Massoth Feedback module for an autorevrse shuttle scenario

[beavercreek]

One section of my layout is a shuttle that runs around a quarry.
At present it is DC using an 8amp shuttle unit that runs 1 train.

My other two section have now got the option of DC or DCC so it is logical to give the quarry section the same option.
To run a shuttle operation in DCC a Massoth feedback module with track contacts will be utilised (I do realise I could use occupancy detectors instead).
The operation that I would like is as follows ...is it possible? Will it need one feedback unit or will I need two?

 

[beavercreek]

Hi Roly
Thanks for the reply to pm and the posting here.
A couple of questions though.

1) If the two locos have different addresses and loco 1 crosses contact '2' as it travels towards 'B', this will stop it, and change point 'X' and start train 2 from 'C'.
So are you saying that the tripping of contact '1' by train 2 might cause train 1 to also start off (on its reverse journey) instead of it waiting until train 2 has finished its little shuttle to 'A' and back again to 'C'?
2) The way that you described the sequential running, I think, is the way that I had it...but I am not sure.
My way:
Train 1 does its run from 'A' to 'B', then stops. then train 2 does its run from 'C' to 'A' and stops, waits a couple of seconds, reverses and runs back to 'C' and stops, then train 1 then leaves 'B' travels to 'A', stops for a few seconds, reverses and then travels back to 'B' where it stops where train 2 starts its little shuttle routine again etc etc
I am not sure how your scenario and mine differ but as you have done a fair bit of this, you will have a greater insight than I .

But if there is a problem with contact '1' as you said, causing both trains to lurch into action (instead of stopping one ready in reverse while starting the other train) I suppose that contact '2' and '3' would also try to stop both trains at the same time as well!..or is this wrong?

I have had a thought about this problem with contact '1' at 'A'.....
The only contact that is passed by both trains is '1' as both trains travel to 'A'.
Can contacts be made to be biased towards either side of the track? If they were then there could be two contacts near the same spot and train 1's magnet could let's say be on the left while train 2's could be of the right so only tripping their 'own' contact (1x and 1y).

Will one feedback unit do all of it anyway? Point X will have to be controlled so that train 2 goes back to 'C' and train 1 goes back to 'B'

 

[beavercreek]

Hi Roly
Mmmm as I thought in me last post.
But obviously from your reply, the track contacts can't be 'biased' to one side of the track or other, so opposite offset magnets on either train could trip one contact but not the other thus splitting the present contact '1' s operation. If this was possible, as I posted, there could be two track contacts in close proximity where '1' is now in the diagram. So train 1 would trip one of the contacts and train 2 would trip the other.

Are there contacts that can be 'biased'? or can they be butchered to do this? Perhaps Muns might know...
I have a bunch of LGB ones at present

 

[beavercreek]

Still trying to do it the easy way without resorting to timing etc. as yes............
If the small neodymium loco magnet was also positioned to one side on one loco and on the other side of the other loco then ...if the contacts could be placed to either side of the track, the correct contact would be triggered by the matching loco.

If the contacts can be made to fit to one side of the track, this would be the situation:

 

[beavercreek]

Yes that is what I am going to do. I am going to get some of the encapsulated ones from Rapid. They are weather proof and will be easy to position like your indoor layout ones.
So hopefully all is go.......
As to the other previous plan for four trains auto-running. I will start on it, along with this one, after this weekend is over as we have an open day tomorrow and do not want to upset the apple cart until the visitors are gone! :

 

[beavercreek]

Cheers Roly.......
Well the less said about the open day the better.......I think that I may try a different hobby!!

 

[beavercreek]

Did the visitor get his just desserts? hat.....coat...door

Well Roly, It is cold light of day and I have calmed down a tad. Tony videoed some train activity on the open day and made a nice one too so something must have been running!
Also guys on here have been really kind and given me a little boost.
I think that it was just the heat of the moment and me feeling darned sorry for meself.
We have a facebook page for the Essex GSS (Jerry - Lone Ranger organises it) and the visitors have posted that they liked the company, the chatter and Lorraine's homemade fare. So all was not lost. There was not much said about the layout itself, so it is best to probably leave that as said.
Maybe I am getting the 7 year itch! ::

 

[lone ranger]

Did the visitor get his just desserts? hat.....coat...door

Well Roly, It is cold light of day and I have calmed down a tad. Tony videoed some train activity on the open day and made a nice one too so something must have been running!
Also guys on here have been really kind and given me a little boost.
I think that it was just the heat of the moment and me feeling darned sorry for meself.
We have a facebook page for the Essex GSS (Jerry - Lone Ranger organises it) and the visitors have posted that they liked the company, the chatter and Lorraine's homemade fare. So all was not lost. There was not much said about the layout itself, so it is best to probably leave that as said.

Maybe I am getting the 7 year itch! ::

Mike only one sentence about the company and crack, loads more about your highly detailed railway, from both Tony and I. So don't give up the open days or how the hell else are we going to have anything to aspire to.

 

[Cliff George]

Cheers Roly.......
Well the less said about the open day the better.......I think that I may try a different hobby!!

Your open day was great Mike, so don't beat up on yourself. We all have the odd gremlin now and then. As Jerry says us Essex lot need something to aspire too, and you and your layout provide plenty of that.

If I was half as good at modelling as you are, I might even have some buildings one day! But I could never match your brilliance.