Uh Oh! Created a timer problem for myself

Is the "full sized train" already picked out?

Here is a circuit that stops and reverses trains.

Larry

Larry, that circuit was like trying to read Chinese for me. However, I did note the use of capacitors, which (if I understand it right) will store some juice and release it when the source electricity is cut off. Is that a possibility?

Stan, this isn't going to be any kind of elaborate set up. I have some Lionel and Williams engines that I plan on using - no TMCC, Odyssey or anything like that. Just conventional old engines. The idea is to swap them out every week and make sure that they are lubricated and cleaned and generally running up to snuff.

The idea of having a timer is so that someone walking through the store can hit the thing and it will run a few minutes then shut down. Hopefully, doing so in a fairly smooth manner. 

Dallee offers a momentum board to accomplish gradual starts and stops. When combined with your timer it should achieve want you want to do.

AC Transformers with momentum control get real expensive (MRC), so this is an alternative solution.

If you are planning to run the trains at a slow speed *which may look good), then an abrupt on/off condition may be OK. You can test this out "on the ground" to see if you like it.

good luck" Joe K

Moonman, that momentum board looks like the closest thing to what I'm thinking about. I'm going to get in to contact with those folks and we'll see what happens. Got my fingers crossed. 

Thanks for the tip.

Please post back what you find from them. 

I'm intrigued by how "the MO-1 will gradually apply power to the track until full power is restored".  From a circuit design perspective, this is pretty tricky to do in a smooth manner when full power is AC coming from a so-called chopped sine wave transformer as I believe you're using.  But kudos to them if they've figured out a way to do this...the price seems reasonable.

The MO-1 board is only part of the system you need to accomplish your goal of automatic stop and reverse. Dallee has a board to accomplish that, but it is only for DC powered track and trains. You would need to operate your trains on DC, and any sounds in the tender or diesel would need to be disconnected, as they would blow constantly with DC track voltage.

Larry

Well, hopefully Dallee can come up with a complete solution as tripleo admits unfamiliarity with the nuts-and-volts of train operation. So while he is pursuing that approach and this being a discussion forum to exchange ideas...

With loops at each end, if one-direction operation is acceptable, I figure he could lock engines (assume these are conventional AC 3-rail) into Forward.  Then, using the string-of-diodes approach to generate multiple AC voltages, a set of timed-relays could step the voltage up and down by tapping into different points of the diode string. It wouldn't be as smooth as an electronically ramped AC voltage but could be done inexpensively using timer relay modules from eBay ($5 each).  I think it would be easy to grasp how it works (no software, programming, etc.) but requires a level of DIY enthusiasm that is not for everyone...

Well, I sent them an email and we'll see what comes up.

Running through their "catalog" I did see that they offered a complete system for AC operated trains. I have no idea of the cost, but I suspect that will be coming. I also asked them about them about the chopped sine wave thing and suggested that they recommend a good power source. I don't know a chopped sine wave from a sinus allergy.

I'll keep you all posted.

Just as an aside, keeping in mind that I know nothing about this subject, they did offer some really intriguing products related to automatic operation with two trains on one track and running trolleys. I plan to do a little more looking on their site.

by the way, they offer a bit of an upgraded version where the train, even though the timer has run out, will continue on and always stop at a designated section of track. Might come in mighty handy when you consider this track is going to be about 7' up above the ground level.

I have the bump trolley- I cushioned the bumper with some foam. Worked like a charm.