Easy Model Train Automation with an Arduino: Stopping and Starting a locomotive

[@gamepad3173]

Hey there Jimmy this is exactly what I've been looking for my G scale garden railroad as I want my passenger and freight trains to stopping and going to and from various stations. while at the yards I'd want shunter locomotives to be moving around cars to create either long freight or long passenger trains.

[@PCGuru1958]

Hi Jimmy this project is just what i have been looking for it works very well i run N Scale Kato i have inbeded the sensor in the rails and works well as a non DCC system it solves one of the things i have been looking . thank you i have been watching your video for almost 2 years having health issues your channel it so practical and you made things easy thanks again Greg

[@Curious_Skeptic]

Banging my head into the wall on how I could create a way to slow down a DC loco on isolated track vs. just coming to a quick dead stop. I'm told Capacitors won't work on DC. So, your demo brings another option. I rather an off the shelf option, but I have worked with Arduino and even some custom Microprocessors for light controllers. However, it's such a simple ask, I can't see the need for an Arduino vs some simple timer/relay PCB board off Ebay.

[@olivierdamiron7279]

That is so awesome. Simple, elegant automation. I was wondering what it would take to bring another level of refinement: Gradual speed up and slow down for each step. I would assume we would need different hardware to achieve this. Relay are ON/OFF devices, wondering if there is something we could use that an arduino could modulate without going full blown DCC, maybe interfacing RC speed controllers (ESCs). Super cool stuff, love your channel, this is my daily Train NetFix!👌

[@davidwayneprins]

I think this gives me the groundwork for something I had been beating my head against the wall to try to figure out: using Arduino to control a trolley car. Think of the Lionel ones that reversed course when they hit a bumper but with a delay to simulate loading and unloaded of passengers at a station..

[@railwayjade]

So cool! Love the Arduino vids!

[@andymok7945]

Nice stuff. For such simple project, you might consider using a smaller micro system like the ESP8266 or ESP32 and use EPSHome for the coding.

[@palodurodons]

hi, in this video at around 5:30, you state "we're going to put the power leads into our relay... the one coming from the track goes in the left connect". I assume you mean this is the positive current connector going to the track enabling power on and off. Then you state "the one coming from the power bus goes in the middle". I assume that is the ground (or common). Are my assumptions correct ?

[@caitlainmccarren2286]

Excellent presentation of the Arduino switch. Not certain why I'd need one, but when I do I'll know where to find the how-to.

[@davidsayer354]

Sweet Arduino case!!! Definitely interested in procuring!

[@TechBuild]

Cool project! Great to see more people getting interested in #ModelRailroadAutomation.

[@malnadgowda_inusa3734]

Instead of relay you could probably use MOSFET. It will help you stop train slowly and then start slowly.

[@davidrichter5539]

Simple and effective, couldn't someone write a program without delay and with millis? I would be very grateful.

[@rodeo_cwboy]

After loading the program, must you keep the laptop connected? I am planning to run multiple programs across multiple unos.

[@brucewinstanley6113]

I would like that Arduino holder.

[@AlleghenyMTNRails]

Great video Jimmy. I bought a sensor/reverser to do something just like that. Very cool. Keep up the great work.

[@No_no83]

Is this train a dcc or a standard Dc? Thank you in advance

[@Kiro0ollos]

This is amazing, Jimmy! 😍

[@melkitson]

So simple and yet it has been keeping me awake at nights trying to work out how to do something similar to this. I assume this would work equally well on dcc or analogue?

[@maxlindstrom5435]

I use this to stop train rushing in to the stations. But I start trains again with a push button, when it's clear to enter :) For beginners this small projects is good, you will learn Aarduino little by little and get results at once :)

[@dennisedgar3430]

I have a “wallwart” that delivers 6.1V DC. Will this be OK for the system?

[@ngongoc7103]

So great, i'm running DCC, please give me wiring diagram of system.Thank you so much

[@michaelcorner7938]

Great video, I'm thinking of using it on a OO gauge layout where I have crossings to hold off one engine while another is passing through.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Hi Jimmy. I'm not big into automating trains on my own layout, but Something like this would be awesome for traction modeling, especially if you also reversed directions when you stopped.

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

I actually want to use this combined with a few other things to model a light rail/subway line.

[@asaprocky8195]

The sensor is plugged into A0 (int A0), but the sketch loop is checking int valA1 .... Typo, but it ran?

[@lgrfbs]

Nice video. Next step is the relay control a ABC module for stop/star the loco.

[@johnbennett6870]

How many feet you have use a other contract for power

[@johnsneedma]

So if a trolley had 6 stops... do the wires need their own pin on the arduino and line in program or can they be soldered into one circuit? Just planning ahead for a continuous one way loop around three city blocks. Possibly adding another track and stops in the opposite way.

[@daveygivens735]

Fantastic info but TBH I'm not a coder and watching you plug in command-line entries leaves me in the dust. Is there such a thing as canned Arduino code or maybe a GUI for dumb people like me?

[@johnnyrobertson5971]

Love it and very well done on the instructional teaching. Love anything doing with Arduino. You really do some great video’s and thanks g F or sharing!!

[@penem7632]

sooo like, where do i buy the rails??? are there special rails for this??? where do i buy the train it self??? are there special trains for it????

[@peterkrause5187]

Hi Jimmy. Excellent tutorial! 😊 Thank you. Is there any to slow the train rather than abrubt top? I have a dc layout.

[@GalenA1722]

What are those types of trains called????

[@sushildamle3449]

Thanks for short but detailed explanation. I just wanted to know what is the voltage supplied to rail track? My HO scale model train loco needs 12VDC having two motors each. How much external power supply I will have to give to 5VDC Relay module single channel for the loco to run / stop? Will 12VDC adapter 1Amp is suitable for this? If not please give the details. Many thanks.

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

Without seeing your setup, I would guess your track voltage is anywhere between 12 and 16 volts. The relay just needs to be wired on your track power feeder. It interrupts your existing track power versus actually supplying it. The relay itself is powered by the arduino and is independent of track power

[@TDMan-de6jv]

How can your solder onto the track ?

[@oceancity1042]

Hi Having this some additional thought. A signal placed to give the train a reason to stop and then on changing from red to green it would then restart would be pretty neat , is this easy to achieve with Arduino programming ?

[@swyntopia]

Very simple. Best with LED. 5V-->resistor ( about 200 Ohm )-->red LED-->Arduino one digital output. Arduino digital output ( may be the same, and even the same as for the relay )-->green LED-->resistor-->Gnd. Add the new output in the scetch above, copy the logic and change the Pin Nr. into the new output for the LED-->done. Sorry, I´m no native english speaker, I can´t explain better.

[@oceancity1042]

Very informative. Have just purchased my arduino. Raring to get started. Regards Robert

[@CM-ARM]

Jimmy the wiring I can do the writing of the code my door is open for you. I just don't understand. I have never attempted before.

[@amolchopade7649]

Is it n scale model train?

[@kge420]

I’m currently using a 2650 and motor shield running DCC++ through jmri. All is working fine. If I were to do this project will I need another arduino? Thanks for making these interesting videos.

[@ariegt]

No , and you can also push down DCC to zero ( in x-time ) instead of a relay

[@TempoVideo]

Yo. Literally about to buy some components for this (or a variation of it!). Did you make the Uni mount/case available to download?

[@PHUCLONGHOBBYLAND]

So cool, please give me diagram connect to rail, thanks you so much

[@1babysag]

I think the idea is interesting but I am not an electrician and all of those wires and programming guarantees that I will not do it right. Can’t I just buy plug and play for all of these things?

[@betsysummers2227]

I would be i interested in your Uno case.

[@rinjk3a]

Jimmy, How much for an Arduino case for my DCC++ basestation? Josh

[@edwardaudet8367]

Jimmy, can this project be used on dcc and dc. I run both types not all at once, I have dcc days and dc days. When my grandsons come over they take over the layout and love Dcc. I have looked at all your Arduino projects. I tried a few but put them on moni pros. Itest them on Uno's but build them on mini pros.

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

This project works simply cuts power to a section of track. So theoretically it should work just fine on DC.

[@zinethar]

Another cool arduino video that I'm sure I will find a use for. Any progress on that modern gas station use were working on? I want one!

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

Still working on it. One of my 3D printers is temporarily down so I am working a bit slowly.

[@SamixPhotography]

can i make the train at home

[@swyntopia]

basic for beginners, :-) Very useful for them. What´s about reed relais, and magnet below the train ? Would that not be cheaper ? Ok, I understand-->in case of more than 1 train, every train must get an own magnet, that´s a disadvantage....isn´it ?

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

I think a complex automation setup is going to involve a combination of several detection methods including reed switches as you said, infrared sensors, and current sensing.

[@dave3301]

Fantastic, Love the ideal, Thanks for sharing

[@norfolksouthernblackspired8167]

Hey Jimmy! Awesome vid. I have a complete Noob question. I’m my train is running via DCC and the relay stops the train, will it start again at the same speed it stopped with?

[@ariegt]

just unplug the wire to the rails and reconnect to try

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

Yes it will. In order to control with a slowing down or a speeding up, you would have to slowly increase and decrease the resistance on the rail

[@ariegt]

@@DIYDigitalRailroad it is much better and more controlable to use PWM control , it goes way down to a loco crawl and with enough torque-power of the motor. Try a L298N H- bridge motor driver for Arduino it works perfect for 2 segments of rails. You can also do the DCC stuff with this module. So it wil work for normal DC and DCC mixed for 2 rails. I like this way with at least 2 sensors each the same distance from the center spot . This way it works from 2 directions and it is works better with signalling so the arduino knows the direction and travel points

[@IndyMAB1964]

I would be interested in the Arduino Uno case as well. It is tall enough to encase the Arduino and the Power Shell board for the DCC++ configuration? I checked the Etsy store and don't see those listed. Do you have them somewhere else?

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

So right now I do not have the printing capacity to print my buildings and the arduino cases. I am hoping to change that soon.

[@IndyMAB1964]

@@DIYDigitalRailroad Any idea how much you'll charge for those?

[@canadianlocomotivelogistics]

What is the IR detector you use?

[@falco1379]

Can you make a smooth stop / start with a motorshield?

[@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569]

How do you know where to plug all of those wires into the power strip and into the various components? Does all of this come with written instructions saying where to plug the wires in? And are there written instructions explaining how to program all of this? None of this seems to be very intuitive. ...Roy

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

Hey Roy. Luckily Arduinos and their components were designed for learning. All the positives are labeled "+", "5V", or "VCC". The negatives are labeled "-" or "GND". The inputs and output are typically labeled "IN" and "OUT" or something similar. There is a learning curve and I am considering doing a second arduino basics series.

[@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569]

DIY & Digital Railroad Thanks, Jimmy. Like most new things, arduinos intimidate me, but I am willing to learn. ...Roy

[@TheSwitchList]

Jimmy - curious why you used an analog input for the sensor? I would have thought you would use a digital input (INPUT_PULLUP) and then just checked for HIGH or LOW? Either way works fine - I was just surprised to see you use an anolog input for a incoming signal that is digital. Thanks for another interesting Arduino project video. -Rick

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

I've just always done it that way. I've thought about changing it but I worry about the wayward 0, or 1. The analog input gives my system some room for error.

[@ariegt]

@@DIYDigitalRailroad hi., use a 10k resister to the 3.3v/5v positive to pull up your digital input and use if digitalRead LOW for sensing and save your analog / pwm pins for nicer usage . Good luck

[@cousinvinny7990]

question why are the sensors used different from the ones you have linked to?

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

I accidentally dumped out my entire parts bin. The only one I could find after that was the 4 pin one. It works the same.

[@Peabody1929]

@@DIYDigitalRailroad There are 3 and 4 pin versions of the sensor on Amazon. The 3 pin version has only a digital output. The 4 pin version adds analog output. The analog output can be used to adjust for ambient light falling on the IR sensor.

[@sonysnapper]

Ok, now put this in the Block Signal process to stop and start on the signal state.

[@JohnAdams-su3tt]

You sure don’t need an Adrino to do something that simple!

[@allenbarnes7202]

I don't use it, still running a D.C. railroad

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

You can use this on a DC railroad

[@IBOFSGUBK]

Is there some way to use the Arduino to slow the train down before it stops to add realism? I have a G scale train layout in the garden and it just does not look right when it skids to a halt.

[@ariegt]

take a look at a arduino L298N Motor driver and take 2 sensors

[@IBOFSGUBK]

@@ariegt Great thank you ,I'll look into that.

[@ken0272]

Great, in the old days we did the same thing with a bimetallic strip....which will still work after a EMP nuclear bomb blast, bye the way. ; )