Programming a train to run every hour on a store shelf layout.

What you do is leave a section of track in front of the station without power, but leave the rest of the loop on. Then have your timer turn the power to that section on, just long enough to get it moving, maybe 10 seconds. When the train makes ts loop, it returns to the dead section and stops. Same spot every time.

For this project, keep it conventional, e-unit locked forward. TMCC trains "wake up" idle and won't start without interaction. Another hint: use modern engines with can motors. they will keep your maintenance down.

P.S. An hour between loops is too long. Make it more like 10 minutes, it will keep your customers interested, but not be too hard on the train

A suggestion. Get a conventional engine. Williams by Bachmann would be a good choice. Pull the E Unit and replace it with a bridge rectifier. The engine will no longer back up, but it will start and run forward as soon as power is applied. Cheap, reliable, good pullers.

For controls, I'd suggest an inexpensive Programmable Logic Controller. You'll want start/stop buttons or an on/off selector switch so you can enable the system. A single photo eye will suffice to stop the train at the station. To control the track power, I'd suggest a relay with a normally open held closed contact to switch the power to your center rail. All that is left is some programming.

Automation Direct should have everything you need to make this happen.

I like Elliott's isolated track idea. Simpler and cheaper than what I was proposing.

Yeah Tom, e-unit replacement with a rectifier is a much more certain way to operate. I've had electronic e-units randomly slip out of being locked. Or he could skip the rectifier and the e-unit altogether and run on DC.

A button could be added to make a requested run without disrupting the timer. American flyer did this on the timed stop and talking(record), city station. It just needs to get the loco to the main track

Elliot,

your experience comes through loud and clear with these straight forward suggestions.  In the future I might consider adding a similar feature to a public run modular display, with a shorter timer, like maybe 5 minutes.  On a dedicated loop that could make thing interesting and cut down on the continuous roar inside a modular display.

Thanks for posting, and to the OP , this is an interesting topic.   Post some pictures or video of your progress please.

Jhz

You may want to contact Dallee.

The display I put up was a long track with reversing loop at each end. A sign with "Start the Train" printed on it and an arrow pointing to a button. Someone pushed the button and the train ran for five minutes. It always stopped at the same place on the track. The Dallee unit made a gradual start and stop, which was really nice - no slam bam jackrabbit starts. Ran everything from prewar to proto2 on it with no problems.

I like Eliot's idea with the addition of an "on demand" button to start it anytime you like.  The interval of 10-15 minutes would probably be better than an hour.

Another fun thing to add is a section of track that is powered separately with a DC offset to honk the whistle/horn on that section.  Adding a switch to enable or disable the DC offset would allow you to determine if the whistle/horn sounds.

Thanks JHZ and John. This topic is right up my alley. I've been doing this kind of stuff for over 35 years. This was an easy one compared to some of the train stunts I've pulled off.

Elliot, you beat me to it.  I've been doing this on my modular trolley track for years!

Slight variation... I have the isolated track connected to a remote controlled relay (eBay under $5).  When a kid is near the layout, I tell them to yell "go trolley go" to wake up the conductor.  When they do, I hit the remote (cleverly hidden in my pocket) and the trolley goes from the station to a bump, reverses and stops back at the station where it hits the isolated track and stops.

Another variation... put the isolated track at each end of a bump n go trolley track.. the remote will let you control when it bumps and reverses, and when it stops.

I tell the kids that it only works for kids, not adults... when their parents try, the trolley doesn't move.. go figure!

GRJ, I like the DC offset idea!

    I like the whistle idea too.  Tie it into special events like birthdays etc. if daily requests would be "too much" for general ambience.  A very cost effective option.  

Two stations would be another possibility. A relay or two could allow two loops and/or a second station. Again, low cost, and very simple additions. Maybe just something to add later in time, to rekindle interest after regular folks get more used to seeing it.

Hi Guys and thanks for the great ideas, I suddenly understand what an isolated track is for! I have a aptitude for somethings but electrical is not one. The initial plans for the track is two fold. To run the train on the track like a Coo Coo Clock but far cooler. The second is to be able by switch to activate the train upon request for kids. My business is a game store that in no way sells trains, however, I like them and their sound so people are gonna see one. I plan to add a few stations and such but my weakness is if I over complicate it in the beginning it will not get done. I am going to a major train show on Saturday and in the following week the shelving goes up. My Goal is before Christmas.

I shall include some images of my trials and tribulations as a Noobie and thank you all for your advice..."120 feet of track should be pretty cool.

Joe

Start simple and add things slowly over time. Running a good heavy accessory bus wire system now, should pay off long term for adding things IMO.

  Being on a shelf up high can limit visability. Consider running right on the edge with a plexi/lexan or wire fence for the rare derailment.  Open areas of plexi shelving is pretty cool too. I used a Rubbermaid steel rod laundry shelf similarly as well; deep to the wall for enough room to use a few full sized buildings vs just flats on the wall (flats being only the face of buildings)

  Street lamps add some real ambience if you tend to dim lights when the pace, mood, or customer traffic is slower; or have a darker stretch of ceiling. (rope lights and "gutter lighting" as well.(a long sconce)

  A net search of plexiglass, ceiling, & model trains brings up some cool examples.  Other key words like , hanging, mounted, shelf layout, and fence change it up some. 

(now the fun, a quick thread hijack )

Oh my gosh he pedals the devils ware ... Throw the gamer in the firebox before folks sell their old trains for a vintage Sega!   (Says the guy with GTAV in the slot and memories of opening Pong at Christmas)

(Some folk see gaming as one of the "threats" to a dwindling hobby base. It's based in fact, but it is kinda inevitable as it is unpredictable; trends come and go; so who knows? In time, the shop focus might include trains as well. Stranger things have happened... to me! This use betifits all here imo).

I'm thinking about controlling two separate bump and go trolleys on my table layout, in the fashion you guys describe.  The best would be a controllable timer,  that could also be turned on/off at my discretion.  Basically, a combination of your collective ideas.   A simple insulated track makes sense.

Haha.  Went to the web, Automation Direct, and Dallee.  They have so many products, there is no way for me to figure out the jargon that tells me what I need to make this idea work.

Here is the setup:

Thanks.  Any help would be appreciated.

Jerry

Jerry, I suggest you start your own thread.

Joe, what I was suggesting was to put insulating pins in the CENTER rail, not an insulated outside rail which is used to turn things on and off when the train goes over it.

If you run a Legacy or TMCC engine with a Cab2 you could use the RECORD feature. Press and hold RECORD for 5 seconds to start the programming.   Power up engine, run it for awhile (you could blow horn, activate crew talk, change engine speed, etc) then stop it at the station.  Power down the engine and then wait.  DO NOT STOP THE RECORDING.  RECORD doesn't have a specific overall time limit but you need to do something at least every 400 seconds.  So, after 5 minutes press the AUX1 button.  Wait another 5 minutes and hit AUX1 again.  Repeat until your time interval is met and you are ready to start the train again.  THE SYSTEM IS STILL IN RECORD.  Start up the engine and THEN press and hold the RECORD button for 5 seconds.  Power down the engine.  Now when you press RECORD once, the engine will start up, run as you programmed it, stop at the station, shut down, wait the designated amount of time, start up again and the entire program will repeat endlessly on a loop.  If you want to stop the looping, press RECORD once.  The train may miss your intended stopping point by a little bit each time the loop runs so you may have to readjust the starting position of the train every once in awhile to make sure the train doesn't eventually miss your station.  The recording is stored on the Legacy remote, one program per remote.  If you want to run two trains each with its own program you would need two Legacy remotes.