This is probably a dumb question for those of you familiar with CS2 and its graphical capabilities, but is it possible for CS2 to tell you the location of locomotives on your layout?

If so, does anyone know how involved the set up for doing this would be? I mean do you need to know Java, C++, etc. (Kidding in the last sentence.)

I'd love to be able to hide some of my track and their locos parked there but know where are located on the layout.

Thanks!

For this you would need Uhlenbrock's Lissy system, or the Zimo train detection systems.

You can achieve a crude train location detection system with contact tracks, but you won't know which train is there, just that there is a train there!

Yes, engines can not be identified within the layout-screen.

S88-modules can off-course be connected, and the will show occupied track(s) by a special component which is placed in the layout. This component (straight track) shows a small yellow "light" when connected S88-contact is activated and is white when the S88 is idle.

Yes, I just want to know something is on the track to avoid mishaps. So, I take it the answer is that the CS2 with S88-modules can be configured to identify occupied tracks?

Where would I find out more information about this or is the Zimo and Lissy systems a better route to go with Marklin C track?

Thanks, much, for the great information.

It is'nt as easy as it sounds.
Märklin or any other digital system has ways of detecting an occupied track.
My S88 / memeory / routes was working well for me.
this was before we had higheffeciency motors with braking delay.
I believe unless you use a computerprogam your tasks could be quite enormous.
and even with a computerprogram it is'nt easy for me to do an after conversion.
all my k-tracks are imbedded with ballast and had been soaked with 50% glue and 50% water mixture.
I made some alterations on my layout and the tracks I removed had to go in the bin or have been used along railwaytracks from previous leftover repairs, so to say.
My only option is, I believe the Lissy system, which is expensive.
And it is'nt only the lissy system, you need decoders that can recognise the feedback.
For me to remove or solder wires onto my k-track at every 180cm to connect these wires to a s88 module to achieve a breaking delay and to have the train stopping at all times in front of the signal, would be very nice.
The problem I've got, is a layout that was build in the 80's with the new Märklin digital system and 6080 decoders. At the time and now it is 65m².

So anybody thinking of building a layout with track occupation has to think a bit further than just putting the latest crocodile or a Worldrecord BR 05 on the track.
There is of course an other option, contact tracks, this enables you or the train to enter a siding, only if there are no carriages on this particular track.
If for instance a carriage has been uncoupled for unknown reasons, the track section tells the s88 module > memory > this track is still occupied.
If you have a long freight train that overlaps this train section, than you have to override the command with the memory.
I think the lissy system works a bit like a coding system, whereas the individual loco has a codenumber and this in turn can activate a route.