HELP! Reverse Loops Woes

[Anonymous]

Here's the deal. I have a reverse loop on my layout. I placed in plastic joiners on each end of the loop. I brought an Atlas Twin Switch and wired it per the instructions on the back. The question I have is what position should the two switch be in when it is in the reverse loop and what position should they be in when on the main line. Also do I wait for the entire engine to pass over the plastic joiners or do I wait till just the first trucks of the engine to pass over before I throw the switch.

[Anonymous]

I find it best to think of the swtich postions as opposite vs same. when you enter your reverse loop, depending on which side you enter the switch will always be either in the same direction or opposite direction relitive to each other. That is both up or one up one down. The relationship of the switches will aways be the same.
As to when you switch the main line switch. Always while the engines are in the isolated section of the loop.
I hope this helps[:)]

[Jacktal]

A simple thing I did is install a low amperage 12V. bulb across right rail of main line and left rail at both ends of the loop.So when I want to leave the main line to the loop,I just check that the bulb is lit before,if it isn't,I flip the loop switch to match the polarity of the portion of the main the train is leaving.After the loco has entered the loop,I flip the main line polarity switch so that the bulb at the other end of the loop lights on to indicate correct polarity for the train to leave the loop.One slight drawback is that the bulbs aren't lit when there's no power to the track,but of no incidence since trains aren't rolling anyway.And a low amperage bulb won't affect train power significantly.