YardMaster

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What It Is:

The YardMaster is the Swiss Army Knife of model train electronics and can do many different operations that will make your railroad more fun and realistic.

The YardMaster can control turnouts, perform voltage switching, control signal lights, and can connect to a StationMaster for track switching hookups. See the StationMaster or YardMaster hookup manuals for detailed operations.

The YardMaster can do all of These Operations:

See the hookup manual below for hookup details
  • Turnout (Track switch) control.
  • Alternating Paths so trains go a different direction each time.
  • Block Control for multiple trains on the same track.
  • Crossing Signal Light Control.
  • Red / Green Signal Light Control.
  • Track switching with a StationMaster for alternating trains at sidings.
  • Reversing Loops the easy way.

The manual and Hookup Diagrams page show detailed wiring instructions for these and additional StationMaster hookups. All hookups use standard trains and transformers without the complexity and cost of DCC.

Additional Info

The YardMaster puts out a fractional second "burst" to the electric turnout (track switch). This means that it is impossible to overheat or damage electric turnouts. For switching reliablity pure DC voltage drives the switch instead of a half-wave rectified AC voltage which other systems use. This gives MUCH more power to the turnout and eliminates the need for "boosters" or amplifiers to drive the switch. The YardMaster is also able to control 3 wire and slow-motion switch machines.

The YardMaster can be programmed for time delays and lap counting.

The YardMaster will work for all trains scales: G, O, On30, HO, N. Even battery powered trains can use the "SmartSwitch" hookup as described in the manual. Since relays are used, DC, DCC, and AC trains can all be controlled.

The Signal Light operation operates very prototypically for added fun. In addition to switching between lamps in synchronization with the relay and turnouts, the "turned on lamp" will enter a slow blinking state every few minutes to give your railroad that extra realism.

The YardMaster has ports to allow plugging in additional relays when needed.

We have been improving and updating for a very long time! Read the product review of our very first generation YardMaster in the June 2010 Garden Railways Magazine HERE!

Click Here to download the current user manual with hookup details and instructions.