*m*e*n*u | 206
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*G *m*e*n*u-09i | Plans-IAC
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Photo 1 - A 2-track Automatic Yard is
shown operating on the Loose Ties MRC
multi-gauge display, Dec 2006 in Selinsgrove Pa.
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This unit is also shown in
Quicktime Video # 1.
(If you care about
the details: Technically the above unit is a model 205 Control Unit
(aka Model 165) operating on a Model 206 track unit. The below photos
show the new Model 206 control unit, which is almost the same, except
it has a 2nd rheostat, is a slight narrower and longer.)
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Purpose
Of These Controls
These 2-track
automatic yards seem to be the most popular of the automatic controls
(the others being the single-track and the 4-track units). These
2-track yards are typically used to operate 3 trains on a single loop.
They seem to be very
effective at ENTERTAINING crowds on display layouts like the one shown
above. Their simple electromechanical parts allow most railroaders to
understand how they work, and keep them operating properly on the
display.
Principle
of operation:
- The red block holds 2
trains in the yard, until the 3rd train on the mainline gets about 2/3
around the mainline (wherever the T2 track contact is positioned) and
"releases" one of the trains in the yard.
- The train on the
mainline then enters the yard on the empty track.
- This sequencing
continues so all 3 trains take their turn running around the layout.
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Photo 2 - Front view - Model 206
Automatic Yard -- plans drawn Feb 2007.
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Components
To Install In A Layout
The above
photo shows the yard and associated components, ready to install in a
display layout.
- Track Sections
-- The front & rear track sections (on the green plywood).
- Loose Track --
The track shown between the front and rear track sections, is used to
make whatever length of yard will fit the layout space.
- Signal Light --
The 4-light target signal - shown already attached to the front track
unit.
- AC Power -- The
white box on the lower left is a Radio Shack 18v/24v transformer, used
to provide 18 volts AC power to the control unit.
- T2 Track Contact
-- The small black object on the lower right is the LGB 'T2' track
contact, which is position 1/2 to 2/3 around the mainline. (The T1, T3,
& T4 track contacts are attached to the front track unit).
- Rear Switch Wire
-- The duplex wire that connects the rear switch to the control unit is
bundled up at the rear switch motor.
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Photo 3 - Front view - Model 206
Automatic Yard.
A USA Trains GP-38 waits on the left siding, and an Aristo Craft RS3
waits on the right mainline. An LGB 0-4-0 is the 3rd engine, out on the
mainline on the other side of the layout.
Photo 4 - Side View.
Photo 5 - Rear View.
Photo 6 - Top View, showing the
GP-38 on the front switch.
Note the front switch has no motor. The trains just push it into the
correct position.
Photo 7 - Close-up of the Control
Unit.
FULL SIZE close-up, 1604 pixels
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Template
Note the control
unit is built on top of a "plastic-laminated template". This template
guides positioning of parts and wires during construction, and provides
built-in "hookup documentation" and "startup documentation" when the
unit is in use on displays.
Components
The primary
components from left to right are
- LGB switch motor M2
- routes power to either siding or mainline
- LGB switch motor M3
- turns power on and off in startup block
- Blue toggle switch
K1 - controls power to switch motor M2 (switching function)
- Blue toggle switch
K2 - controls power to switch motor M3 (blocking function)
- Rheostat R1 -
controls voltage in slowdown block
- Rheostat R2 -
controls voltage in startup block.
Simplicity
The advantages
of these simple electromechanical controls are:
- No electronic
circuits to malfunction, or electronic vendors to go out of business
- The throw-rods of
the switch motors allow operators to visually determine the "state" of
the control unit (siding or mainline powered, stop block red or green)
- The throw-rods of
the switch motors allow operators to easily set "initial conditions"
which the unit is started up, or when it is depowered and just operated
as a "dumb track".
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Photo 8 - View of the control unit
and template from the other side.
- The diagram in the lower left --
between the 2 terminal blocks -- shows the hookup connections between
the control unit and the track.
- The diagram in the lower right -- is
an "initial conditions" sketch that reminds operators how to start up
the system.
Photo 9 - The "Initial Conditions" sheet
reminds operators how to start the unit up at the beginning of the
day's operations. The drawings have additional instructions for
powering down the siding or the block or the complete controls.
 
Photo 10 - The
Shiloh Signals ( ShilohSignals.com
) 4-light target signal indicates all "states" of the
control unit.
Photo 11 - Same photo as Photo 2
above, but rotated and dimensions added.
Photo 12 - This photo shows the
OLDER Model 205 Control Unit (aka 165).
The earlier Model 205 -
drawn in 1994 -is almost the same, except it has a single rheostat, and
is a slight shorter and wider.).
Photo 13 - Designer James Ingram
-- shown Dec 2001 with an early design Model 202 (aka Model 163), built
in 1992.
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MPEG Movies - showing the above
Model 202-Track Unit
Note these OLD movies were made in 2003, before the
Quicktime videos were made
- MPEG Movie 1 -- 15 seconds, 320 pixels -- shows above 2-track Automatic
Yard
- MPEG Movie 2 -- 60 seconds, 160 pixels -- shows above 2-track Automatic
Yard
Note the general
principle of operation:
- The switching
block holds 2 trains in the yard, until the 3rd train on the mainline
"releases" one of the trains in the yard.
- The train on the
mainline then enters the yard on the empty track.
- This sequencing
continues so all 3 trains take their turn running around the layout.
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This page created Mar
2007; modified 4/6/2010 by
(bottom include)
James
R. Ingram , Williamsport
Pa, 570-322-7597
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