DCC Question

[ndbprr]

Briefly the layout is a dogbone of two loops that appaers to be a four track main (PRR in Philadelphia). It has staging yads in the loops at either end. At one point there is a two track branch (Chestnut Hill) that has crossovers allowing trains to cross all four tracks. How do you wire the two westbound tracks to prevent a short circuit when the eastbound trains cross the westbound tracks? Thank you.

[rrinker]

If it's just a crossing, and no turnout is involved, if the frogs of the crossing are insulated there won't be any problem. If the from is not insulate, then you need to cut gaps in the rails on each side of the frogs.
If there IS a switch, you will be creating a reverse loop and will again need to gap both rails, and your best bet would be to insulate a train-length section and use an automatic reverser like the MDC or Digitrax AR-1 to manage the polarity. You CAN use a toggle switch just like a DC layout but the auto-reverser makes it seamless.

[dehusman]

The other answer is to put a reverser on each of the loops on the ends and make them the reversing sections. The 4 track main in the middle then just becomes 4 parallel tracks.

Dave H.