Hi I’m Sanjiv still a newbie having some trouble understanding the blocks in Train controller 10 gold
I’m using home made contact tracks.So if lets say ive created a block by isolating 4 tracks with wiring to s88 on the second track then doihave two contact indicators one at each end in my block or do I have 3.

Also it doesn’t seem in the block properties the wizard has a bideractional block with 2 sensors.

Can some one please help explain

Sanjiv

Hello Sanjiv,

I use TC Gold (v10) and my layout is K-track (3-rail). My layout has blocks everywhere between turnouts. With K-track, I cut one rail in two places and connect that isolated rail to an s88 feedback decoder. With TC and computer control, I noticed that it's not that important how many blocks you have between turnouts. I sometimes have just one block stretching all the way from one turnout to the next -- if these turnouts are not spaces more than a few feet apart. Otherwise, I have short blocks on each side of a turnout. The most important thing to do is calibrate all your locos. Once all locos are calibrated, TC is very good at controlling them. Of course, you need to setup your "brake" and "stop" markers correctly in all blocks. In hidden areas, I don't care if the loco stops suddenly, but in visible areas, I spend the time to make sure the locos decelerate and stop prototypically at the semaphores. If your locos are calibrated, then they will all behave as intended.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you need more info.

Cheers,
Andry

I am not sure I am able to explain but I will give it a try. A block is a length of track where only one train at a time is allowed (shunting operation excluded). Your contact tracks are what I call feedback section. It informs the program if something is there. It is probably somewhere inside a block. If you decide to define all tracks between two turnouts as a block then you will want a contact track just after the turnout and another just before the second turnout. Both feedback sections belong to the block.
As far as I remember the rails of K-track are not connected. No need to cut the connections like I had to do with C-track. Why not just isolate one of the rails where it meets the turnouts? That rail is then wired to a s88 port. The feedback section will be the same as the block and you will have occupancy detection for the whole block.
If you don’t calibrate your engines you will need two more feedback sections. One at each end if traffic in both directions. Then you will have to isolate the rail about 15 – 20 cm from the turnouts and include these feedback sections in the block.
I strongly recommend that you use two of your contact tracks and calibrate your engines asap.

Hi thanks for the response. I’m getting to understand that either the optimal solution is to have 2 or 3 feedback sensor per block or have the locos calibration done for better control.
Now another question. Can I have different stop and brake markers for each locomotive passing through the same block. That would give me a higher level of control. Secondly how many stop/brake markers can I have in each block if I have multiple train sets passing through.