I think i may have messed up. I mounted my sons 40x60 track to a board with grass and it looks good, but I want to add a figure 8 inside the loop I want to keep the original oval track on the outside and have the additional track inside. I assume i would need a 90 degree crosover, two right hand switches and two left hand switches. Any idea what radius I would need with the factory 40x60 track?
What kind of power system are you using? From what I'm understanding, you are essentially making two reverse loops, only a little more complex. The problem comes when you wire it. If you wire it as one big track (all track connected together, one set of wires supplying power) you will have an immediate short circuit. You will need to ensure it is wired for the reverse loops and a couple switches will need to be put in to switch the power. From what I understand DCC is easier to accomplish this, as it will switch automatically (the reverse loop switch). If you are not sure what I'm saying, think of it this way. There are two rails for the track . One side has a DC charge and the other does not (ground). Pick one rail and follow it around the layout just as the train would. If you get back to the starting point and are on the same rail you are good. If not, there was a short. In your case, the outside loop is fine. If the loco goes around clockwise, the left side of the train is on the outside of the loop from start to finish. Now take that same train and go through the first turnout, go through the crossing, through the turnout (you are back on the loop, but going the opposite direction now), I'd keep going but unfortunately the train will not. If you were aware of this issue and prepared to deal with it, then yes, you listed the parts you would need.
tinman1 What kind of power system are you using? From what I'm understanding, you are essentially making two reverse loops, only a little more complex. The problem comes when you wire it. If you wire it as one big track (all track connected together, one set of wires supplying power) you will have an immediate short circuit. You will need to ensure it is wired for the reverse loops and a couple switches will need to be put in to switch the power. From what I understand DCC is easier to accomplish this, as it will switch automatically (the reverse loop switch). If you are not sure what I'm saying, think of it this way. There are two rails for the track . One side has a DC charge and the other does not (ground). Pick one rail and follow it around the layout just as the train would. If you get back to the starting point and are on the same rail you are good. If not, there was a short. In your case, the outside loop is fine. If the loco goes around clockwise, the left side of the train is on the outside of the loop from start to finish. Now take that same train and go through the first turnout, go through the crossing, through the turnout (you are back on the loop, but going the opposite direction now), I'd keep going but unfortunately the train will not. If you were aware of this issue and prepared to deal with it, then yes, you listed the parts you would need.
Whoah! The easier, and more traditional way to handle this is simply to eliminate one set of switches. If you really want to create a figure 8 inside the loop you follow this aproach:
No reverse loops, no fancy wiring required.
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
I LIKE IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now my question would be what materials would I need to make this happen inside my 40x60 and will My massive 4-8-4 Berkshire engine be able to run this diameter (not that it matters as I could get a smaller engine. :-)
sorry i forgot to answer your question i am using the cw-80 ac transformer that came with my set
bassmantweed sorry i forgot to answer your question i am using the cw-80 ac transformer that came with my set
Now this changes everything....
On this forum, we usually assume posters are dealing with 2-rail track, and the electrical problems associated with it, but since you're using 3-rail, there will be no problem with short circuits no matter how many reverse loops you have. You'd be better off taking any further questions upstairs to the ToyTrains guys.
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
You did not mention that your railroad is O guage 3 rail. All of us assumed that you had an HO two rail train. An O guage 4-8-4 Berkshire is huge. I assume that it did not come with the set. How can you possibly run it even on the 40"x60" oval, much less on a smaller radius ? Why don't you go for HO, or N guage, for a 4'x8' table ? Type in 'Atlas layouts", to see more reasonable HO and N scale layouts. Click on the hyperlinks of Space Mouse and Joe Fugate for ideas. Bob Hahn
Sorry - I am new to all of this. the 4-8-4 does run but it is way too much for the track.
Not to be a rivet counter... but isn't a 4-8-4 a Hudson not a Berkshire(2-8-4)?
As for the loco being too much for the track I might suggest getting traditional scale vs true scale locomotives. For any further explanation just ask on the CTT board. Just PLEASE do not go to the classic trains forum. They get a little testy when people post about toy/models on there.
zigg72md Not to be a rivet counter... but isn't a 4-8-4 a Hudson not a Berkshire(2-8-4)?
A Hudson is a 4-6-4, but you're correct about the Berkshire.
Mark
I'm assuming that your 40 x 60 loop is Lionel FasTrack since you are using a CW-80 Transformer. If I were you I would go to Lionel's website and look through their catalog for what FasTrack pieces they sell.
It would probably be a bigger help to go over to the Classic Toy Trains forum and ask the guys over there.
4-6-4: Hudson/Baltic
2-8-4: Berkshire
4-8-4: Northern/Niagara
Hudson 4-6-4: Hudson/Baltic 2-8-4: Berkshire 4-8-4: Northern/Niagara
or a ponoco, or an FEF...
I did some playing around with the Atlas Right Track software, and it appears that, even if you go down to O-27 curves, with a 40 by 60 oval there is not enough room on the inside for a figure 8.