wait 30 seconds then switch back to A and run train #1 once around again. etc, etc, etc. Anyone know of electronics to accomplish this?
You might get a start on this page. I did't look at it all, and you might have to combine some ideas, but I think there are solutions there: http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/CircuitIndex.html
If you want to hard wire this circuit, you're into a number of relays, transistor amplifying chains, detectors, resistors, and capacitors (the latter two can make a crude timing device). I built something like this in 1972. My EE brother drew the circuit for me. Today, an integrated circuit or two would probably do the trick. There are plenty of circuits around for detecting trains. If you can detect the trains, then the rest is just an electrical routing problem with a built-in timing device.
How about this: http://www.rr-concepts.com/apps.shtml Looks like #12 is what you want. I thought it was only HO and larger, but on their FAQ: [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Courier New,Courier] [Q] What scale trains can be controlled? [/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Courier New,Courier][A] Anything from Z to G that operates on DC.[/FONT]
Go to Catalog, download the PDF, look at application 301 to 304. What I did was use the reverser circuit at full 12v, wire the Tortoise machines to it, then a DC controller to adapt the speed. My application was the reverse loop so just a single detector at each end. I think you'll need pretty much the same thing, where the sidings are also powered via the tortoise (perhaps through diodes so they only work one way).
