(This page last modified 4/11/2018.) (This is the POWWEB site.)
ABOUT THE AUTOCONTROLS.ORG WEBSITES:
- These websites contain videos, plans, and other information for automatically controlling multiple trains on the same track — using both DC and DCC track power.
VIDEOS:
A. COMPILATION VIDEO:
- Compilation Video #611 (used in the clinic at the 2017 National Association of S Gauger’s convention: Vimeo | Youtube (15 min)
- This video shows 9 analog (DC track power) setups, and 9 DCC setups.
- Some of the Large-scale setups are NOT in this video, since it was made for the S gauge convention.
B. LATEST VIDEOS: (not yet added to the ‘Video’ page)
- Video #817 – shows a Mini-Panel and single reed switch controlling two outdoor Largscale trains on the same loop Vimeo | Youtube (13 mine)
- Video #818 – shows the S gauge 2017 NASG Convention demonstration layout in operation:
- Part 1 is a narrated discussion, recorded at an earlier July 2017 show:
Vimeo | Youtube (19 min) - Part 2 is a short 1-minute unnarrated view of it operating at the Convention:
- Vimeo | Youtube (1 min)
- (Part 2 is essentially the same layout as Part 1, except the electric eye in the upper loop, has been replaced by a Z Stuff infrared detector.
- Part 1 is a narrated discussion, recorded at an earlier July 2017 show:
- Video #819 – This video shows a Z-Stuff DZ-1011 Block Signal/Detector and NCE Mini-Panel controlling 3 HO trains on the same mainline, with NO turnouts.
- What’s NEW In This Video: This is the FIRST time we have shown a Mini-Panel controlling 3 trains WITHOUT using any turnouts.
- Vimeo | Youtube (92 min)
- Documentation (Wiring, Logic Drawings, and Commands)
The rest of the AutoControls videos (approximately 50) can be found on the ‘VIDEOS‘ page.
D. ORGANIZATION OF THE 3 AUTOCONTROLS.ORG WEBSITES:
The AutoControls.org library of information is actually spread across 3 websites:
- “Home1” is this WordPress.org “entry page”,
- “Home2” is the original track2.com website where the video list and plans are located,
- “Home3” is the WordPress.com “satellite” website containing recent additions.
E. CONTENTS OF THE AUTOCONTROLS.ORG WEBSITES:
- These websites contain videos, plans, and other information for automatically controlling multiple trains on the same track — information created over the past 29 years starting in 1988.
- Demonstrations are done mostly in Largescale and S gauge, with some HO gauge and 1 video including N gauge.
- Some demonstrations are done in DC, and some are done using NMRA DCC.
- S-gauge videos are in the S gauge section on the Videos page.
- Largescale videos start in the Introduction Section on the Videos page.
- The VIDEOS page (on Track2.com) contains approximately 50 videos demonstrating different techniques.
- The PLANS page (also on Track2.com) has links to drawings for several of the control units. (Some plans are linked from the Videos page.)
- The “satellite website3” (on WordPress.com) has a few more recent additions, including:
- The page titled Links for Video #816, “Getting Started with NCE DCC Mini-Panel Automatic Train Control” is an attempt to show all the basics.
- The page titled Using Proprietary Lionel & MTH decoders With NMRA DCC was just added.
G. ABOUT AUTOMATIC CONTROLS:
- This control task consists of 2 parts: 1) the Logic and 2) the Hardware; and both are discussed.
- This includes control of AC trains, DC trains, and DCC trains — the latter using the NMRA-compatible NCE “Mini-Panel” automatic DCC train controller, and also “DCC-Bitswitch”. This includes both single-track layouts (no turnouts), and use of “automatic passing sidings” where a pair of turnouts are used.
- Discussion of sensors includes magnets & reed switches, and electric eyes. The Anderman method of using automotive relays to operate the current-hungry original American Flyer turnouts is demonstrated.
- Automated push-pull shuttle operation (point-to-point) is also demonstrated, both for DC and DCC.
H. MY OPINION:
- In my humble opinion, the simplest method for controlling 2 DCC trains on 1 mainline (no turnouts), is to use the NCE DCC “Mini-Panel”. This can be done with just 1 reed switch and no blocks — as demonstrated in Video #815 , “Getting Started with NCE Mini-Panel Automatic Train Control”.
I. ABOUT THE BELOW IMAGES
- Below are two ‘screen captures’ from the videos (can be accessed from the VIDEOS page).

Video #660