Wanted info source for advanced wiring of 3 rail large layout

[cruikshank]

A forum member and myself have been given the task of upgrading the wiring of a 30' x 55 'club layout. It has 7 loops.  Some interconnect, some don't. It's going to be Gargraves Phantom on all visible tracks and Tubular on hidden tracks.  I'm looking for sources either the Best Books, Web sources, Forums, individual members to help me.  My immediate two tasks are to wire up blocks and or passing sidings so that a train will sit in the hole until the one ahead is sufficiently cleared.  I did use the FAQ section for this and found a good posting from Bob Nelson.  But I'll take other ideas.  Also most of us have conventional control but two members also have some Command Control.  Can Command Control and conventions co-exist. I tried the Faq link but I got the dreaded 404 message. I'm coming from DC "N" scale and blocks, and one engine per loop 3 rail, so I have a very good understanding of electronics and electrical ( degree) but very little 3 rail experience.  Thanks in advance,  Dave

[Blueberryhill RR]

Well, Dave, I am by no means the authority on large layout wiring, but I have a 22 x 10 foot layout. It has Gargraves on the upper loop and tubular on the lower # 1 loop. The lower #2 loop is a mix of the two. One thing I found out, was, to ground both outside rails of the Gargraves. This eliminates a problem of the trains slowing down. If you are going to use Lionel 022 switches, I would suggest running a ground wire from the center terminal of each switch. They work better that way  And I wish you good luck with your large project.

Chuck

[Buckeye Riveter]

Hire Roy.  That's what Lionel did when they wanted to know how to wire their layout in NYC.  

[Frank53]

Hire Roy.  That's what Lionel did when they wanted to know how to wire their layout in NYC.  

I sure hope one day in the very near future, Roy gets a hankering for a southwest Florida vacation.

[jkerklo]

You might take a look at the layout described here:

www.Three-Rail.com/3RKnG.htm

There are construction photos of the wiring that may be a help.  The layout is automatic and portable, so the wiring may be a bit more complicated than what you are doing, but some of the techniques described might be useful

 

John Kerklo

 

 

 

[jimhaleyscomet]

I checked the links in FAQ and they seem to work.   Please let me know if you find a bad one which one it is.  Here are some of interestest

Should I purchase a new or old ZW?   How can I run conventional locomotives remotely using new ZW?  Should I update conventional engines to command control?

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1022598/ShowPost.aspx#1022598

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1034084/ShowPost.aspx

How do I run conventional engines with DCS?

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1024179/ShowPost.asp

How do I safely wire and power blocks?

How do I run multiple trains? 

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/766075/ShowPost.aspx

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1006444/ShowPost.aspx

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1023822/ShowPost.aspx

 Jim H

 

[cruikshank]

The links all work for me but this one:How do I run conventional engines with DCS?
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1024179/ShowPost.asp

 

That's the one I really want to get to, it gives me a 404 on two different computers one a win 98, the other a win2k both with the latest version of IE explorer.  Dave