Accessories like an operating freight station, water tower, fueling station, dispatching billboard, or animations should operate when a train is stopped. Other accessories, gatemen, watchmen, warning lights, bells, can provide more interesting action when operated only when a train is stopped.

Three-Rail Innovations' Two Relay Controller provides a "Train Stopped" feature specifically for these accessories.

This example shows 2RC connections for operating one (or more) accessories when a train is stopped and another (or more) when a train is moving within a "Train Stopped" track block.

A train may be "stopped" within a "Train Stopped" track block by coasting into an unpowered center-rail track block, or by the operator turning power off when a train is in the block. An additional 2RC can be used to provide an automatic train stop, and the "Train Stopped" accessories will also operate automatically.

Accessories connected to Relay-1 will be ON when a train enters the "Train Stopped" track block and center-rail power is off.

Accessories connected to Relay-2 will be ON when a train enters the "Train Stopped" track block and center-rail power is on. When a stopped train starts moving, "train stopped" accessories will go OFF, and "train moving" accessories will turn ON.

Connections are wired as follows:

• Power for the 2RC controller is supplied with connections to the 12 - 14 volt accessory transformer. If accessories use other than 12 - 14 volts AC, a separate transformer is needed.
• The common posts of each accessory are connected together and connected to one post of the accessory transformer.
• Relay-1 C (common) and NO (normally open) contacts are wired to operate one or more "Train Stopped" accessories.
• Relay-2 C (common) and NO (normally open) contacts are wired to operate one or more "Train Moving" accessories.
• Outside-rail Input-1-A is connected to the isolated-outside rail of a "Train Stopped" track block. Input-1-B is connected to an "Outside Rail" transformer post. (Center-rail/train power cannot be used for this input, since train presence needs to be detected when train power is off.)
• Outside-rail Input-2-A is connected to the center-rail of the "Train Stopped" track block. Input-2-B is connected to track common/outside rail. Input-2 is activated whenever center-rail power is ON.

The 2RC jumper block is set for the feature set 2-V-3 with Jumper 4 installed for the "Block Signals/Train Stopped" feature set.

Relay-1 is activated when a train is in the "Train Stopped" track block, but track power is OFF. Relay-2 is activated when a train is in the "Train Stopped" track block, but track power is ON.

Multiple accessories can be connected to Relay-1. For example, a fueling station and a number of yard lights.

Jumpering variations for this simple example can add even more action to your layout:

• Jumpering Relay-2 for "Train Limited, When Stopped" allows a second accessory to be activated for a minimum of 10 seconds and a maximum of 20 seconds when a train is stopped. Connect an operating freight station to Relay-2 and a string of yard lights and building lights to Relay-1.
• Jumpering Relay-2 for "Slow Flash when Stopped" allows lights to be flashed or a watchman to wave his flag when a train is stopped. Accessories like the newsstand can be operated intermittently so the dog starts and stops his movement around the fire plug.
• Jumpering Relay-2 for "Fast Flash when Stopped" allows lights to be flashed or a bell to be rung when a train is stopped.

The "Train Stopped" Relay-1 contacts can be used to activate additional 2RC inputs so accessories can be activated with any 2RC features. For example, an operating freight station operates only once for 10 seconds as a train is stopped.

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