Ben_T

Damn it. Why can't they be standard, or Hornby make longer crossovers! I have a fast through line in the design for the junction into my station but the only way I can make it work is with a standard point and crossover. I'm worried my HST will derail if it takes the set of points at speed!

Thank you for that useful information. Does anyone know if I use a Hornby express point, will it connect to any of the Peco code 100 cross overs? Is the angle correct?

I would love to see a diagram of your circuit, if only to see if it is something I would be able to do. I'm not exactly an electrician!

Thank you Chris. I'll have a look. Yhanks very much for your help again

Thanks again Chris. I will contact Heathcote and see what they have to say, To be honest, the automation part of my plan isn't the most important thing in the world, the set up you have sounds very appealing. I'd love to hear more about the Picaxe circuits you built, I have watched the video of Everard Junction with great interest as they are very flexible in what you can achieve. He also uses the manual override switch doesn't he, something I think I could definitely get to work for what I want! The loco detection information is interesting, particularly that they have included that page when there is no guarantee it will even be released. I will watch with interest! Thank you Gordonvale, useful information! Ben

Fishmanoz. You are totally correct, we went off on a bit of a tangent there. I will post something in the RM forum later. Chris, as always, a brilliant reply. Thank you. The items I am looking at on Heathcote are the IRDASC circuits that connect a number of light signals together in-line and allow them to "talk" to each other and change correspondingly. It is light signals I'm talking about by the way. They seem simple to set up but I'm not sure how or if they would integrate with RM / automated control. I would use 4 aspects on my main lines with maybe 2 or 3 aspects at the platforms. I like the idea of making my own circuits. They seem cheaper and more flexible. I watched a video on this subject on YouTube (I assume you're not Everard Junction?!) I like the override switch but wonder whether an IR sensor could work as a switch ie, a train on another line triggers the signal to red which overrides the timer? On the subject of loco detection, do we know what form that will take? IR? If so is it worth me drilling some holes / fitting some sensors (I believe they are pretty cheap) at regular intervals depending on train length etc? Thanks again Ben

Thank you both. That explains the slips perfectly! I am definitely going to use a double slip for what I need! Chris, as an expert in all things electronics I wonder if I can ask you some advice. I posted last week (and you replied) regarding the gadget that allows you to change points from a switch and or RM, all the showing an LED on the control panel. I love it! I have also spent some time researching the Heathcote range of signal controls. A guy I watch on YouTube has successfully used them to control his signals (lights). Now I know I am a complicated bugger but I want my layout to be able to be controlled totally manually, totally automated and a mixture of the two. Using a mixture of RM and Heathcote I want to be able to: * Have all signals talking to eachother so they run in a timed (but also sensor trigggered) sequence. * Not allow a signal to be green if the point it set against it. * Not allow a train to pass a signal at red. * RM to control all of the automation i.e. Points signals while I "drive" trains. How possible and complicmated is all of this to achieve? Thank you in advance Ben

Rog & Chris, once again a massive thank you.Things have changed so much since I was a kid in the 90s. Chris, I watched that 3 hour long video on DCC I saw you post about last week. Amazing and just in time for me as I'm buying a controller and starting to chip my locos after Christmas. You really are the expert aren't you

Also, having just looked at the links you provided I am very confused as to the difference between a single and double slip. Wha are the advantages / disadvantages between the two? Thank you again guys!

Thank you Chris. You have just explained in two minutes what I have been confused about for years! I always hear people talking about SL, ST etc And never knew what it all meant! Having never seen a piece of Peco track in the flesh, does the SL-90 look similar enough to Hornby track so as not to make it obvious it is two different brands? ie the sleepers etc. Thanks again Ben

Hi Guys. I made the decision a long time ago to use Hornby track as this is what I came to know and love when I was a child. However, after watching a lot of videos on YouTube and seeing the range of different types of track out there I am starting to regret the decision. Anyway, it is too late to chance now but I do have a question about mixing tracks together. The layout I want to use into the station really needs a double slip, something I haven't even thought about until now. My question is will having normal Hornby track connected to a double slip from another supplier look odd? Are there any that would look less odd? The last thing I want is for it to be noticeable and I don't want to spend £30 plus on a DS if it's not going to look right. Thank you in advance