Breakaway warning device - does it exist?

Or, you can keep an eye out on your train.

Rusty

True Rusty, and that's a very cost effective solution to boot.  But in reality our layout is something like 20x40 and sometimes we get distracted.  I have seen many a streamlined passenger car with broken drumhead or cracked observation end due to this.  

Dean

I have no idea if such a thing already exists or not, but had thought about it some time ago when folks were discussing this problem.  The solution I came up with was to use a transceiver pair, one on the tender, or first car there after, and one on the caboose, with each of those cars tracking the current speed of the car.  I don't see this being a particularly difficult project to accomplish, but it would require some more thought to make something universal to all types of operators.  

Another, simpler, solution is to only track the speed of a caboose, and program it to beep or some such if it is not moving.  This would work fine most of the time for a display, but could get really annoying if you are often starting and stoping your engines.  

Anyway, it seems like a fun project to tackle at some point.  

JGL

You could use block detection. If the loop were divided into several blocks, with each of them being at least as long as the longest train, then a train will never occupy more than two blocks at the same time (i.e., when it is crossing from one block to another). If there are ever three blocks occupied at once, or if two non-adjacent blocks are occupied, then you know that you have a break in the train.

This assumes you are only operating one train at a time on the loop.

Simple solution...engineers who are assigned to run trains should not be doing anything else except running the trains.

Other folks on duty at the layout can talk with the public.

All good suggestions. And yes, the engineers who are assigned to run trains should not be doing anything else except running the trains.  However, with buildings and scenery in place the trains are sometimes not visible to the operator, and with five loops there are a lot of trains to keep track of.  Sometimes at shows during a particular time of the day we only have a few folks available to help.  Point is, stuff happens, and an audible early warning would help save the rolling stock from undo wear and tear.

 Dean

Put a strain gauge on the engine coupler.  Calibrate it to alarm if strain gets lower.

I thought I'd heard it all... <shaking head>...

Although expensive( depending on how much rolling stock you have) I bet one could conjer up something in tandem with the magnetic air hose coupling article found in o scale news. Using scale brass AIR hose coupling from PSC or others, adding the n50 magnet in the glad hand so the coupling holds, this air line completes a circuit by holding a positive charge. The return is via the metal carboxy. Each car would hold underneath amino circuit board with a mini led strobe as well as an audible alarm that goes off if the circuit is broken ( I.e. air line separated because of unwanted uncoupling and or derailment that uncoupled the cars.) Just like the 1:1 does. The only issue is how the board tells if the car is on a train or just sitting on a siding? Hmmm.

KISS - if the concern is opening couplers at shows, tie em up with a rubber band or your wifes/girlfriends small thingies for their hair.

• Cost: $1.
• Effectiveness - Pretty good.
• Time to implement - about five minutes,
• time to reverse engineer - about another five minutes.

Paul

I always use my 3 year old grandson, he's always screams papa, papa, papa whenever there is impending doom and he's very reliable too.  

Paul

It's a great idea, Dean. There is certainly a need for such a device in all scales. It would be nice to see a universal device for this.

I really like the idea of a sensor being added to the last car. When the car stops rolling an audible alarm sounds. The motion sensor concept already exists in the hotbox reefers from Lionel.

Railrunnin posted:

KISS - if the concern is opening couplers at shows, tie em up with a rubber band ..............

Paul

Absolutely.  99.99% of the time you're just running and not doing any spotting or yard work so why not just put a mini dental band around each set of couplers.

Serows1 posted:

I always use my 3 year old grandson, he's always screams papa, papa, papa whenever there is impending doom and he's very reliable too.  

Paul

That is a good alarm idea! The grand kids don't often miss anything either, great lookouts! 

They are also excellent at finding very small train parts that papa has dropped and can't find!

rtr12 posted:

Serows1 posted:

I always use my 3 year old grandson, he's always screams papa, papa, papa whenever there is impending doom and he's very reliable too.  

Paul

They are also excellent at finding very small train parts that papa has dropped and can't find!

Boy, you aren't kidding!! 

Paul

There is already such a RR device, and it was invented a very long time ago. The air brakes used on trains are designed to apply the brakes whenever the is a break in the train. This breaks the air line, and the reservoirs on each car to apply the brakes. The train - both ends - goes into emergency.

Now...all you have to do is reproduce the whole shebang in 1:48 (or 1:64, if you prefer) scale.

Problem solved.

It will be a standard feature in several years when the engines hit the 4k price range.

Rod Miller

romiller49 posted:

It will be a standard feature in several years when the engines hit the 4k price range.

Rod Miller

Standard Feature

4K Price Tag

Unfortunately, the 4K price tag is the only one that I would bet on, and probably sooner than we will like.

Doug

OGR Webmaster posted:

Simple solution...engineers who are assigned to run trains should not be doing anything else except running the trains.

Other folks on duty at the layout can talk with the public.

Precisely! When I have guests, which at times has been up to 20 people at one time, I start the tour by letting the guests just look around the layout, with no trains running. I may run and allow them to run a few accessories, and I answer questions during this time. After 20 to 30 minutes, "I" start running the trains, and let everyone know that I will not be paying attention to anything but to the trains. I also ask them to alert me if they see a train separate, or if they notice anything that doesn't look right.

Automatic, care-free operation. Between 1986 and 1992, when I had my last HO layout, it was 100% computer controlled. I installed a small magnet under each car and engine, and 48 Hall-Effect sensors on the track. These sensors allowed multiple operations, such as uncoupling and coupling over the Kadee magnets, all under computer control. Also, and to the subject in question, if a sensor detected a fewer number of cars that had been expected, all the trains were brought to a gradual but rather quick stop.

Someday I hope to have a similar system on my current Hidden Pass Junction RR, which will allow me to talk with my guests while the trains are running. But until then, as Rich said, the engineer (that would be me) should not be doing anything else except running the trains.

Alex

Ok, here's an idea, I have not tried it, and I'm posting it there in case someone might find it useful or can build on it.  There are devices on the market for personal safety, with the premise of alerting anyone nearby with a loud alarm.  These devices can be really small and some are triggered by pulling a cord or string.  I've seen some where this pull cord completely separates from the device.  So, the thought being, for long trains as shows (hint, not convenient for building and taking apart consists) one could rig up one of these devices in the caboose or last car, then using some thread, fishing line, or similar, "connect" it to the locomotive.  You would need to have some way of keep it the correct length, maybe a tensioner of some sort, and you would need to find a way to thread it under all the cars in the consist, but it would work for any separation on any part of the train.  Again, just sharing a thought, take it or leave it.