Garden Railway Forum

Thought I would fire up my garden railway project again.

Not having much room I reckon an end to end will be easier than a full loop. However, I like to set a train running and then sit back.

Now for and end to end there are two options. Reversing loops which requires one way or auto operating points is one. The other is a method of reversing the on board motor.

Now Maplin sell a latching relay that I reckon could be operated by the on board battery and just requires a micro switch at each end of the loco or train. The relay has a two pole two way switch which is OK for reversing.

Inertia starting is not needed as on the old tinplate track I will be using speed is a definite no no. A time delay is something I have been wondering about though.

Obviously an on-board reversing switch operated mechanically at each end is another alternative.

Has anyone else gone down the auto end to end route?

Timpdon Electronics do a "shuttle" module which lets a loco "go" for "X" seconds, stop for "Y" seconds, then reverses and "go" for "X" seconds again to take the train back to where it started from, then stop for "Y" seconds, etc, etc - sounds like what you're looking for!

At engine rally's I take a length of straight track with two nails, one at each end to reverse a switch on the side of a loco, a bit big big ruston like, works well.

The loco Im using is a smalltown models ruston.

That must need a switch with a very weak spring.... what sort of switch are you using ?

The switches (one on each side) on Big Big trains are designed to be operated by trackside trips - they have big operating levers and a "swipe" action, rather than a "clicky switch" which is the sort we're used to. One side is "on - off"- the other side reverses.

Good point Brian but Adam R said his was a bit BIGbig Ruston like... I was just wondering what switch he has actually used... Of course I suppose one could be made up on the bigbig principle but it would be so much easier if there is a commercial alternative (says he hopefully) that would flip easily....

Barry

Standard DPDT switch from maplin, weight the loco, mine does it fine, its 4 steel wheels, a lump of resin with a battery pack and motor.

It moves along at a slow sedate pace, but runs on enough to flick the switch to the other direction.

If you find the switch is too stiff, add an extionsion to the end of it to act like a lever and move the switch inbound in the model to make it less obtrusive with the same amount sticking out for swiping.

Hi All

Thanks for the Timpdon suggestion - I do not usually like spending real money but I can make exceptions.

Nice to learn that the crude method I thought of does work.

Actually I remember now, my first 'G scale' loco, a plastic effort had this facility. ever made use of it and sold it on.

Off on my hols: - France, and will hopefully be able to check out one Chemin de Fer Touristique.