Wiring Question: Two Cabs, Momentary-On Switch to Activate Them?

[Anonymous]

I have a 4x8 layout with a two feet high center divider running lengthwise.

I'm using DC for this layout, and I'll only be running one train at a time.

I would like to use two cabs, one on each side of the layout, and I'd like to have a momentary-on push button switch next to each cab so that I can switch cars on one side of the layout with one cab, send the train on its way, walk over to the other side and press the push button next to the second cab to give that cab control so I can use it to control the layout to switch sidings on that side.

Does that make sense?

Is this possible without overly complicated wiring?

It would be easy to divide the layout halves into two seperate power blocks if that would help. The layout is comprised to 6 sections, bolted together, each with its own power bus.

Maybe an image would help. The big gray line down the middle is the divider, and the other straight lines indicate the borders of the six modules that comprise the layout.

John
Underhill, VT

[challenger3802]

From the diagram shown I'd fit double insulators to the tracks at the divide line. When a train crosses it it transfers from one controller to another.

Another way to contol which cab is active is to fit a DPDT switch on each control panel (I'm taking it you are having separate control panels?!). The power to the panel would be fed from the centre of the switch, one side going to controller A, the other to controller B. In this way you could send a train firmly into the opposite section before throwing the switch to change controllers.

Hope this helps
Ian

[BRVRR]

john,
You will have to break the layout into separate block, I would suggest not less than 4 and preferably more, to operate with two cabs in DC. Atlas makes their Controller for just such an application. The Atlas wiring book explains how to install the blocks, wire and operate two cabs in DC. I would also suggest isolating your sidings, though it is not absolutely necessary. You can probably work out how to wire the layout for two cabs using push-button switches, but the circuitry is built into the Atlas controller in one neat package.
Hope this helps.
Remember: It's your railroad.

[cacole]

No, a momentary push button is not what you want, because you must keep the button pushed in order for your train to run, and your thumb is going to get mighty tired. I would use toggle switches or push on - push off buttons.

[MisterBeasley]

My interpretation of your plan is to have a speed control and a reversing switch on each side. When you pu***he Big Button, control of all the track would switch to the other speed control and reversing switch. If that's what you want, then the DPDT (Double-Pole, Double-Throw) switch will do this, but it will be a switch, not a button. If you really want a button, then you could get a DPDT Relay, which would be a DPDT switch controlled by a relay throw. Your layout as shown has no reverse loops, so you can get away with a single block. You might want to wire several power drops, though, to avoid voltage loss from one side of the layout to the other.

I'm an old DC guy myself, but I plan to eventually move to DCC. Your layout is a good cadidate for DCC as well. Without significant re-wiring, you could run a "loop train" and also carry on switching operations with a second engine. In fact, the way the "loop train" would periodically cross through your switching yards would make it a lot more fun. DC block wiring for this kind of 2-train operation would be awkward, and actually running it would be tedious, but with DCC it would be simple and fun.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies guys,

Mister Beasley and Challenger3802 are correct when they state that I want a DPDT toggle on each control panel. The part I'm wresting with is how do I wire the toggles so that they work together.

If it were one DPDT Toggle with two Cabs, it would be a no-brainer, but it's the addition of the second toggle that I'm having trouble with.

It is sort of akin to having one light fixture controlled by two light switches.

Thanks again for the replies.

John
Underhill, VT

[lonewoof]

Mister Beasly has the right idea. Get a relay, at least 3pdt. Use 2 poles to switch between cabs. Use a normally-OPEN momentary switch at one cab location, to energize the relay. use the extra set of normally OPEN relay contacts, connected it PARALLEL with that switch, to LATCH the relay ENERGIZED. Use a normally-CLOSED momentary switch at the OTHER cab, put it in SERIES with the relay COIL. One switch picks up the relay, it latches, and stays until the second switch drops it back out.

[Anonymous]

First of all, if I were starting over, it would have to be DCC. When I fini***he layout maybe I'll make the switch - but installing converters in my overly large fleet is a lower priority. So first of all, this layout plan simply begs for DCC and then all your blocks, toggles, etc. disappear as issues. BUt if you truly don't want to take that step, you should instead buy a memory walk-around throttle. This means you just unplug your throttle, go to the other side of the table, and plug it back in. With the memory type, you don't even have to stop the train. You can save a few bucks by getting a non-memory type, in whih case you'll have to stop the train but still don't need to worry about toggling the power between two cabs.