AUTOMATIC TRAIN CONTROL (ATC)
Mayfair Electric Style
The system I use for Automatic Train Control (ATC) is a variant of the system used on East Penn Traction Club modules. The most significant difference is that my variant allows the use of Multiple Unit trains with all powered cars.
The East Penn system, described on their website ( www:eastpenn.org ), uses a short gapped section of overhead to stop the trolleys when the next block is occupied. This approach is really only usable for single car operation of MU trains where only the lead car is powered.
My approach senses when the trolley or train reaches the end of the controlled block and, if the next block is occupied, removes power from the overhead of the entire block. The main limitation of my approach is that your longest train must fit in your shortest block.
The advantage of the East Penn system is that it is simple and cheap. You only need one relay per block. My approach normally uses three relays per block. I use cheap relays and sockets bought on eBay from China. A 12VDC 4PDT relay costs less than $1.50. At that price I can live with the slightly lower quality of the Chinese product. Out of the 100s I have bought so far I have had less than a dozen rejects.
(Page under construction...More later)
The East Penn system, described on their website ( www:eastpenn.org ), uses a short gapped section of overhead to stop the trolleys when the next block is occupied. This approach is really only usable for single car operation of MU trains where only the lead car is powered.
My approach senses when the trolley or train reaches the end of the controlled block and, if the next block is occupied, removes power from the overhead of the entire block. The main limitation of my approach is that your longest train must fit in your shortest block.
The advantage of the East Penn system is that it is simple and cheap. You only need one relay per block. My approach normally uses three relays per block. I use cheap relays and sockets bought on eBay from China. A 12VDC 4PDT relay costs less than $1.50. At that price I can live with the slightly lower quality of the Chinese product. Out of the 100s I have bought so far I have had less than a dozen rejects.
(Page under construction...More later)
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