general question

DCS

David Minarik posted:

DCS

How does DCS accomplish that, i.e. "without human intervention"?

Hello, Lionel had an accessory that is a passenger station with a circuit that would open to stop the train in a block and a timer that would restore the power to that block. I don't remember the appropriate part number or the years that it was available.

i had no idea what dcs was, :-/

A bi-mettalic strip served as an intermittant current interruptor. High tech at that time. LOL!

Art Howes posted:

Hello, Lionel had an accessory that is a passenger station with a circuit that would open to stop the train in a block and a timer that would restore the power to that block. I don't remember the appropriate part number or the years that it was available.

Yes - this was 1920's electromechanical technology. Insulated section controlled a relay/heating element. when loco (e-unit locked in one direction) closed circuit, element heated up slowly, closing relay and powering center rail. Off it would go. Element cooled off before loco got back, so it did it again, and again...sort of a Twilight Zone thing, really .

Or something like that.

Wonder if anyone could handle it now, without software, safety recalls and lawyers? And Bluetooth.

Conventional  Dallee Electronics.

NOT a "relay" though in the original Lionel stations of the period. The differential heating of the bi-mettalic strip provided a temporary circuit interruption that stopped and then restarted the train. 

Lionel stations 115 and 132 have this feature. 

https://www.tandem-associates....l_trains_115_acc.htm

https://www.tandem-associates....l_trains_132_acc.htm

A cool, non-electronic method of the day. ☺

I created Subway stops using a current detection sensor delay timed relay module (12V-0-10A-DC-Current-Detection-Sensor-Module-Delay-Time-Relay-Control) found on Fleabay with a reed switch below the track and a magnet on the lead subway car. Less than $10.

wow, i wish i knew how to do that, bit thanks!

if you get mth DCS there is a feature built in for PFA which are prerecorded voice n train talk like all aboard train coming into a town station will automatically speak and stop engine talk about 30 seconds n then you merely hit direction button on remote and train will automatically continue on!actually pretty cool feature !there are 4 sequences! 

I got my Lionel #132 last month.  I have not tested it yet.  Hmm, I feeling some inspiration creeping up.

Bill

The pre/postwar versions will still be working long after we're all gone.

artyoung posted:

The pre/postwar versions will still be working long after we're all gone.

And just how dos this help the original poster?????

With Lionel Legacy you can create a “recording “ which will run a series of commands that you can replay by just hitting one button.

If you don't want or have space for a station, Lionel put the same tech into a block signal, Postwar 253

https://www.tandem-associates....l_trains_253_acc.htm

For example...

Modern start/stop/delay circuits certainly are more flexible to employ and are more reliable and adjustable than those primitive bi-metallic strips!

Here is a station stop with a Lionel 132 station.

thank you