Need A "KISS" Idea For A Trolley Line

Unless you're expecting manual intervention...having people push the buttons to be involved in the action...I'd suggest the following...

Trolley Stop/Wait Link

Dallee makes excellent producrts.

Also, if you happen to be attending the York meet, Dallee is always in Orange Hall with usually a full complement of products for sale.  Dallas will answer all your questions.

Hope this helps!

KD

Paul,

Here's an idea.  Insulate the center rail at the ends of the line and tie your push buttons to the center rail.  Then run your hot from the transformer to the middle section and the other terminals of the button.  Make sure your insulated section is short enough that when the trolley hits it, it hits the bumper so it will start in the reverse direction.  Here's a quick diagram I made:

I hope this helps.

If you have not found a solution you can email me privately,I may be able to help.

Dale H

Z-Stuff offers a board as well....

just for giggles, you can add announcements as well....

The Lionelville Trolley, #60, is the KISS way. 

Just add a bumper at each end of the track and the trolley will automatically reverse.

Charlie

Not sure if your set on definitely wanting a push button to send the trolley on its way at each end.  If not, the Lionel 153IR is very simple to hook up for station stops.  It requires you making a few rail cuts and adding insulating pins.  You can dial in long or short stops.

Here is how my Lionel bump-and-go trolley works with a 153IR at each end of my elevated line...

Choo Choo,

Based on your original specs, Allan has the right idea!  It will work as you requested.

If I were doing it, I would add these features. 

Connect the isolated rail on one end to the isolated rail on the other end with a SPST switch.  When turned on, either button can start the trolley at either end. Saves some walking if you're alone!

Connect a SPST switch across each pushbutton.  If you turn a switch on at one end, the trolley will go out, bump, and back when you press the PB at the other end.

I've done both of these for the kids who visit my layout.

Ed

Keith shows in his 153IR video that the trolley does not have to hit the bumper when it stops.  It can reverse direction when starting up.  In either case the user has to hold the push button until the trolley re-connects to the main powered section.

 I'm afraid I don't know much about the trolley's functions for reversing, but have only to add that if holding the button down for a period of time is any issue, you could wire the buttons to a DC supply, and have them trigger relays to power the track.  Then place a capacitor across the relay coil that will keep the relay active long enough for the trolley to get off the switched section.  

“There are no evil thoughts except one: the refusal to think.”  -- Francisco d'Anconia

Rather than needing another power supply, just isolate an outer rail along with the center rail. Take the outer rail to the relay common, and bring back the center rail to the coil hot so it will stay latched until the trolley clears.

Eric

The Dallee offerings are maybe a bit more complex than most want to deal with, but we, Fort Pitt High Railers found the system to be reliable and durable.  We were chewing-up a bump and go trolley just about every train meet. Instructions and diagrams are excellent, IMO.   The Dallee systems are based on a trolley that operates Forward/Neutral/Reverse.  Their recommended minimum distance was 12 ft., we got the system to work at 8 ft. total length, (2) 4 ft. modules.  Note KD's post above for a link to Dallee.  

I think there is a trick with DC operation, a reversing relay, and a timer relay, two section breaks at the ends, and two diodes.

The diodes are on the breaks at the end to ensure that the trolley only leaves. The timer relay drives the direction of the reversing relay, maybe flips once a minute.

The HO crowd does this quite often, I am sure some where there are parts lists and drawings.

Then you need a trolley that runs off of DC; a Walt Cameron trolley with its guts removed, or a WBB trolley guts removed, should do the trick.

The Museum of Science and Industry had one of these the last time I saw the layout; the last two times I went, I did whatever my kids wanted to do.

I think you're saying to tie the isolated center-rail of the end-zone section to one side of the coil, and the isolated outer-rail of the end-zone section to the other side of the coil.  If you do this, won't a trolley entering the end-zone momentarily straddle power into the end-zone thereby closing/latching the relay?  In other words, the trolley would not stop, reverse, and re-enter the main-line before the relay opens.

Could you elaborate on what failed?

The bump and go trolleys are designed with a switch in either end that is activated when the end bumper on the trolley contacts the stop/end-of-line barricade.  These mechanical switches were not designed for all day train show use, IMO.  The Dallee electronics takes advantage of a better trolley that uses  Forward/Neutral/Reverse electronic reversing.  

Here is a link to the Dallee instructions and wiring diagram.   Click on the underlined phrase.

Yup.  I always baby my train-show bump and go trolleys by keeping the speed down and using springloaded bumpers when possible.  Haven't had a switch go on me yet, knock on wood (gives head a sharp rap)... 

Mitch