Tomix TNOS Layouts We Would Like to See

[brill27mcb]

I have created this topic so people can post layout ideas that we wish Tomix would add to its TNOS layout plans. The layouts they have provided are generally very geometric and logical, and the operating sequences for them seem to be just a Bach-like exercise in variations. Instead, I would like to see layout plans and operating sequences that are based more on the way real railways look and operate.

 

Remember that the simplistic geometric shapes that Tomix TNOS layouts are drawn in do not have to be the real shape of the layout. They are illustrated that way for simplicity. Using the basic, common-sense aspects of the study of topology, you can stretch, twist and reshape layouts and their elements, as long as you do not change the basic flow and sequence of the block sections. TNOS layouts work best, though, if the block lengths (actually the distances between successive sensors) are made as equal as possible.

 

Here's one layout idea to start things off. It's a point-to-point single track line with 3 sets of passing sidings along it. Four trains should be able to operate fairly smoothly on it, meeting and passing at the passing sidings. I would like to see an operating sequence like that for this layout, with continuous repetition.

 

 

This layout arrangement would work for a great many prototypes, like the Enoden line or any single-track small railway or tram/trolley line. It requires 3 ND100 Hubs and it could use either one or two sensors in the end block sections of single track.

 

Got any other ideas or wishes for Tomix TNOS layouts? Share them here! Who knows, maybe the people at Tomix will see them and respond to customer desires.

 

Rich K.

Edited June 23, 2020 by brill27mcb

[brill27mcb]

Here's another. This Tomix TNOS layout concept is for a double-track railway line with single-track end terminals. A Japanese prototype example would be the Setagaya tram line. There are many other railways generally like this.

 

 

This layout requires two ND100 Hubs and has eight block sections. Again, four trains or tram/trolleys could operate smoothly on this layout, and I would like an operating sequence designed for continuous repetition. Just press Start on the TNOS Control Unit and enjoy watching it run! Good for model railway show and convention exhibition layouts...

 

Rich K.

Edited June 23, 2020 by brill27mcb

[brill27mcb]

This TNOS layout concept is different from the earlier ones. It's a simple-looking, exhibition-style layout of a junction where a small branch line meets a single-track main line. It is set in a mountainous, or at least hilly, area to hide the rear staging track area and controls. The TNOS part has to do with automating the coordinated scheduling of the train on the main line and the smaller train (or single railcar) on the branch line. The layout and some explanation of a few operating options are in the attached pdf file:

 

Tomix TNOS Layout Concept-Exhibition Layout-Branch Line Junction.pdf

 

Rich K.

Edited June 28, 2020 by brill27mcb

[brill27mcb]

Here is a TNOS layout concept for 2 intersecting point-to-point tram/trolley lines. The center section of each line is double-track, so the intersection involves 4 crossing pieces. Two trams or trolleys run back and forth on each route, in a continuous operation. The TNOS Control Unit manages this and also keeps any intersection crashes from happening. The layout creates a lot of downtown action at the intersection. The sensors in the double-track sections are placed far enough beyond the intersection  to ensure that the trolley or tram has cleared the intersection before reaching the sensor. (More sensors could be added, but I did not see any obvious benefit to doing this - perhaps to simply add more tram stops along the streets.) The Mini Points track switches (and related curve pieces) would need to be paved using the Tomix 3079 Street Paving Kit II. This kit (and not the original 3076) matches Wide Tram track in surface color and texture. You may want to do these in left/right pairs to maximize what you can do with each paving kit.

 

 

Rich K.

Edited June 28, 2020 by brill27mcb

[brill27mcb]

The elves have been busy! Here are two more Tomix TNOS concept layouts that are related to each other. One is a tram/trolley line with a railway crossing, and the other is a railway line with a tram/trolley crossing. The difference is a matter of whether the tram line or the railway line is the main attraction, with the other line being more of an accessory.

 

Here's the Tram/Trolley Line with Railway Crossing:

Two trams or trolleys shuttle back and forth between the railway station and a city's outskirts, passing through the city itself on double tracks. Every so often, a train arrives and later departs from the railway station, and the trams have to stop at the crossing to let it pass. This can be safely handled by the TNOS logic. Shortly after leaving one end of the railway line, the train hits a sensor that "claims" the crossing, and sensors on the two tram tracks stop any trams that reach them, stopping before the crossing. The train crosses the tram line, and when it is completely clear of the crossing, it hits a sensor that lets any waiting trams cross the crossing. The "claiming" sensor is far enough away that any approaching tram can be triggered to stop short of the crossing, and any tram already within the crossing block when the "claim" is made will have enough time to clear the crossing and hit a "clear" sensor. The end-of-line time delay for the train to reverse direction and depart can be set to be fairly long, so the train only crosses intermittently to interrupt the tram line operation. Sine there is only one train, the railway line can be a single block with multiple sensors. The non-station end could be hidden on the actual layout as a staging area.

 

This is the Railway Line with Tram/Trolley Crossing:

Here the railway is the featured operation, with two trains circling in opposite directions and meeting at the passing sidings. The TNOS logic lets the single shuttle tram or trolley cross the crossing when it can, based on railway traffic. It's like a simplified version of several existing TNOS Layout Plans that have a loop and two passing sidings, with the tram line added by using freed-up block and sensor connections. Once again, the trains would run less frequently than the trams, as in real life. And in this case it is the tram line, with just a single tram on it, that can be a single block with multiple sensors. Three things can are generally stay in motion on each of these layouts.

 

Rich K.

[brill27mcb]

Here is yet another variation on the tram line / railway line Tomix TNOS layout concept. This one has a double-track loop line for the tram, with the occasional train interrupting forward progress at the grade crossing:

 

 

The tram/trolley line loops around a city block to serve the railway station. The tram line is much like the existing TNOS Layout Plan 8, except is has just 6 block sections instead of 8. Then 1 of the 2 remaining blocks can be allocated for use by the railway line. I think with a properly programmed operating sequence, and not too-frequent trains, that 3 trams could be operated fairly smoothly. The earlier point-to-point tram line version can only handle 2 trams smoothly.

 

Rich K.

[brill27mcb]

While I am at it, here are two versions of a tram/trolley layout that I designed, built and operated several years ago. The layouts both center around a small oval circling around a plaza or park area, with tram lines then radiating out in different directions. Many, many towns and cities around the world have or had such a plaza, where tram lines would meet. I envisioned that the scenic backdrop to the model plaza would be the front of a large, imposing central railroad station building. I was able to design the small plaza loop, with 6 points/track switches, using Tomix Wide Tram track. It makes use of the otherwise pretty useless S47.5 mm straight Wide Tram pieces. It was a lucky fit, and I'm sure not a use that Tomix anticipated for this piece. Back then, I did equally trim the interfering street paving on the two track pieces that form the diverging straight and curved point branches at each point/track switch, used points paved with pieces from Tomix paving kits, and assembled and ran both layout designs manually.

 

Here's a three-line version:

 

...and here's a variation with 1 line and a loop operation off of the other two plaza approaches:

 

Notice that the location of the insulating rail joiners between electrical block sections approaching the plaza are different for manual operation or proposed Tomix TNOS automation. The upper drawing explains how to operate the layout manually. As I learned, running a small version where the 3 trams return to the plaza quickly will give you an understanding of what an overworked air traffic controller must feel like! Building a capacitor-based diode matrix pushbutton system to operate the points/track switches would really simplify the workload. You would press one of 3 buttons for a given approach to set up exiting the oval at the 1st, 2nd or 3rd point/turnout ahead, plus a button to reset all points/turnouts back to the curved route. Every time a tram arrives and stops, you would press 1 of the 3 button choices for that approach, and after the tram leaves the oval you would press the reset button to be ready for the next tram. It's a busy little layout, with lots of activity.

 

Rich K.