Can track contacts be used for either side of track?

[beavercreek]

I have got a thread running where I am trying to have a bit of auto-running on a shuttle line with two locos that would be confused by one track contact.

Is the following solution possible?:
to have two track contacts, almost side by side, with the locos having their small neodymium magnets on opposite sides so that one loco trips its own contact a little like this:

 

[muns]

No reason why not, as long as you can mount the magnet on the train so that it successfully activates the correct contact.

 

[beavercreek]

This sounds like excellent news Mark.
Will the contacts be able to physically fit in the method that I want?

 

[Neil Robinson]

What you require seems to very similar the LGB analogue sound triggers for bell and whistle, the only difference is that the reeds are on the loco with the magnets on the track between the rails.
These work well so I see no reason why you couldn't adapt the system.

 

[beavercreek]

Hi Neil
As this is using DCC and a Massoth feedback module for auto-running that require the contacts to be wired to the feedback module, magnets in the track would not work. Or am I wrong here?

 

[Neil Robinson]

Hi Mike, you're not wrong, I didn't make myself clear.
I think your idea should work because something very similar (analogue sound triggers) works very well the other way round i.e. with the magnets on the loco.

 

[Neil Robinson]

Doh, can't edit and even I think I'm confusing when I re-read my last posts. I plead senility!
Off centre magnets on the track with triggers on the loco work very well for analogue sounds so I see no reason why loco magnets and track triggers wouldn't work just as well.

 

[beavercreek]

No problem Neil..I did get the gist of what you were saying.
The problem with the LGB or Massoth track contacts for use with the 8175001 feedback Module is that they span between the rails and their reed switch is positioned centrally inside the casing, so it would be impossible to use them side by side for triggering by two different locos.
Mark (Muns) has kindly given me a link to Rapid for the encapsulated reed switches which I can use in such a way to position them either side of the track between the rails. As they are practically just round the corner from me I will get a few.