Is this a WYE AKA Triangle

[dwbeckett]

OK IT'S NOT A LOOP. IT'S NOT A WYE. IT'S A POINT-TO-POINT WITH A LONG PASSING SIDING THAT LOOKS LIKE A TWO-TRACK DOGBONE LOOP THAT ALLOWS THE TRAIN TO REVERSE DIRECTION. BUT IF I CONNECT THE LOOP AT A THIRD POINT WITH A SWITCH  THEN IT COULD BE A WYE. I THINK I WILL LEAVE IT AS IS.  

THANKS

DAVE 

[kstrong]

Close BUT no cigar's . I would take a picture but that section has been removed temporaraly (Fence work ). It looks like 1/2 of a dog bone entering two switch's . The train leaves point A thavels thru sw #1 to the right. Then run's around the the loop, then enters sw#2 from the right. go's to the end of track Point B( 10 Ft. ). The train is then backed thur sw's2 then 1,returning to point A. The loop and the switchs are isolated electicaly from each other. This gives 2 sections to run power to with direction control only needed for one Via a DPDT sw. Hope this clear's the MUD.

Let me try this...

Is the train still facing the same direction when it rejoins the main at switch 2? If so, then there's not any kind of reverse component to what you're doing. It's just a looonnnggg passing siding. If the train reverses direction while running through the loop, then it's a reverse loop with a spur. But since you have to back through switch 2 to return to point A, that tells me there's no reversing component to the track. In that case, it's not a wye, reverse loop, or anything that would reqire any fancy wiring.

Later,

K

[Anonymous]

Dave, a wye, true or not, needs at least 3 switches.  A loop will reverse a train but it's not a wye. 

My home town had 3 railroads crossing at angles and forming a triangle.  The IC ran east/west, forming the base or bottom; the Alton ran from the southwest towards Chicago in the northeast; and the Wabash ran from the southeast towards the northwest.  They formed a triangle but there was no actual wye.  (A tower on the Alton controlled the signals on the other two roads at the Alton crossings but not where the IC and Wabash crossed.)

However, there were 3 interchange tracks laid out in a fashion that an engine could be turned.  A northbound Alton engine could take the interchange on the IC and move east to the Wabash. There it could head southeast on the Wabash and after cleaing the switches could back up to the Alton and head northeastward (still backing) on the Alton.  After clearing the switches, it could move forward heading southound on the Alton.  Note that the engine had to traverse 6 diffenent switches, and some of them twice! It should go without saying that IC and Wabash engines could also be turned.

Springfield, Illinois, had a similar configuration where several roads were involved.

Art 

 

[dwbeckett]

OK, SORRY I'M OUT OF CUBAN'S,  But no prize anyway, ONLY 2 Switchs not the normal 3 , And I am totaly aware of what normal Wye should look like. I WILL TRY TO POST A PICTURE.

 

 

[ttrigg]

David:

Not to argue the point but Robert won the cigar.  A wye is a device used to reverse direction the entire train.  Most commonly used when a town (station) is the last stop and end of the line.  Train arrives in town (station), stops and allows all passengers to get off..  Crew then backs the train into the wye then after clearing the second switch the train pulls forward until reaching the main line (in the direction of travel) and backs into the station to wait for the passengers for the trip out of town.

Like this, or the pic posted by Robert.


I'm not sure of the location of Robert's wye, but I do know that in some isolated locations there are wye that serve to send trains off in three different directions.

Trying to follow your verbal description this is what I've been able to draw.  If this is what you are talking about, large loop with a single tail, then yes that is a wye.  

<> If not then please draw us a picture. 

[GearDrivenSteam]

I wasn't trying to post a pic of what you talked about. I posted a pic of what IS a wye, so I am not CLOSE, I am RIGHT ON THE MONEY. I told you without a pic, I really didn't know what you mean and still don't. I was just trying to clarify a wye for you......which from your original post you seemed to need.

[dwbeckett]

Close BUT no cigar's . I would take a picture but that section has been removed temporaraly (Fence work ). It looks like 1/2 of a dog bone entering two switch's . The train leaves point A thavels thru sw #1 to the right. Then run's around the the loop, then enters sw#2 from the right. go's to the end of track Point B( 10 Ft. ). The train is then backed thur sw's2 then 1,returning to point A. The loop and the switchs are isolated electicaly from each other. This gives 2 sections to run power to with direction control only needed for one Via a DPDT sw. Hope this clear's the MUD.

[GearDrivenSteam]

Without a picture, it's hard to visualize what you're talking about, but here is a wye:

http://www.geocities.com/~aeromoe/mwye.jpg

[dwbeckett]

I am currently building a small outdoor (ON-HOLD) Railway (ONBR). It looks like a wye configuration, But it has loop instead of the third tail. I will be able to turn trains and change direction using one DPDT switch and the speed control of my MAG 15. The plan is one way in and one way out of the rail yard (also the station area),To and from the loop. SO IS THIS A WYE??  Keep in mind the ONBR is a small Tourist Railway.