So I'm about to add contact tracks to my main level. I'm using ECOS Detectors. I'm my staging I used two contact tracks per siding. One coming in and one at end when leaving. As I prepare to add contact tracks to the main level and the passenger station I'm wondering if I should just add contact tracks to the middle of each siding, maybe make it 3 tracks long.

That way I'd save on the number of contact tracks needed and any train coming into the siding from either direction would trip the contact track and then the train would stop in the siding.

I guess my question is this. Is 2 contact tracks really needed in a siding or is it overkill?

I would appreciate any input on the question. I'm using my ESU ECOS but plan on using railcom eventually to partially control or at least track my trains.

Thanks,

Chris

Hi Chris

Whatever the method you use (simple digital or PC control like Rocrail):
- you need a contact zone near the buffer to have a gentle stop near it from a slow speed
- optionally you need a second contact at the begin of the siding to slow down (not a must really).
- with Rocrail, on an uncoupling siding, I use one contact at the begin of the siding, just before the decoupler (to slow down and for the loco alone to pick the consist) and another near the buffer to stop and trigger the decoupler

See the automatic operation on a siding with decoupler
- 1:30 automatic coupling
- 3:48 automatic decoupling
- 7:22 automatic coupling

If you are curious, with Rocrail, this 100% automatic operation is done using one virtual block (2 sensors) and a slave block to the virtual block using one of its sensors



Cheers
Jean

I mainly use circuit tracks. IF you want to use two the first slows the train and can make any sound if fitted with sound decoder and the second stops the train. The second can stop it for several seconds then reverse back out if you wish. I like to keep things simple. The circuit tracks will also change the signals if fitted at the siding. Fair to say this is easy with a Marklin CS3 but dont know about ECOS.