Isolating a passing loop

Dan · 15 Jul 2023

My take on the original question as trains run in opposite directions is what are you using to run your trains. DCC makes running traIns in opposite directions very easy as CV 29 contains the direction, and then run this loco on DC with a standard loco with just 2 joiners on each track segment (4 total). For DC only engines one must tuse 2 joiners on all rails (need 8) but one engine needs track power inside engine reversed. Bachmann had many locos that had a switch that did this and was labeled for G or standard, standard being the large scale reversed power.

playmofire · 15 Jul 2023

Dan said:
My take on the original question as trains run in opposite directions is what are you using to run your trains. DCC makes running traIns in opposite directions very easy as CV 29 contains the direction, and then run this loco on DC with a standard loco with just 2 joiners on each track segment (4 total). For DC only engines one must tuse 2 joiners on all rails (need 8) but one engine needs track power inside engine reversed. Bachmann had many locos that had a switch that did this and was labeled for G or standard, standard being the large scale reversed power.

I'm using DC, not DCC. One end of each passing loop passing loop is isolated from the oval of track by a point which depending on its position either cuts off power from the loop or allows on to the loop. At the other end of each loop is a signal which does the same thing as the point but I think I see your point,

The layout wiring should work as follows.

When one train is running clockwise round the oval of track, both sets of points are set to isolate the loops as are both signals; the second train is thus isolated on one of the loops.

When the train on the oval is to end its run by returning to the loop it started from, the point for the that loop is switched to allow power on to the loop so the train can enter it; when the loco crosses the split track at 2 on the diagram in post 13, it stops and the point is then switched back to the oval. Both loops now have trains on them and both loops are isolated from the oval.

Now, the point for the other loop is switched so there is power to the loop, and the signal is then set to go, allowing the train to enter the oval, after which the point is set to isolate the now empty loop and the signal is set to stop. This train is now running counter-clockwise (the trains are set for their direction of travel when first put their respective loop).

The counter-clockwise running can certainly be achieved in two ways, by reversing the wires to the pickups on one loco (I have a loco which came second hand wired like that - well, actually not so much wired like that as that the previous owner had removed the motor and then put it back in the other way round, as is possible with Playmobil locos which this one is), or just running one train with the loco running in reverse - both are tank engines, so a common practice.

Another possibility might be to have two controllers connected with the connections to the tracks reversed for one of them. However, I suspect that it would be sensible to have some means of isolating the controller not being used, e.g. by a simply throw switch.

Paul M · 16 Jul 2023

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