Does anyone have a method to permit a loco (steam or diesel) to transition from an electrical block powered by one throttle to another block powered by a second throttle when the throttles are supplied power from different (unconnected) power supplies?
Yes, make sure both are set to the same approximate speed and flip from one cab to the other while the loco is fully within the block. Or stop the train, flip control to the other cab, and start moving again.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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CzarstooDoes anyone have a method to permit a loco (steam or diesel) to transition from an electrical block powered by one throttle to another block powered by a second throttle when the throttles are supplied power from different (unconnected) power supplies?
Make sure the polarity is the same and the speed settings close.
My operators occasionally do it unintentionally.
Dave
Our club for some years before DCC had fourteen blocks and one reverse loop. Four throttle capability. One man on the controll panel would give a driver the block he requested. The driver would control his loco with direction and speed. Very easy. Four throttles are essentially four power packs.
If a driver did not pay attention you would hear, who has my loco?
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Thos OP many want to read this:
http://www.aglasshalffull.org/N-Scale-railroad-info-and-pictures/article-multi-throttle.html
It explains how to actually use a separate throttle for each block.
Sheldon
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I am curious... Why in the world would you want to do this on purpose?
I have done it, on accident, when operating a railroad, but I cannot think of a situation where I would design it in as a feature.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Using a cab per block give you effectively unlimited cabs vs having some number of cabs, of which one gets connected to a block at a time, either through some automatic system or via the flipping of toggles/rotary switches. It was a less common form of cab control back in the day.
rrinkerUsing a cab per block give you effectively unlimited cabs vs having some number of cabs, of which one gets connected to a block at a time, either through some automatic system or via the flipping of toggles/rotary switches.
That sounds likie a very expensive solution to a relatively simple problem.
Must have been decided upon by a committee.
SeeYou190 rrinker Using a cab per block give you effectively unlimited cabs vs having some number of cabs, of which one gets connected to a block at a time, either through some automatic system or via the flipping of toggles/rotary switches. . That sounds likie a very expensive solution to a relatively simple problem. . Must have been decided upon by a committee. . -Kevin .
rrinker Using a cab per block give you effectively unlimited cabs vs having some number of cabs, of which one gets connected to a block at a time, either through some automatic system or via the flipping of toggles/rotary switches.
Actually, if you read the article I linked to, you will see that it can be very economical compared to some of the other options, and can work well depending on the operational goals.
Apparently I did not state the problem clearly. Let me try again. Given 1) that you have two sections of track (2 electrical blocks), 2) the power for each is provided by different throttles and 3) there is no electrical connection between the two throttles or the track. Given a steam engine where the right front driver electrically connects to the right rail and the left rear tender truck connects to the left rail. When the engine crosses from one block to the other it stops because the engine is connected to the right rail of block 2 and the tender is connected to the left rail of block 1. That's the problem that I'm trying to eliminate.
There is no solution, other than a transfer block with a toggle switch.
Most newer locos, steam or diesel, produced in the last 20 years, have all wheel pickup, avoiding this problem.
The only way I can think of would be to use separate throttles powered by a common power supply. One throttle per block. We have been using this method on NTRAK layouts for 40+ years.
mfm37 The only way I can think of would be to use separate throttles powered by a common power supply. One throttle per block. We have been using this method on NTRAK layouts for 40+ years.
Yes, that will work as well.
Czarstoo When the engine crosses from one block to the other it stops because the engine is connected to the right rail of block 2 and the tender is connected to the left rail of block 1. That's the problem that I'm trying to eliminate.
That makes the problem much more clear.
I would add pickup to the insulated tender trucks so the tender picks up from all wheels. This is not very difficult to do.
You need a block that can be switched between either cab, even if the block is just long enough to hold the locomotive and tender. The best way to do this is by installing a DPDT switch on that block.