S Gauge, 2-Track Automatic Yard

By Mark Anderman & Dennis Oberholtzer . . . ( Project 241, tinyurl.com/2or887 )

 

A. Comments 1. Overview: The video (link is in the menu to left), made by Mark Anderman of the Susquehanna S Gaugers, at the April 2007 "Steamup" in Williamsport Pa, shows a demonstration of an automatic control system they made to operate 3 American Flyer trains on one circle of track, using all stock AC Gilbert parts. They used a siding to hold 2 trains, plus a 3rd block operated by a semaphore on the mainline.  2. All Stock AF Parts:  The system shown in the above S-gauge video uses all stock Gilbert parts. The converging switch is used as a relay to control the 2 siding blocks, and a Gilbert semaphore controls the 3rd block in the mainline. They used the pressure-sensitive Gilbert track trips to control the switches and the semaphore.

 

B. Remove The 3rd Block ? We believe this system could probably be modified by removing the block '3' in the mainline, and using just the 2 blocks in the sidings. The semaphore would control power to the sidings If you can visualize. at about 2/3 of the way around the loop, the train on the mainline would pass over at 'T2' (green) track trip, which would "release" one of the trains parked on the sidings, thus maintaining spacing between trains, but without using the 3rd block on the mainline --see Figure 2 below. This scheme is demonstrated in the largescale Video #1 "How It Works" which shows the same arrangement in largescale -- links given above in Para. 2. Notice the operation is a little SMOOTHER, because when you remove Block 3, then trains don't stop on the mainline. The Wire That Used To Go To Block 3 On the S wiring diagram, you would remove Block 3. You would take the wire that previously ran from the semaphore to Block 3, and instead route it to switch M2. When the semaphore is red, no power would go to either of the siding tracks hooked to to switch M2. When the semaphore changed to green, the power would be routed to whichever siding switch M2 is aligned to. .... make sense ?? No? Try watching the G-scale video.

 

C. Comparing The 2 Drawings Immediately below is shown the S gauge wiring diagram by Mark Anderman (notes in red were added by James Ingram). Following the S drawing, is the G-scale equivalent drawing. Components Numbered Same On Both Drawings "Stop blocks" B1 and B2 -- These appear on both drawings, in the sidings. 'Block 3' on the S-gauge drawing does not appear on the G scale drawing, because the 3rd block is not used. Track trips T1, T2, T3, & T4 -- On the S drawing, these are stock Gilbert pressure-sensitive track tricps. On the G drawing, there are stock LGB reed switches activated by magnets on the bottom of the loco. They both accomplish essentially the same result -- they send an electrical pulse to throw a switch or relay when an engine passes over them. Relay 'M3' -- On the S drawing, this is the Gilbert semaphore. On the G-scale drawing it either an LGB semaphore, or an LGB DPDT relay. Relay 'M2' -- this routes power to 1 of the 2 sidings. On the S drawing, it is a Gilbert switch, which has relay capability built into it. On the G drawing, it is an LGB relay.