Hi Michael, as they say, there is more than one way to tickle a cat (CLEO may be watching so no offensive terms here).

For me, and as many others have done, the trick here lies in isolating the short section where you want slower running, it may be anything from 1,2 up to 4 or 5 track sections.

You must already have at least some sections before the signals isolated and under signal control so this could be a very easy mod indeed.

Now, instead of feeding that isolated section direct from your main Trafo (via the signal switch contacts), you can either put a Resistor into that feed to drop the voltage a little, OR even better, a second Trafo.

Advantage of a second Trafo is that you can easily adjust for different loco characteristics and also you can fine-tune if needed for when the loks are cold vs nicely warmed up. This assumes you have a spare Trafo or two, but you might only need one and could also possibly get away with a cheap low-rating 10 or 16va version depending on the consists. You should be able to feed both isolated sections from a single Trafo but you might prefer them individual.

This method is also quite common for inclines, spirals etc where speeds can change quite considerably.

If you go the Resistor way, you'll want one reasonably grunty such as at least 1/2 - 1 Watt, but the value (Ohms) will need some experimentation. But, a simple and more probable alternative to resistors is light bulbs (in holders), and you are bound to have some of those to play with. Try just one in the reducing circuit and observe the effect, if not enough, add a second or even third, wired in series of course. The lamps need not be visible.

It can be fun doing things like this in analogue.

Hope this gives an idea or two?

Cheers

Steve

SNAP!

Wow, you do got a lot crammed into a small area, very busy layout, well done.

It looks to me like it is two completely seperate layouts yes? ie; the lower and upper levels are not actually connected in any way?

I can not see any ramps or spiral joining them except possibly along the rear straight length, looks like maybe an incline but hard to tell from the end shots and angles. A front view would confirm ?

Glad our suggestions helped, let us know how it works out,

Cheers

Cookee

And a quick question about the idea of using two trafos per track.

If for any reason one of the signals doesn't work there is a chance that both trafos would be feeding the same track, ie the two trafos would be connected to each other by their red leads. Would this not be an electrical situation best avoided?

Hi Markus,

Thanks for the help.

I don't have a 7045 but thought that it may have the same functions as the bottom part of a signal like 7039. Having pulled one apart I realise now that it does not but at least I now understand the difference, I think!

With a signal base, when the solenoid moves, the contacts on both sides are the same, either both 'on'' or both 'off'.

Looking at your diagram, 7045 must be different in that when the solenoid moves one set of contacts on one side is 'on' and the other 'off '. This would allow me to switch power sources.

Best

Michael

Hello Micheal,

please have a look here for analogue signals and M-tracks:

http://s341536299.online...341-model-signals-en.pdf

http://dermodellbahnblog...andbuch-anleitungen.html

http://s341536299.online...753-signal-anleitung.pdf

regards

Wolfgang

Markus and all, many thanks, my son gave me the step down converter, told me how to use it but never told me its name.

I am reading up about 7045 and am starting to understand its importance in what I am trying to do. It is a component whose function I have never understood till now. Many thanks for guiding me through this, looks like I need to make an Ebay purchase.

Best

Michael

(It occurs to me that I have posted this thread in the wrong section. If anyone needs to move it please go ahead.)