Fastrack Manual Switches vs. Remote Switches

All manual and remote fastrack switches have the non-derailing feature.

I keep all my fastrack switches within arms reach and operate them manually.

Ok so what does that mean?  for aguments sake i have an oval layout and in that layout there is a circle track where i have 2 switches one right and one left i want the train to go along the oval then go into the circular track once it makes a loop around the circular track it exits and goes around the oval portion is that possible to do that by itself without me having to do it manually. 

I like the remote switches for two reasons - 1) I like the "feel" of throwing the switch, and 2) The remote switches and controllers look really cool when lit!

The manual Fastrack switch depends on the wheels pushing the switch rail over, the remote switch actually powered the switch to the other side.  I'd personally go with the remote switches.

Having the switch move after the train sounds like you want to have it programmed to change the route the next time through, if so, that would be possible with the remote switch and some relay logic, but that's not happening with the manual switch.

I would get the remote switches - more options, nice lights, plus easier to reach.

To answer your question though, neither switch will "automatically" switch to the "other position"... you would have to push a button.

Auto derailing means that if a switch is set in the wrong direction and a train approaches, it will correct the setting of the switch to keep the train from derailing.

On your layout, pushing a switch would route the train from the outer oval to the inner circle.  On the way out of the circle, the other switch would use auto-derail to keep the train from derailing, but the train would stay in the circle loop until you push a button to exit to the main oval.

Might be easier to do with a crossover track.  Check this out, kind of like you are describing:

https://ogrforum.com/t...ply=2415514336915773

Ed

I'd do it with either some simple logic or two position latching relay.  I'm assuming you're talking about each pass of the locomotive flips the switch the other direction.  There will have to be some sort of timing element or limitation on total consist length to allow you to switch the path after the entire train has passed through the switch.  This is doubtless a problem that you'd need specific knowledge of the layout and paths to properly plan a solution.  Truthfully, I'd probably set it up to flip the switch as you came up to the approach and then have some time lockout before it could flip again to avoid switching while it's still on the tracks.

Is the red arrow where you want the direction change?

Like this?

This is the layout I want to do.  The idea is the train comes out of the train station makes a complete loop around the exterior track, then comes back through and runs on the inside tracks does a loop around that then exits onto the outside track and repeats the process again.  I would like the switches to activate automatically so that I do not have to push buttons all the time when the train is running.  the layout is 4x8.

My two cents- go the "remote route"

I'll give you my two reasons why since I have two manual switches-

1- the switch stands on the manuals are easily broken...the remote resion has nice looking signal lights that are low.

2- You can't get any manual switch to move shy of your own hand or a loco moving over it....sounds like you want more control than that if you want two switches to move in dedicated directions at once....

....I'd say go remote style and be happier.

My two cents...  

Your layout is the same as my picture with switches in a slightly different place.

To get both outside loop and figure eight running, ie. all aspects, if the train is running in a clockwise direction on the outside loop:

1) connect the remote control of the top left switch and the bottom right switch.

2) you will only have to flip one switch (the remote control lever in #1) to alternate between outside and figure 8.

That's a good start toward an almost no-flip setup.  You may want to connect the lever to a set of pshbuttons so your son could press one button to select outside loop and a second button to select figure 8.  The layout would stay in the selected configuration until the other button is pressed.

To me, seems like more fun than completely automatic.

Ed

you dont, you wire a remote switch to each switch

that aint gonna happen, i mean i suppose if you dedicated a computer and wrote some exotic program to run a plc system sure you can do it,,,,,,,,the cost is most prohibitive!

Sorry slight error in my logic, but still easy.

 (with Fastrack remote switches)

1) Connect a remote to the upper left switch.

2) Connect 3 wires from the upper left switch remote terminals to the remote terminals on the 3 other switches

One remote will click all 4 switches to either THRU or TURN

You can use cheap telephone wire, cat 5 or doorbell wire - just keep the connections the same on each end.

Both switches will be controlled by one remote control lever.  Click it one way the train will run on the outer loop.  Click it the other way, the train will do figure eights.  The LED in the remote control will indicate green (outside loop) or red (figure eight.)

Then if you wanted to add two pushbuttons, they could connect to the remote control terminals on one of the switches and they would also trigger all 4 switches.

I have a number of DUAL remote controlled sidings on my layout - works great!

Ed

BadHorse - don't know about tubular, but with Fastrack remote switches, one controller will trigger all switches wired to it.

I am open to any suggestions if anyone has any ideas how i can modify my track layout design so that i dont have to flip any switches.  but still have an exciting layout.  the space i have to work with is 4'x8'

Can i add an activatortrack and wire it to the switch track to get the train to activate the switch when it approaches?

get used to using a switch

Where's that graphic of a guy beating a dead horse?

... not you BadHorse!

Ed