BlockSignalling DC SS2A DC Shuttle

[@charlie1872]

Hi Bill, as a follow up to the above I finally purchased a Circuitron AR 1 unit which runs with the help of sensors which would be placed at either end of the run. I have it all wired up but not 100% sure, I also had to find a 5 Volt power supply which I have located. Just need to hook that up and double check the wires are connected before turning on the power

[@leswall3061]

Your layout looks really good, I like all the click click while going over the tracks

[@Flymochairman1]

Nice one Bill. I've seen others trying to get shuttle units working properly and they seem to have a bit of trouble with them. Great stuff. Cheers!

[@ianturvey3894]

That’s really very good. Especially for the price and the simplicity of wiring up.

[@barryhumphriesinc.broughto3098]

Excellent Bill, I have an end to end section and that will be perfect for my railcar.

[@stephenjury4178]

good to see you back bill

[@paulbache3940]

looks like a nice bit of kit, thanks for the update

[@henrybest4057]

On the 142, just connect the two motors in parallel so that both run whichever end the pickups are picking up from. That way, you'll still have pickups on both ends of the unit.

[@oobill]

Tried it. Doesn't work. I think the problem is that this particular shuttle unit doesn't like motors running with reverse polarity.

[@henrybest4057]

@@oobill It's more likely that the current draw of two motors was too much for the shuttle. The shuttle only 'sees' the current, not which way the motors are turning.

[@laingstrains3577]

Hello Bill, I did wonder why you disappeared! Glad to see you back. This is interesting, you getting into the shuttle track thing. I've build a track in my loft and quite fascinated by the automation you can get now for DC. I started a channel a while back " attic choochoo" . Would be great if you had a wee peek, tell me what you think etc. You might even be interested in what I've done with the end of one of the shuttle tracks. Hope to hear from you, cheers

[@rhiwderinraytube]

Hi Bill I have several of the Blocksignalling line occupation detectors and they are excellent. Can recommend them.!

[@charlie1872]

Very good Bill, did you see my giveaway recently? I had ordered a shuttle unit, unfortunately I had ordered a signal block unit and had no idea how it would work. The seller was very good about it, refunded my money and pointed me to what I actually needed. I put the signal up as a giveaway. I like your wiring/controller set up. Can you make a video about that?

[@reliantrailways]

Thats so cool! I might have a look at getting one as well

[@chrisseed4643]

This is a lovely layout pal. And the shuttle system is a great piece of kit. What company did you get it from?

[@EsotericArctos]

Does the shuttle have a delay stop, to make the stop more gentle? Just thinking that may work with your 142 as if it slows down more gently, it might run just enough to put both cars into the isolated track before it fully stops.

[@shedhead00]

Very impressive lots of fun

[@alanrose523]

Great video - I have done exactly the same but with DCC..

[@duncan1945]

Hi Bill, Thanks for a great video. I have recently bought the SS2A and i did wonder where the diodes were as my last one had them. Do you have to hold that little button down at some stage get it working ? What a great layout you have there, you obviously know your electrics. I've never thought about running extra power wires to other parts of the layout but sounds a good idea. Love your switches for your points as well. I will keep an eye open now for your videos. Great stuff. All the best Duncan.

[@oobill]

The little button programs it and resets it. You'll need to read the instructions fully here. blocksignalling.co.uk/pdfs/65UF1L.pdf

[@duncan1945]

Thanks Bill that’s great 👍🏻

[@MapTheDragonRailways]

Hi bill, hope you are well. A nice and fascinating video I must say. Is there a way these systems can be disengaged as such so you can operate the railway the standard way. I was thinking of installing a shuttle into a micro layout of mine but I’d like to be able to run the railway the traditional way most of the time and then put the shuttle on when I wish to do so. Thanks in advance Matthew

[@oobill]

Yes there is but it will depend on the configuration of your layout and shuttle. I put on/off switches across the breaks in the tracks so the lines can be used as normal. But I also put an on/off/switch on each of the wires connecting the shuttle unit to the track. When the shuttle isn't being used these are switched off. Otherwise the siding connected to the shuttle becomes live even with the siding closed as it's connected to the rest of the layout.

[@mikeadam3227]

Really like that. Thanks for sharing .

[@davidpowell5437]

I don't have a layout - I've just been enjoying yours a great deal. Needless to say, it's great to see you back on line, but the gap in viewing (and I'm not complaining!) has inspired me to wonder - How do you keep your layout so clean? Dust sheets? Clean room procedures? I think that in my house anything like that would be raising a fine crop of dustbunnies after a few weeks...

[@highbrookendmodelrailway]

I've noticed with model railways (at least on my loft layout) that things don't really get dusty at all, unless you do something to make it dusty, e.g drilling holes in the baseboard or ballasting. Not sure if it's just because the environment my layout is set up in, and whether an actual room in a house would get more dusty, but so far, after a year's worth of use, I haven't had to dust or clean anything so far! Also, keeping a dust buster next to the holes you are drilling / workpiece you are sanding and so on does help a lot.

[@oobill]

Rooms that aren't lived in as such don't really get very dusty. There is some though. I dust down my coaches, locos and buildings with a soft paint brush now and again but otherwise very little cleaning is required.

[@davidpowell5437]

@@oobill You must be very happy about that. Your trackside 'grass', for example - I reckon it would be a nightmare if it ever needed a clean!

[@les-halestation]

Hi. I want to do the same with a 2 car emu. Only 1 motor. When i put breakers in do i do one end where the train is completely behind breaker and when it gets to the othe it only needs to hold the motor car beyond breaker? .hope this make sense. Its the gap at each end where i make break in track.thanks.

[@ciaranburke3243]

Very nice bill 👍

[@pierslindley]

Fascinating device. Are you able to run anything on one or other of your main lines at the same time?

[@oobill]

Unfortunately no I don't have the room.

[@Finnertoncentralmodelrailway]

I do like that idea very clever

[@markdurham7426]

That is brilliant!

[@DaiElsan]

How cool is that.

[@mickedgeleyparkstation5391]

Great video, must get one.👍

[@davemarson7241]

Question for you Bill. If you wanted to stop the train at 3 stations, would you need 2 shuttles, or can you wire a single shuttle ?

[@oobill]

I think there are ways to do that but not with this device. You can get a station stop unit which could probably be used in conjunction with this.

[@chrisrhodes1256]

How does it compare to the heathcote electronics version? It looks like their passing loop is a bit cheaper than heathcotes

[@CyberFoxUK]

That's awesome

[@scottbechstein5708]

Can you run other trains with the point to point running also?

[@oobill]

In theory yes. But a loco with coaches would be difficult due to the need for the loco to cross the breaks in the track at either end of the route. Plus it would be pushing the coaches in one direction. If track sections were long enough an HST or similar would work. It works perfectly with a two car DMU.

[@astolatpere11]

Nice!