Side Configuration - Laser Based

Some progress - testing on side configuration with limit switch showed that it exerted too much force on the cars causing derailing.  So, the new configuration uses the plunger to interrupt a laser beam from reaching a photo diode detector and thus turn off the track power.  As shown in the video, this 'hybrid' system successfully stops all the cars - including those that failed with the limit switch.  While it is great to have one solution, overall the system is complex and quite visible, so Sketchi Railroading continues to evolve better solutions - the next candidates are 'beam interruption' systems where the Train cars directly interrupt the beam.  Laser based configurations will be tested first. The Model Train Safety Board continues to caution the general public against attending test as the potential for a train wreck has been demonstrated.  Follow Sketchi Railroading on FB