Auto Reversing Unit

Garden Railroading
1

Have a point to point run of about 150 feet in our office. We are currently using an Aristocraft Auto Reversing Unit.

Anyone have a suggestion of a simple and reliable replacement for the reversing unit?

Thanks

2

If you can describe what went wrong, someone might be able to give a hint to fix rather than replace.

3

There are several advertisers in GR that have reversing units for sale.

And there is always e-bay for the aristo/Crest replacement.

4

For ease of installation, I find either the Split-Jaw or R-R Concepts auto reverse controls to be very good. If I were to pick a “favorite” one, it’d be the R-R Concepts one because it allows for slow starts and stops (easier on gears), is inexpensive, and very easy to wire up. Their web site - www.rr-concepts.com. Look for their “StationMaster Reverser” control.

I did a “Garden Railways Basics” column that talked about the various manufacturer’s back-and-forth controls about a year and a half ago. (I forget the exact issue.) There were these two, as well as controls from Dallee Electronics and LGB.

Later,

K

5

The issue Kevin is referring to is August 2012. That entire series (six parts) is also available as a PDF.

6

I have found that different brands of locomotives do not work with the Aristocraft Auto Reverse Unit. USA Trains and Bachmann both have not worked correctly when I have tried to run them.

The real trigger for me to ask is that I will not be able to get a replacement from Aristocraft and I will not be able to get any more of the Aristrocraft locomotives. Trying to plan ahead.

Thanks!!!

7

Reasi=on the Aristo unit may not work is the output is PWC, not linear.

I added a non-polarized capacitor to mine to get rid of the pulses and have had no issues.

And for smoothing out the start and stops, I added an additional 1 foot section of track before the diode section with a 4 ohm 3 watt or more resistor to limit the current at the ends of the run, thus giving much smoother starts and stops.