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"Street Car" reverser for DCC

 

My layout is NCE DCC. I plan a single track segment, separate from the remainder of the layout, serving a coal mining complex. I plan to run a Bachmann Shay upgraded to DCC on the track segment.

I would like the track segment to be wired to reverse the direction of the Shay as it passes some detection points, so the loco moves back and forth (rather than being merely a static display). I have found electronics which will do this for DC powered street cars (and presumably DC powered locos like the Shay). I have not been able to locate anything equivalent for DCC.

I am not technically skilled where electronics are concerned. I do not do JMRI or even programming of my own locos for that matter. (I am fortunate to have a very accomplished colleague who enjoys programming and he does that for me.). So a solution which requires complex or sophisticated wiring or programming of custom-built equipment is not something that will work for me. Plug and play is critical for me.

Is there an easy-to-install product which would accomplish my objective that is compatible with my NCE DCC system?

Bill D
N&W Steam Only
 

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Bill D. writes:

?

"My layout is NCE DCC.? I plan a single track segment, separate from the remainder of the layout, serving a coal mining complex.? I plan to run a Bachmann Shay upgraded to DCC on the track segment."

?

"I would like the track segment to be wired to reverse the direction of the Shay as it passes some detection points, so the loco moves back and forth (rather than being merely a static display).? I have found electronics which will do this for DC powered street cars (and presumably DC powered locos like the Shay).? I have not been able to locate anything equivalent for DCC."

?

"I am not technically skilled where electronics are concerned.? I do not do JMRI or even programming of my own locos for that matter.? (I am fortunate to have a very accomplished colleague who enjoys programming and he does that for me.). So a solution which requires complex or sophisticated wiring or programming of custom-built equipment is not something that will work for me.? Plug and play is critical for me."

?

"Is there an easy-to-install product which would accomplish my objective that is compatible with my NCE DCC system?"

?

The NCE mini-panel should be capable of achieving your goals; push a button to start a process programmed into the mini-panel by your friend.? There used to be a lot of discussion about using the mini-panel for things like this on the NCE-DCC list.? Searching the list archives over there should give you some great ideas on how to achieve this.

?

Best regards,

?

Steve

?

Steve Haas

Snoqualmie, WA
 

Bill,
Take a look at this:
?

Scott Haycock

On 01/22/2025 11:44 AM MST Steve Haas via groups.io <goatfisher2@...> wrote:
?
?

Bill D. writes:

?

"My layout is NCE DCC.? I plan a single track segment, separate from the remainder of the layout, serving a coal mining complex.? I plan to run a Bachmann Shay upgraded to DCC on the track segment."

?

"I would like the track segment to be wired to reverse the direction of the Shay as it passes some detection points, so the loco moves back and forth (rather than being merely a static display).? I have found electronics which will do this for DC powered street cars (and presumably DC powered locos like the Shay).? I have not been able to locate anything equivalent for DCC."

?

"I am not technically skilled where electronics are concerned.? I do not do JMRI or even programming of my own locos for that matter.? (I am fortunate to have a very accomplished colleague who enjoys programming and he does that for me.). So a solution which requires complex or sophisticated wiring or programming of custom-built equipment is not something that will work for me.? Plug and play is critical for me."

?

"Is there an easy-to-install product which would accomplish my objective that is compatible with my NCE DCC system?"

?

The NCE mini-panel should be capable of achieving your goals; push a button to start a process programmed into the mini-panel by your friend.? There used to be a lot of discussion about using the mini-panel for things like this on the NCE-DCC list.? Searching the list archives over there should give you some great ideas on how to achieve this.

?

Best regards,

?

Steve

?

Steve Haas

Snoqualmie, WA
 

All,
?
A request for a DCC reverser comes up every now and then.? For future reference, note that I have this company (Iowa Scaled Engineering) listed in my Manufacturers webpage. ?
?
If anyone has used this product, I would love to hear what you think.? It looks like it should do a good job for modelers who want shuttle street cars or locomotives between two end points.? It also appears that it can make intermediate stops.
?
Allan Gartner
Wiring for DCC
 

Hi Bill,?
?
If you are going to use the Bachmann Shay, I would recommend that you get the engine to fully stop and pause for a minimum of a couple of seconds before returning it down the track. These engines along with most Spectrum large scale engines have very suspect gears, they should never be pushed along the track and stopping and reversing the engine without it stopping properly will certainly end up stripping some of the gears and replacing them is very costly if not near impossible.?
If you can get a reversing system that will allow you to pause the engine, even for a few seconds, it will not put a strain on the geartrain, either internally or externally, both sets are suspect!
?
Cheers
?
Martin Gliddon
Mohawk Valley Railway
 

Thanks Steve.

Bill D
N&W Steam Only
 

Scott Haycock,
Thanks for the recommendation. Looks right on point.
Bill D
N&W Steam Only
 

Allan Gartner,

Thanks for the reference. I know better and ought to have gone to your website first for anything DCC!

Will be most interested in whether anyone responds to your inquiry about experience with the Motorman.

From my point of view, the Motorman looks easier than programming the NCE mini panel that Steve Haas kindly pointed me toward.

Bill D
N&W Steam Only
 

Martin Gliddon,

My gears are already shot ¡ª apparently from just a few runs/reversals while we were testing the addition of a DCC decoder to determine whether it would work. It does, but the loco can¡¯t move its own weight due to gear failure ¡ª very quick and progressive. I think i would have happened in any event if not so soon due to reversing directions, then surely later.

I¡¯m acquiring replacement gears. From what I can tell, the fix isn¡¯t easy but the results are good with replacement metal gears.

Bill D
N&W Steam Only
 

IMHO

?

I am not familiar with the NCE mini panel.

?

I would keep the shay DC and use a standard auto-reverse unit.

?

Circuit.com makes several auto reverse devices. They use opto sensors so do not rely on timing. I install one on a O-scale trolley line. There were two intermediate stops and two end points.

?

When a Trolley triggered the device by covering the opto sensor it would stop/pause then resume travel. The end points reversed the track polarity.

?

I assume you have a logging line. You could run a supply train and have it stop at logging camps.

?

I do not know the workings of the unit, but you could possible have several stopping points since covering any opto sensor would stop the train.

?

Glenn

?

?

?

?

-----Original Message-----
From: <[email protected]>
Sent: Jan 22, 2025 1:44 PM
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [w4dccqa] "Street Car" reverser for DCC

?

Bill D. writes:

?

"My layout is NCE DCC.? I plan a single track segment, separate from the remainder of the layout, serving a coal mining complex.? I plan to run a Bachmann Shay upgraded to DCC on the track segment."

?

"I would like the track segment to be wired to reverse the direction of the Shay as it passes some detection points, so the loco moves back and forth (rather than being merely a static display).? I have found electronics which will do this for DC powered street cars (and presumably DC powered locos like the Shay).? I have not been able to locate anything equivalent for DCC."

?

"I am not technically skilled where electronics are concerned.? I do not do JMRI or even programming of my own locos for that matter.? (I am fortunate to have a very accomplished colleague who enjoys programming and he does that for me.). So a solution which requires complex or sophisticated wiring or programming of custom-built equipment is not something that will work for me.? Plug and play is critical for me."

?

"Is there an easy-to-install product which would accomplish my objective that is compatible with my NCE DCC system?"

?

The NCE mini-panel should be capable of achieving your goals; push a button to start a process programmed into the mini-panel by your friend.? There used to be a lot of discussion about using the mini-panel for things like this on the NCE-DCC list.? Searching the list archives over there should give you some great ideas on how to achieve this.

?

Best regards,

?

Steve

?

Steve Haas

Snoqualmie, WA

?
 

I installed one of the Motorman units for a trolley run on one of my friend¡¯s layouts. The programming is straightforward, and the unit seem to be reliable.

Tom Pearson
Benbrook, Texas
 

Tom,
?
That's good to hear.? Does it have a booster of some sort built into it drive a locomotive?? Or do you have a booster or DCC system with it?
?
Thanks!
?
Allan
?
 

The system is a complete standalone mini DCC system

Tom in Texas

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