Trains.com

3 rail reversing loop?

1666 views
4 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Oregon
  • 7 posts
3 rail reversing loop?
Posted by arcanggell on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 11:45 PM

 I do not understand the wiring of the 3 rail. I am running lionel 0-27.

Can I do a reversing loop? If so how?

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: North Texas
  • 5,707 posts
Posted by wrmcclellan on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 12:53 AM

arcanggell,

The beauty of a 3 rail reversing loop is the middle rail never crosses to the other side as in 2 rail (which causes a short between the common and supply of the transformer) so it does not create a short circuit. Thus no special wiring is needed to create a 3 rail reversing loop. The 2 outside rails in 3 rail are both connected (typically) to the common of the supply.

Welcome to the CTT Forum! Sign - Welcome [#welcome]

Regards, Roy

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Oregon
  • 7 posts
Posted by arcanggell on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 11:08 PM

so I make a loop and it works.

thank you, so much. 

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Florida
  • 409 posts
Posted by otftch on Thursday, December 7, 2006 3:33 AM

The really great thing is,if you have non-drailing turnouts they will throw automatically giving you hands-off operation.

                                                      Ed

"Thou must maintaineth thy airspeed lest the ground reach up and smite thee."
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Kaukauna WI
  • 2,115 posts
Posted by 3railguy on Thursday, December 7, 2006 1:03 PM
Yep, all you have to do is make the loop. Nothing more.
John Long Give me Magnetraction or give me Death.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month