Point to point trolley run (not bumper trolleys)

Dallee Electronics has something called a back-n-forth module.  I don't have any knowledge about it but it kinda sounds like what you're looking for.

John

I've used the Z-stuff for trains back and forth module DZ-1240 on my trolley line for eight years with no issues, performs very well.

Pretty common issue in the HO world. How about 2-rail DC ON30?

Roger on all the above. Also having the ability to stop at station points would be cool, not just end to end, but intermediate stops.

@Paul Kallus posted:

Roger on all the above. Also having the ability to stop at station points would be cool, not just end to end, but intermediate stops.

I don't have a point-to-point solution, but it's fairly easy to do a station stop, using a cheap delay module and an isolated rail section. My install is on an elevated loop with (currently) only one stop, but multiple station stops would be possible (the blue light from the delay module can be briefly seen under the station platform):

@Paul Kallus posted:

Anyone know of commercially available circuit that could enable point to point trolley run? I don't want to do the bumper trolley, but that might be the only viable solution. Every trolley I've ever had has broken, PS2 Brill, Railking and Lionel trolleys busted in one way or another. Thus, I don't know what trolley I can use, preferably something that won't run too fast. I searched on e-bay and only found the same trolleys mentioned above. A passed on forum member, Walt, built some very nice trolleys many years ago. I recall they were conventional. If I can figure out the circuit to enable point to point, with at least one minute stops at each end, I can go from there.

Thanks.

I have never been a fan of the bump and go because it just doesn’t look right. If you have the space you could do a turn back loop.  
I will have a PTC, PCC moving about my Plasticville town. The plan is for a couple of stops before reaching the layover at the train station.  
Jay

Call Dallee Electronics. They have the circuitry you are looking for. They also have station stop circuitry. Whether or not you can combine the two is a question for them.

Chris

LVHR

If you can do DC trolleys I would recommend the Azatrax control for point to point.  You can also have interim stops and it slows the trolley as it approaches a stop and at startup.   https://www.azatrax.com/model-...ibit-controller.html.  A lot of the O gauge trolleys have can DC motors.  Just remove the bridge rectifier and connect the track pickup directly to the can motors.  Of course the trolley track needs to be DC powered.

You can probably do it with the inexpensive device described in this thread.

There are some good ideas in this thread as well.

John

Thanks for tips. The only decent O-gauge trolley I could find was the Williams by Bachman, which I take it is conventional, but before I buy one, I will explore the control circuits and companies mentioned above.

I have the Z Stuff circuit board also but have not implemented it yet.  It includes point to point travel and stops that I think are timed so they may not stop at the exact same spot.  I will be using a Western Hobbycraft trolley with it on conventional control.

Roger-that, Walt's Western Hobbycraft trolleys were very nice, and I wish I had purchased one. My search thus far reveals the usual junk trolleys from MTH and Lionel - my experience is they all run a breakneck speed and break after nominal use.

@Paul Kallus posted:

Thanks for tips. The only decent O-gauge trolley I could find was the Williams by Bachman, which I take it is conventional, but before I buy one, I will explore the control circuits and companies mentioned above.

I have that one as well as the MTH Bump n Go trolley.  The WBB looks like a streetcar and looks really cool.  It has tiny rollers.  In terms of build quality I think the MTH is a little better built and is cheaper.

You said in your OP that you only wanted a delay at each end. If that's the case, I did a point to point with the MTH a few years ago using the device I linked above in conjunction with a magnet mounted underneath the MTH trolley.  Stan posted the idea a few years ago.  You buy one timer device for each end and put a cheap reed switch in the track.  When the magnet passes over the reed switch it activates the timer.  You have to set the speed and timer (by playing with it) so that the power is cut, but the trolley has enough momentum to hit the bumper reversing the direction.  Then when the power is restored the trolley goes in the other direction.  The same thing happens at the other end.

Also keep in mind that at such low speeds you won't see the lights.

https://ogrforum.com/...4#151773314433622324

https://ogrforum.com/...need-a-timer-circuit

Here it is on the upper level of this temporary Christmas 4 x 8 layout:

John

Dallee trolley electronics requires a trolley, forward, center off, reverse, on-board electronics. It also has a specific required distance, end to end, to make it work.  Do your home work.  Mike CT.

I have this 3-rail circuit from Dale Holzmann.

MTH Bump-n-Go trolley cars use a micro 3-position slide switch to reverse direction. Expanding on the MTH design, a slide switch mounted under the roadbed with an extension on the slide handle so that it protrudes through the track high enough to get pushed by the trolley, this should work as a low cost option in lieu of an electronic reversing circuit.