I have two reversing sections planned for my layout as I make the jump to DCC. I never bothered completing them up for DC. In the below scematic, there seem to be several options for wiring these sections. I am planning to eventually add the two crossovers showing in red. I think I would like to put the reversing sections at the loops, rather than in the middle. This will result in a section of doubletrack mainline. The right end could be wired so that a reversing loop is between two standard sections. The tail of the wye goes to staging. Here the staging yard would wired the same as the double track, with the loop being the reversing section. From everything I have read, the reversing sections need to be at least a train length, which leads me to want most of the loop as the reversing section. The left end I am really struggling with. I cannot figure out the placement of the reversing section. I want to take advantage of using automatic reversing controller with DCC. Any thoughts on an effective blocking scheme for my reversing loops? One other question concerns turnouts. I have handlaid turnouts going into the reversing sections, with isolated frogs. The frogs are currently powered via a switch which changes the points. Can I do the same thing heading into a reversing section? Thanks Kirk
I am unable to upload pictures but let me see what I can do with words. I would suggest breaking the layout up into 3 zones. Zone 1 - Everything to the left of your left double track crossover. Zone 2 - Everything between and including your 2 double track crossovers. Zone 3 - Everything to the right of your right double track crossover. Make Zones 1 and 3 reversing sections. You can do this with a Digitrax PM42 or what I would recommend is a Tony's Train Exchange PSRev. After looking at the drawing again, I see you have reverse loops in your reverse loops. I will need a little more time to refine my response. I could email you a drawing if you like. As far as the frogs go, I also handlay my switches. Don't worry about them. Start your reversing sections after the switches and wire them as you normally would for a crossover, double gap in the middle of the crossover. Don't make them part of the reversing loop. David [ 11. February 2005, 00:07: Message edited by: ncng ]
On the left side I would use two reverse blocks. They would be the two parallel tracks which are loops and they would be the section on the bottom left. Extending from the xover between the two to the turnout connecting the two. Hopefully that is a train length. The turnout and section of track which forms the other potential reverse block would be included in the inside loop reverse block. This gives extra length for that track. This track would be gapped before the yard tracks shown. To enter this track from that yard area would require the turnout on the loop to be thrown for that track, or you would get a short. Because I recommend using a "power routing" turnout there. A similar situation exists on the right side. I would use two reverse blocks and modules, one each for the two loops. This way you have the flexibility to run into them in different directions at the same time. In the case of the outer loop and its connection to the wye, I wouls use power routing turnouts for the two turnouts on the loop and have each of those wye legs part of the reverse block. Again, to add length to the block when coming from staging. When both turnouts are thrown for traversing the loop, both of those wye legs will be dead (they need to be gapped at the third turnout!) When one is thrown for the wye, that route will be powered, by the reverse module only. Do not connect these two legs to your bus. Hope this is clear. Gary
Thanks for the responses. I had not considered using 2 sections in each end, but it makes perfect sense. Below is a revised view, where I added in the reversing sections in color. I think I have solved the turnout question as well. How difficult are the digitrax/tony's reverse sections to wire? Reason I ask, is I may start off with one reversing section in each end, then split them into two sections as money will allow. Nodima
