How to question

[traindaddy1]

Hello, it's me again! Can this be done, and if so, the simplest and least expensive way?

One oval, two sidings (each with a O27 tubular right & left hand switch set) Older ZW transformer

What I would like to do is have two trains on the same track. Have one held on a siding while the other completes it run around the oval and pulls into another siding. Hold it there and have the first train leave it's siding and do its run in the same way.

Your assistance and input, as always, is greatly appreciated.

[thor]

The easiest way to do this is make your sidings electrically 'dead' until activated by a single pole switch turning power on or off to the center rail. So you'd have two switches, one for each siding.

The right way to do it is to pull out the metal pins and replace them with a fiber insulating pin but the way I did it was just to remove the center pin and rely on the air gap.

[Roger Bielen]

If you don't want it automated it could probably be done with having the sidings isolated with insulating pins and, using a SPDT, switch select wich siding has power. Wire power to center post, track A from left and track B from right. If automating you'll probably need to use relays and insulated track sections to trigger the relays.

[Anonymous]

Hi guy's Not too familiar with the E-unit in the engine. What mode is the e unit in when you shut down power to the engine? N-F-N-R-? Will the engine return to foward after it resumes speed or go into the entire cycle? I know you can set the e unit to go in one direction or the other. If these trains were running on DC it would be a snap to do. What does the feature in the #132 station consist of?......... [:)][?].......Felix

[Anonymous]

If you are trying to automate a conventional layout, you need to either lock the reverse units so the loco's don't cycle through the F-N-R-N sequence, or add low ohm high wattage resistors into the track circuit to block the E-units from cycling. This is covered in Peter Riddles "Wiring Your Lionel Layout" Volume 2.

[lionelsoni]

Check this topic out and see whether you can adapt it for your situation:

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=55472

[traindaddy1]

Interesting comments and information. MANY THANKS.