Simple but entertaining layout???

Seems to me that if the train is in a figure 8 pattern, the anit-derail would have no effect and they would continue to keep doing a figure 8 pattern.

If a timer or some type of intervening trigger clicked over one of the switches to "thru" instead of "turn" the pattern would vary along the straight but just until it hit the next "turn"ed switch around the layout.

Hmmmmmm.....

Ed

ps. I'd ask the guys at the local shop!

eddiem posted:

Seems to me that if the train is in a figure 8 pattern, the anit-derail would have no effect and they would continue to keep doing a figure 8 pattern.

If a timer or some type of intervening trigger clicked over one of the switches to "thru" instead of "turn" the pattern would vary along the straight but just until it hit the next "turn"ed switch around the layout.

Hmmmmmm.....

Ed

ps. I'd ask the guys at the local shop!

It wasn't an exact figure eight with a four way intersection, it instead had a length of straight track between the loops.  As a result each time it went through one of the anti derail switches it would automatically be set to allow the train to go the other direction the next time it came to the loop.  M sure a diagram would make this more clear.  

From "The Puzzle and the Plan":

If you like maze-puzzles - get your pencil and trace this out....

Postulate two paired sets of switches. Each pair operates together to set and reset each other always to the same position at the same time. "A" with "B" and "C" with "D". The two pairs are independent of each other.

Running Clockwise

The train coming through 45 deg. crossing X1 toward Switch A triggers Switch A to the curved position ("1"). Switch A is wired to Switch B so that Switch B simultaneously switches to the "1" position (curved.)

When the train comes out of the tunnel and reaches Switch B, it turns down the central track toward Switch C.

When it reaches Switch C, the switch is thrown to the 3 position (straight). Switch C is wired to Switch D. which simultaneously throws to the "3" position ( straight.)

Meantime, the train is passing over Switch C, over X1 and down around the left lower front toward Switch A and the tunnel again.

Reaching Switch A the switch throws to the "2" position (straight" and throws Switch B to position "2" (straight also.)

So the train goes through the tunnel and comes to Switch B again, but this time goes straight and into Switch D, which was previously set to the "3" (straight) position by Switch C and continues straight at Switch D.

It rounds the outer curve and passes back into the interior over 90 deg crossing X2. It reaches Switch C again, and it throws it to "4" (curved) position and simultaneously throws Switch D to the "#4" position (curved.)

The train comes down over X1 again, and down around the front track to Switch A again.

Already set to "2" (straight), Switch A sends the train into the tunnel, and no change is made at Switch B.

It goes straight through at "B," and into Switch D again, which was previously to the "4" position by Switch C.

Now it turns at "D" and goes down through X2 into the lower curve, and left into our ORIGINAL STARTING POINT! - crossing X1 heading toward Switch A and the tunnel. ... and the whole thing starts over!

3 different routes over 1 track plan with no human intervention! (Except train wrecks which you will always have when you use switches.)

Running Counterclockwise

Picture the train - running counter-clockwise into Switch A. If Switch A is set straight, the train will continue down and around front and up thru through X1 and into switch C. If C is Straight it will proceed into Switch B.

Switch B will act as master and set Switch A to turn. The train now turns at Switch A and goes thru the other leg of X1 and up into X2 and into Switch D.

Switch D acts as master and sets switch C to turn. The train goes on through switch B which sets switch A to straight.

The train goes through Switch A straight, comes down around again and through X1 into Switch C - but this time Switch C has been set to turn out so that the train now passes through the other leg of X2 and out around the coal elevator and into Switch D again.

Switch D now sets Switch C to straight again. The train goes on thru Switch B straight. Switch A is already straight and does not get reset.

We are back at the beginning cycle again, and all track has been run.

unless I missed something...there is NO WAY that a train can reverse direction on that layout.  tracing ones' finger (yep I do that ) around the track demonstrates that the train FOREVER goes in one direction only....just like a beer when i spill it down my throat!

No, but you could work in a reverse loop or two using this as a stepping-off point in a simple but entertaining layout.

Are you talking about something like this?

When you go straight thru the switch, it's set to "straight".
When you go around the curve and come to the "turn" part of the switch, the non-derail feature automatically resets it to "turn".
After you pass thru, it remains set to "turn".
The next time you come to the switch, you make the turn and go around the curve.
When you get to the "straight", the feature again resets the switch, this time to "straight".
After you pass thru, it remains set to "straight".
Since the switch is now set to "straight", the next time thru you'll go straight and the sequence repeats. 

DoubleDAZ posted:

Are you talking about something like this?

When you go straight thru the switch, it's set to "straight".
When you go around the curve and come to the "turn" part of the switch, the non-derail feature automatically resets it to "turn".
After you pass thru, it remains set to "turn".
The next time you come to the switch, you make the turn and go around the curve.
When you get to the "straight", the feature again resets the switch, this time to "straight".
After you pass thru, it remains set to "straight".
Since the switch is now set to "straight", the next time thru you'll go straight and the sequence repeats. 

Boy you guys are good.  Yeah that is pretty much the exact layout except the center single track between the loops was longer (just being picky now) but in function it was the same.  

Here is a video and track plan of my defunct Havephew and Runnem R.R. It's a loop to loop folded over itself. I got the plan from a CTT track plan book that used Lionel tubular track that I changed to AtlasO track. If you are interested in something like this, let me know and I can help you.

ChessieFan72 posted:

Here is a video and track plan of my defunct Havephew and Runnem R.R. It's a loop to loop folded over itself. I got the plan from a CTT track plan book that used Lionel tubular track that I changed to AtlasO track. If you are interested in something like this, let me know and I can help you.

 

That looks like a pretty cool layout. Just using nonderail switches and it looks like it would be a pretty dynamic layout without crazy wiring.  Just out of curiosity is the only reason for all that wiring in the video simply because this is an HO gauge layout?  

keqwow posted:

 Just out of curiosity is the only reason for all that wiring in the video simply because this is an HO gauge layout?  

 It's "O"... Atlas O.

" Just out of curiosity is the only reason for all that wiring in the video simply because this is an HO gauge layout? "

The mess on the board tricks your eye into seeing a bunch of wires. In fact, there are no wires at all! (Just teasing.) I cleaned up the wiring after I shot the video, but should've done it before I shot the video so it looked cleaner. The board was set up with 2 non-derailing boards and 2 turnout control boxes. Although it looks daunting, wiring a turnout with AtlasO's non-derailing board was pretty simple. I used barrier strips, but those can be left out by soldering the wires together.