Model Railway Forum

Hello Drevant
I assume you are using DC and insul frog points.p
Will you be wanting to run two trains?
If you want to run two trains one in each direction,one clockwise on the outer line and one anti-clockwise on the inside line the train on the inner line will not be able to come out on to the outer line as the polarity will be wrong. no problems if they are both running in the same direction just timing when they are switched. I would also wire the points to work in tandem each set facing each other working together. If you want to have two trains running in opposite directions and switching from outer to inner lines there is a way using DC. Two controllers needed one for inside and one for outer line.Stop the train on the outer line link (maybe standing in a station)and isolating it when the points are changed then reverse polarity on the outer line controller and let the inside train run on the outside line Untill the the isolated train is ready to move.Put the other train back in the inside line, change polarity and points then off we go again isolated joiners needed between inside and outside lines and power feeds to the left side of the layout.

If you are going DCC or running one loco then the worlds your lobster and you can forget you ever read this post.
Cheers
Puddles

Thank you very much for your answer Puddles. Very interesting and very helpful. I'm using DC and insul frog points (Peco ST-240 and ST-241). I want two trains running, not in the same direction of course. So I have the same electrical problem with this track plan...

Hello Drevant
You can still run two trains each way as long as you keep them on there own inner or outer line and not use the connecting points just leave them there as a feature and only use them if You are running one train but you would also have to change direction on one of the controllers.you will still need two controllers to run two trains one for the inner and line one for the outer. You can stop and start each train independently.
I have a pair of points on my layout that are just put in as a feature if they were changed they would cause a short so I have put insulating joiners between them to avoid any problems.
They can be used if I change the direction on the controller for the line the train will run onto.
I do hope this is helping you and not confusing you.
Cheers
Puddles

Drevant wrote: ↑Sat Nov 02, 2019 7:16 am Thanks for all your answers. This layout is too big (2.15m x 1.35m) for my spare room. So SWMBO said "NO WAY !" I made a new search right here and I drawn a better and smaller track plan (1.10m x 1.55m) without electrical short circuit. As always, all your comments and advices are welcome.


NL 02.jpg

A much more viable plan (no reverse loop). I suspect the top left point is not going to work, although on a planning program it may. Try it out to see!

If you can, add some points gong to the centre - use them as siding to hold carriages and wagons, or make stations in the centre.

Thanks IanS for your very interesting reply.

Walkingthedog wrote: ↑Fri Nov 01, 2019 10:32 am This one.http://s386633784.websitehome.co.uk/bpm ... 0-full.jpg

I really like this 70's style.

Last idea of the day (better or worse than the others ones ?)

This layout would be ok if you took the track with level crossing away, and changed the points accordingly - you wouldn't need a 3-way point for example. Also you would not be able to run a train from the terminus back to the terminus if the said piece of track away - looking at the picture, I'm not sure that the trains shown at the terminus would fit on the track with the level crossing even if isolated rail joiners were fitted.

Thank you very much for your reply bulleidboy.

Drevant wrote: ↑Sun Nov 03, 2019 3:38 pm

Walkingthedog wrote: ↑Fri Nov 01, 2019 10:32 am This one.http://s386633784.websitehome.co.uk/bpm ... 0-full.jpg

I really like this 70's style.

It is an interesting plan as it has "Play value".

My personal preference these days is to go easy on the trackwork and the temptation to run as much as possible at the same time and god for a more scenic single or double track line. I prefer the looks of a single track line myself. Less track to keep clean!