Is there a way to use Atlas components (connectors, switch control boxes, etc.) to set up cascading turnouts to operate different routes in a yard?
Jrbird,
I have never heard of this description for a ladder track in a yard. Could you describe what you want to do a bit more? - Ed
jrbird; Atlas components are too basic for this task, which requires the multiple operation of switch machines in various combinations.In the old days, some type of relay system would be used.
Nowadays such controls would be electronic. I am not qualified to advise you on this.
regards / Mike
Using Atlas components, no. Using toggle switches and a Capacitive Discharge setup, yes.
With CD, you charge a capacitor and set your path with toggle switches or a pre-wired turnout network controlled from a toggle switch and then fire the capacitor. The discharge sets all turnouts at once. How many depends upon the size of the capacitor and voltage involved.
Roger Hensley
All these replies have been very helpful; I will no longer dream about tweaking Atlas for something it’s not suited for. Now a question: Where can I find the materials for a CD setup and instructions for using it? Thanks again!
This may be better:
When a train enters a yard , there are many routes it can go into the yard. As it travels one route, all the switches on that route are thrown, and none on other routes. On a layout, using Atlas components the switches on a particular route can be thrown using a separate control box for each switch. It would be easier if all the switches on a particular route could be thrown simultaneously from a single control box or other source. Lynn Westcott, in “How to wire your model railroad”, talks about “tandem” or “cascade” operation of switches along a route in which throwing one switch activates all the others along that route.
Is there a way to use Atlas components to do this? I use a single Atlas control box to throw both switches on a crossover, where both switches on the crossover are wired to that control box. I suppose it would be possible to do the same for more than two switches, but there might be too much complexity for the individual control boxes to handle.
Does anyone know how this simultaneous switching could be done using Atlas components? Westcott describes ways to do it with non-Atlas components, but I want to stick with the Atlas components if possible. Thanks for any help you can give me!
I take it back: YOURS has been very herlpful! But the question remains: Where can I find the materials for a CD setup and instructions for using it? Thanks again!
Circuitron sell the no. 5303 Snapper capacitor-discharge power supply for just this purpose. It also has 3-amp diodes (no. 9350) to be used for diode routing, but suitable diodes are avaialble from many electronics outlets. I don’t know if the Snapper instructions cover diode routing circuits, but they are explained in Chapter Nine of my book, “Easy Model Railroad Wiring,” from Kalmbach of course.
So long,
Andy
Andy Sperandeo
MODEL RAILROADER Magazine
And so was Andy’s. 
You can follow his lead and if you want another source, the NMRA InfoPak CD (http://www.nmra.org/) also has info about cascade ladder tracks in the Data Sheet portion of the CD. It is available for sale to both NMRA members and non-NMRA members. There is a lot of info here about a lot of model railroading subjects. A diode matrix for use with a Capacitive Discharge operation really isn’t difficult to set up. Just go one step at a time.
Roger Hensley
Yes it was!
I feel less threatened now by the CD operation. Just hope tthe NMRA CD works on Mac. So many of them don’t. Now let’s find out…!
Thanks again to both of you.
-John Lane
OK! Off to Amazon! Your info is great - I feel now that I may actually be able to do it.
-John Lane
I would have thought you could use Atlas Control Boxes for this purpose if they were wired in conjunction with a CD circuit like the Snapper but I think there are some momentary toggle switches available at Radio Shack that would be more handy. I am not sure if the Atlas Control Box is rated for enough amps to do this job for you. Good Luck - Ed