Has anyone got any ideas of how many relay's I'd need to get a shadow station with (only) two sidings and one pass-through, please?

I think I've got enough relays, but I just need a starting point with the wiring...

TVM

Pete

You're right - I could have written my question a bit clearer! Sorry.

In my layout I'd like a shadow station comprising of a main line and two sidings.

I'm using Z scale with analogue control, and would like to automate the process where a train comes into the main line, stops and releases the train in the 1st siding. When this train returns into the siding after completing the loop, it stops and releases the train in the 2nd siding. On it's return to the siding it stops and releases the train in the main line, and the process repeats itself.

I'd like to do this to vary the trains entering and leaving the main station (which can be seen).

It's easy using a main line and a siding, but a second siding is causing me a bit of a headache. I was using a single directional switch in each line to change the relevant turnouts and isolate the track sections - the latter using a relay. Or at least that's what I thought. I might need to use a series of switches to control the track isolation - which means using at least two per track.

Unless someone has a better (cost effective!) idea, otherwise I might just leave the 2nd siding out.

I have drawn a small table to show what I need the switches to do and will post it here for clarity, if it would help?

I hope that's clearer?

Pete

Hi Pete.

I presume by Switch you mean turnout/points.

As far as I can see, without actually sitting down and drawing it out, you need the following sequence in each of the roads. Entry track power feed, turnout(s), track and feeder, isolator, detector and feeder, isolator, exit turnout and exit track with feeder.

There are two control functions required, 1) set entry to route from incoming track to one of loops a, b or c and 2) set route to exit from one of routes b, c or a to exit track.

On my layout, all the power routing logic is directed from destination to start of route (i.e. the power select switch was to the final track section of the route. However, in the early days I actually did it the other way round for tracks going into the station with the power switch being the station entry track. It is this latter that you need to use. With just two tracks it would be very easy, but with three you have added a degree of complexity that means that I cannot just work it out in my head.

One other point that needs addressing is that you refer to one of the tracks being "pass-through". This implies that you want to be able to over-ride the logic and just run one train continuously; is that the case?

All the best,
Chris.

Hi

Isen´t this what you want exept in z scale