Wiring a passing siding

[butch1]

What is the easiest way to put in a passing siding on a large loop of track.  I'm not sure if the two trains running on the loop will be going in the same or opposite directions.  I haven't decided that.

[trainbrain]

Isolate the 2 ends of the siding with plastc insulating pins in the center rail. Run a wire from the center rail to a single pole on/off switch.  I use the old knife switches. Then run a wire from the switch to your transformer. This switch will  control the power to the siding.  It would be good to isolate the section on the main line between the switches so you'd have 2 isolated areas or "blocks" to hold a train while the other runs and vice versa.  Just do the same thing with another on/off switch. You could isolate the rest of the track the same way. Use a terminal strip.  Center rail power from the transformer to the strip. Then a wire from the strip to EACH on/off switch.  From each on/off switch to each center rail in each block. The ground wire from the transformer to any outside rail (just 1 )

[butch1]

I'm sorry I didn't state my question clearly.  I am building a christmas display layout. 

I want to be able to have two trains running on the loop, with a passenger train stopping on the main line alongside the passing siding. 

At this time, the freight train which was parked on the siding will start around the loop.  It will turn back into the siding at the end of its loop, and stop. 

At this time the passenger train will start around the loop.

You get the idea.  I assume I will need to use track with one outside rail insulated to act as switches, insulated center rails to stop each train.  I can see how to do some of this, but don't see the whole picture.

I appreciate any help with this.  No, it is not to early for me to start working on this, since I am always in a rush to finish by Thanksgiving.

[lionelsoni]

This seems to be the same question asked in a couple of recent topics, but with 2 trains rather than 3 or 4:

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/848059/ShowPost.aspx

[southernrr]

Would anyone happen to have a schematic of how this would be wired?  Maybe old age or just pure inexperience, but a picture is priceless when trying to understand these concepts.

Thanks in advance for your help!!

 

[butch1]

I agree that I work better when I can see a diagram to study and understand.

Can anybody help us?

[trainmasterz]

Brian,

Thank you for that post.  I do it the same way.  The kids (myself included) can really "run" the trains that way.  That post that was mentioned from last week was so far over my head that I was starting to wonder what I was dooing wrong.  It was obviously more complicated that what we are dooing.  Now I can go on thinking that I'm "OK"

[lionelsoni]

I wish I could post a schematic; but I don't know how.  I have designed computers in my past, but am a dummy when it comes to PC and internet stuff.

[trainmasterz]

I can't even figure out how to post a pic on the left hand side under my name or one below my name on the bottom so I'm no help to you here (maybe I'll have to post that as a question).  But!  The jist of it is: like You & Brian said insulate the sidings (even the portion of the main line between the switches if you wish).  Use a wire terminal block.  So you'll have power going from the transformer straight to the main loop powering the main loop and the switches.  Then power from the transformer to 3 "knife" swithces (on off) and then to each of the 3 isolated blocks: 1 the main line between the switches and the 2 sidings.  It works like a charm.  This may not be of any help, but hey, I tried.

[southernrr]

Thanks for your efforts and replies everyone!  Hopefully someday I will find someone in my area who is willing to teach me these concepts.  After storing for many years and now finally having the space to setup something really nice, I'm continually amazed when unpacking the boxes and discovering that I did at one time now how to utilize these concepts.

So much for old age....    ha, ha

Walter