Train games, railway games Rule the Rail!

[Biggs]

I am trying to make an automatice shunting yard, so far it is a bit hit or mis, but it works most of the time.
Has anyone else had a go at this?
I have 3 tracks joined with points, I take one wagon from number 1 siding and put it in number 3 siding.
Then one wagon from number 2 siding and place this in number 3 siding, and so on.
A second engine takes all wagons about 11 from number 3 siding from the rear and puts them all in to number 1, next time number 2 sidings.
I have not go it right just yet but still working on it.
Reg.

PS. I would like to put the track plan for this on this forum would this be possible?
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The water cress line.

[Chris]

Biggs,

Perhaps an example I've been working on would help. You can grab the file at Prototype Mining Operation. I hope to use this as one of the major themes in a layout I'm working on.

Use the Spur Switch (Spur F) to start the simulation. Part of the auto operation is governed by the small switch engine that enters the mine. Use the platform function to remove the hill and reveal the track and controls.

It is a work in progress but seems to perform well. Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Regards, Chris

[austindave]

chris

Just had a look. Whooo that's way to head scratching. Gona take a while for me to understand it. But I like it.

Thanks Dave

[brainbom]

Hi Chris,
I could not believe my eyes


brainbom
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[Chris]

Dave and brainbom,

You can grab the second phase of my prototype mining layout here.

The second phase represents an ore train consisting of empty cars coming off the main line and being shunted for the lower mine (finished) and the upper mine (still in my mind - phase three or four).

You only need to activate the 'MLine F' switch to get the simulation started. The one switch available in the control area directs trains into the mining area off the main line.

You may also encounter that detach issue I reported elsewhere in the technical questions --> Install, run, uninstall area of this forum.

Regards, Chris

[austindave]

6 outa 5 gold stars for that. How did you think such 'n' idea. I did notice the uncoupling error made one wagon crash at pionts. I haven't a clue why.

Thanks Dave

[Zorro]

Chris, that are two very fascinating and amazing track layouts.
Must have been a real effort to set the controls and test them out.
Congrats on your work !

[Chris]

Zorro,

Thanks. I'll post the latest phase if you're interested. As you may have noticed, the layout suffers from that detach issue I've raised.

And thanks for that note about road safety and zones behind trains. I've gone from one STOP zone behind a train to a STOP zone and a 1/2 power zone behind it. I wasn't pleased with the start/stop operations and the 'slinky' movements with just a STOP zone. Now every train is moving almost all the time with pretty uniform spacing.

To recapitulate:
1. A zone is the length of the longest train.
2. The zone immediately behind the train is without power.
3. The second zone behind the train is at half power.
4. Default power is restored to the third zone behind the train.

Best regards, Chris

[Blazer9]

Chris,

I downloaded your layout and have not encountered the detachment issue but i have had one engine pull more then one hopper car at a time causing it to crash the switch. This has only happened once so far.

It would be nice to add one more controller to the activation line so that the process would start all over again.

The process stops each time it completely rebuilds the lower train in the yard.

Don

[Chris]

Don,

You have encountered the uncoupling issue I've mentioned if you've seen that happen. If you look closely, you'll note that the proper uncoupling sequence should result in only one car being pulled per sortie.

In lieu of a 'reset' command, just reload the layout from the horizontal menu bar. I'm not sure I know which prototype you're looking at - I believe it was a 'proof of concept' type layout that would have been expanded upon and added as a central theme to a larger layout.

This prototype 4 continues on the theme and offers what you've suggested. You only need to switch the coal train back into the mining area.

Regards, Chris

[Blazer9]

Chris it was verision 2 that I had

i will download version 4 and see what it has to offer

BTW great work so far


Don

[Chris]

Thanks Don.

Chris

[Governor of Waldovia]

I don't know what happened here:
I didn't touch anything, honest.

[Chris]

Governor,

That's another instance of uncoupling malfunctioning.

The two shunting engines should have pulled back without a consist (any 'empty' cars attached) in order to pick up the full cars on the other siding (note the direction of the switch at the time of the 'crash').

Chris

[Governor of Waldovia]

I think I just had happen what happened to Don:

Nice trackwork by the way