MTH PS/2 Trolley help needed

Gene,

After moving to the next stop at the other end of the half circle, the only choice I have for that stop's name is the same name as the first stop programmed earlier. 

 

Also cannot figure out a way to change the direction of the trolley (so it makes the trip back to the first stop) without having to exit the program mode.

Look below in this excerpt from pages 105-106 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition. I've bolded where I think you're problems are located:

Before programming a subway or trolley route, it is necessary to first ensure that the PS2 subway or trolley to be programmed is on a powered track. Then, ensure that it's in the Active Engine List. This is accomplished as follows: 

• If the DCS Remote is not already displaying the Engine Control Screen, press the ENG key on the DCS Remote 

• Press the ENG key again to display the Engine List 

• Select the PS2 subway or trolley in the Engine List by either scrolling to it using the thumbwheel or entering its one or two digit DCS ID#. Press the thumbwheel to select it. If it was in the Active Engine List, the DCS Remote will now display the engine in the Engine Control Screen 

• If the subway or trolley was in the Inactive Engine List, it will be moved to the Active Engine List. Use the thumbwheel to scroll to it and highlight it, and then press the thumbwheel to move it to the Active Engine List and to return to the Engine Control Screen.

Next, proceed as follows to select the PS2 subway or trolley and create the route: 

• Press Start Up on the DCS Remote to place the PS2 subway or trolley into DCS command mode. Then drive it to the first station at the beginning of the route. Ensure that it is facing forward and ready to proceed forward. If it is a subway, ensure that all the subway cars that will normally be attached to the subway are attached 

• Note as closely as possible exactly where the front of the engine is located in the station 

• Locate the MTC soft key. If it is not present above soft keys 1 through 4, press soft key S5 (&agrave until it is displayed 

• Press the soft key MTC to view the programming soft keys 

• Locate soft key MLM (Learn Mode). If it is not present above soft keys 1 through 4, press soft key S5, -->, until it is displayed 

• Press soft key MLM to enter Learn Mode. The engine will announce that it is in Learn Mode 

• Pressing soft key LST (List) repeatedly will announce the names of the stations that may be programmed on the route, in the order in which they appear. Note that as many station names as there are stops on the route must be assigned and that they must be assigned in the order in which they are announced 

• Press the LST soft key until the desired name for the first station is announced and press soft key SAV (Save) to assign it. The engine will announce that it is saved 

• Drive the PS2 subway or trolley to the next stop on the route slowly enough that it can be stopped at a precise location 

• Stop the PS2 subway or trolley and note as closely as possible exactly where the beginning of the engine is located in the station

• As before, press soft key LST until the desired name for this station is announced and press soft key SAV to save it. The engine will announce that it is saved 

• Repeat driving the engine to the remaining stops on the route until it arrives at the last stop and the station name has been assigned using soft key SAV. 

If the route is an out-and back route, complete programming the route by pressing the SAV soft key one more time to save the route. The engine will announce that the save is complete. Instead of pressing the SAV soft key twice for the last station, soft key SOB (Save-Out-and-Back) may be pressed once.

If the route is a looped route, complete programming the route as follows: 

• Continue to drive the PS2 subway or trolley forward until it returns to the original, starting station 

• Stop the engine as close as possible to the place where it was when you began programming the route 

• Press soft key LST (List) until the name you originally selected for this station is announced 

• Press soft key SAV to assign the station name. The engine will announce that the save is complete. Instead of pressing the SAV soft key, soft key SLP (Save Loop) may be pressed once.

You only program one direction of an out-and-back route. DCS knows whether the route is out-and-back or looped depending upon how you finish the programming, as described above.

Thanks for the help, Barry....   I'll give it a try after the holidays and let you know how it worked!

Barry,

I had a chance to test what you sent and am happy to report that the station name issue has been solved.  Thanks!!   

Still have a problem with the trolley direction.  I move the trolley to the first stop and  hit the direction button to go back the other way.  Then when I go to learn mode, the trolley resets the direction (without pushing any other key except for MLM) to go back in the direction that it traveled to get to the first station.

Any ideas and/or suggestions?   

Walter,

Any ideas and/or suggestions?   

You're going to have to be more specific with a step-by-step of exactly what's happening.

Regardless, the trolley always starts out going forward when in Learn  Mode.

Ok...   I have a semi circle (U-shape) setup with bumpers at each end.  When I moe the trolley from the first bumper to the other end for the first stop, the trolley direction shows it is going towards the 2nd bumper, but I need for it to back in the other direction to the 1st bumper.

Thanks, 

Gene,

What you want to do is create an out-and-back route with one stop at each bumper,  correct?

If so, proceed as follows:

• First just place the trolley at the first bumper, with it facing forward towards the other bumper
• Then, enter Learn Mode and assign a station name to where the trolley is sitting.
• Next, drive the trolley to the other stop.
• Name the other stop.
• Complete programming the route by pressing the SAV soft key one more time to save the route. The engine will announce that the save is complete. Instead of pressing the SAV soft key twice for the last station, soft key SOB (Save-Out-and-Back) may be pressed once.

That should do it.

Thanks Barry, I'll give it a try!

Brian,

Please list exactly what you are doing at each step, start to finish, leaving nothing out, and what is the remote's exact response at each step.

AHH the responsibility of being the master DCS train wizard!

Thanks again for all you do Barry.

PCRR/Dave

Well Barry...after typing up step by step of what I was doing, I accidentally hit a button that made me realize where I was making my mistake. I fixed it and was able to program the Pittsburgh Terrible Trolley. Thank you for all that you do on here.