Lionel Classic #132 "Lionelville" Stop Station

Notes:

This station will be used on a demonstration layout that will be operated using a motion detector circuit which will operate the layout for a set time interval.

Also to avoid a "jack rabbit" restart for the train the voltage applied to the insulated section will be reduced by about 1/2. Once the engine moves beyond the insulated section the full voltage to the track will be resumed and the original speed of the train will be restored. 

The insulated track section will be positioned so that the first coach in the passenger train will be located in front of the station platform when the engine stops.

The chances are that the passenger cars will jumper the higher power districts voltage onto the lower voltage district, negating your "jack rabbit" solution.  You'd at least need a lower voltage section a fair bit longer than the train if possible then a short insulated section right at the station.

Still, the jumpering effect might not be too friendly on electronics like solid state reverse units or sound boards.

Bruce

A long section of track with reduced voltage would allow the train to slow as it comes to a stop.

This isn't really suitable for command stuff, Lionel didn't have a clue about command when this was designed.

I know the building well, but mine had no timer.

 (I'm brain farting bad right now. For me, this is one of those things I "know", but forget the name of 50% of the time. Acronyms don't help things, and I think its normally referred to that way.)

 Anyhow, there is single modern component that would ease the re-introduction of power into a gradual rise lasting a few seconds, without fuss.

Related to the tvs family if I'm not mistaken.

(can you help fill that blank GR John?)

Basically it will act like a reverse operations ballast resistor like on old auto ignitions.

(those drop the voltage from 12v to about 6v as the system/engine warms up)

American Flyer stations had a motor and cam for the stop time.

(it had to play a record too)

 They got around the need to lock out the e-unit with a 10Ω ceramic resistor that drops in, and keeps power high enough to not drop the E-unit out, but low enough the train stops even if running light.

  I have one, and my PW and tmcc (in conventional) like it just fine. No shifts into neutral while stopped.

 I planned on hooking up a _____ too (darn, hoped writing that would shake loose the answer).

 Use a resistor, and the engine and car lights dim some, but all stay on.

Mine is set up to knock down the voltage to the whole track, not just one section.

  I gave it its own little transformer to adjust stop times. I'm not into "sound" at all. Its record needle is not even hooked up, so slowing it down to adjust times is ok here, but the record would play to slow if used with the sounds and adjusted to a low voltage)

 So an on/off switch for "auto-run"(timing the run between stopping with the transformer adj.), or a track pressure switch or separate #90 button then adjust voltage for stop time. The #90 lets me do a timed stop of the train, anywhere on the track I want to. (my station is a factory "bash" now, not even a station anymore, and controls a line not even running near it)

There are kits to update the MARX NOMA & AF stations. I wonder if those might offer you anything of use? 

The term you're groping for is an Inrush Current Limiter.  It starts out at a high resistance and drops over a short period of time to close to a short circuit.  You just need to decide what size you need for the application.  Something like THIS might be a good place to start.

That's it John

Thank you for the bailout as usual.

NTCT was what I was thinking of.

 I don't know a about selecting them,

But inline it slowed the start of an ac belt drive nice

 I thought it looked like a polyfuse not TVS.

Adriatic:

It's possible you had the 133 station. The 133 was nearly identical to the 132 except for 1) the lack of the timer, 2) the color of the small plastic chimney (132=Brown vs. 133=Green), and 3) the 133 was made much later.

HTH.

Steven J. Serenska

John,

C'mon now...There are those these days who are still 100% conventional. "Bless Them!"

No doubt Pappy, I was just pointing out that these solutions aren't really suitable for command operation.  Back when the #132 station was designed, everything was conventional, and folks were amazed they could reverse the trains and blow the whistle.

John,

I can remember being in awe when I heard my first Lionel whistle tender. It actually excited me more than hearing the first Proto Sound engines.

A green chimney? That would be silly

OK seriously, the timer was gone. It wasn't mine, I just had the bulb changing duties on Gramps layout  Like a chore.

Each grandkid had duties to fulfill in order to be on the RR crew  

Lionel was just about to abandon command when the 132 came on the scene.

Bruce

I knew someone was going to bring that system up.