Block issue

[kiv@vftronic.no]

My Marklin system is controlled by Win-Digipet.
The size of my plant limits the length of blocks for train meetings, the aim is to run 7 trains simultaneously in automatic operation controlled by the software WDP.
My problem; As the block length of some meeting tracks is too short to have space/length for the entire train set, sometimes the last wagon in some random cases may  stay on the turnout when this train is put on hold and wait for free block in front.
Another waiting train (see picture) receive the go-ahead signal and then crashes into the wagon still stay on the turnout.
My solution:
Soldered together a circuit board and fitted a sensor (Light Convergent Reflective) this card is done compatible with S88, my planning is to monitor all critical turnouts and as long as the sensor registers an active signal other waiting locomotive will not receive a go signal. Until further development of this sensor card I wonder if others have the equal experience and if there are any ready-made equipment or other solutions for this issue.

[luc diels]

Hello, it is possible to make  the turnout giving a feedback when a wagon stays on the turnout. You may find how to do this easily on the internet. It differs for k-rails or C-rails see attachments. For english turnouts this is not possible and I do it by giving it a fictive feedback number that I program in the dispatcher. A feedback is then occupied when a train is active over that turnout or when the adjacent feedbacks show occupied.

Luc

[Rupert van Swol]

Hello,Kiv
I have read your contributions , and your solution too .
This is a smart bet , to avoid difficult fiddling under the track and at the switches .
Besides saving a lot of work with axis detection if applicable .
You might consider including status notification from this detector per route , As a kind of interlocking .
I have two feedback detectors for each turnout , for Main and branch traffic . On the point motor I also have a position detector and a short-circuit detector . So quite a lot of feedback , but my Locomotives also weigh 4.2 kg and then route safety comes to a another dimension.

[Guido Eigenmann]

Hello Kiv

I control it with WDP. In the option you have an item called train length.

The train which crosses the section can only start if the train length is short enough to easy pass. There is some programming involved but it works great for me. (Sorry that it is in German)

Good luck

Guido