Preventing a train wreck

Lionel described the wiring your looking for in several of their 'How to Operate...' manuals published in the fifties.

A link to the 1954 manual is on this forum (electrical) in the manual thread.  Start reading about page 29.

Here is an article that explains what to do to accomplish your goal.

Larry

Thank you both for your reply.  However, I do not know enough about how to wire anything so the diagram in that article is Greek to me.

I also cannot find the manual thread to pull up what they have to say.

Is it possible to use 2 accessory activator packs 6-12029 to accomplish what I need to stop a train coming on either track at a crossover from crashing into one another?

Thanks,

Ji

The accessory activator pack will not cut power to another track unless you use them to activate relays to cut power to the opposing track, which is exactly what the article is describing.

You may be able to use 2 #153 contactors as weight operated switches to cut power to the opposing track.

Larry

Here is the address of the manual you need.  download it in PDF format:

http://www.slsprr.net/history/...onelTrainsAccess.pdf

Page 29 describes the wiring of the #153C contactors that I mentioned in my previous post.

Larry

Just noticed that the electrical manuals section has been closed, locked out.  Bummer.  How can we help each other if manuals are verboten.  Geeze!!  Last time I looked material is permitted as long as not used for commercial use, ie publishing a book for profit.  I belong to several RR forums that put up excerpts or whole manuals for referencing.

I'm guessing that's just a mistake, I sent a query about it.

The electrical manuals section is open now.  I just posted an old Pop. Sci. reference book and a circuit breaker catalog.  I'm anxious to see what others have,  To be honest I'm blown away by the old illustrations.  They are so much better than what Lionel does now,

Thank you rkenny & trainlarry for your valued information.  I have read the information and trying to digest it all.  Relays are the way to go.  Many thanks.

One more question that will show the level of understanding I am at:

Should I be using 14 or 16 gauge wire from my transformers to the track?  I intend to run 3 separate sets of wires from the same transformer posts for each of my 4 track loops.  (The layout is 12' x 22')

Also, can I use the same gauge wire to connect my accessories? 

Thanking you in advance,

JimJ.

For my $$$, I would go with the 14 gauge. Of course you can use 14 ga to your accessories, but 18 ga should be more than sufficient. For accessories, I just use speaker wire.

Gilly

Kids like the wrecks at the train shows.

had a derailment and 3 trains crashed.

(fortunately nothing went on the floor)

Kid saw the wreck and said

"Do it again!!"

HI Group

It is nice to see that the old school still works after all these years. Does anyone have Fastrack or Atlas equivalent? As GRJ would say "rolling your own" is fine with me. Does anyone have a parts list and schematic for this project? Page 29 from the Manuel is hard to read even with my glass on.

Thank you in advance and Happy Holidays.

Kris

Drag your mouse pointer to the lower left of your open PDF document.  A little navigation bar will pop up with two magnifying glasses in the middle.  Click on the one with the + sign on it and the document will zoom as much as you need it.

Better yet click on the floppy disk icon and save it to your machine.  You can then open and magnify to your hearts delight (must have Adobe Reader (free)). 

Probably about as good as it's going to get from that original.

nvocc5,

The FasTrack to create the detection block and control rails 6-12060. It has jumpers to isolate both the outside and center rails. One on each end of a block(detection and control section) approaching the cross.You can also make your own control rail track for an isolated outside rail and use the 1 3/8" piece with the jumper removed for the power control track.

I didn't see this thread until now.

Then you can use Dale H.'s schematic.

HI

Thank you all for giving me this great point, information and guidance. I will study this over and let you know the out come.

Kris

Hi Carl

Happy New Year. This is the next project on the list. I think I have all the part in now and I will start building this week.

could lionels new sensor track be used for this?Nick

Good point Rockstar. What is the Lionel item number?

Hi

The crossover protection project has begun and is finsihed, bench testing will begin soon. I would like to thank all of you for your help and input. A big thank you to Dale H with out his guidance I would have not been able to make this work.