Help with blocks?

[Anonymous]

I think blocks is the right term.

Anyway, I finally have a working layout. From what I understand to add a second transformer and locomotive I need to add blocks to my layout. Here is a drawing of the layout showing the turnouts and where the transformer power is hooked up. Can some one give me simple explanation of where the blocks should go?

Thanks

[image]http://www.mermbut.com/trains/trainlayout.gif[/image]

[Anonymous]

oh yeah, it is HO scale on a 4' x 8' bench.

[cwclark]

1: block on the spur, 2: block on the inner right loop starting past the turnout, 3: block on the outer right loop starting past the turnout (end both of them before the crossover) 4: block on the single outside left loop 5: block on the single left inner loop (end the inner loop before the turnout and the outer loop past the turnout.) E-mail me and i have a lot of wiring drawings on microsoft word i can send to you in an attachment... Chuck

[turbine682]

You may want to check out the Atlas manual for wiring railroads. Very good, explains all about Atlas Selectors, Twins, Reverse Loop, Wye, common-rail wiring which is used frequently for 2 - cab control, establishing blocks, etc. I always refer to this manual and recommend to customers who are working with conventional DC.

Also, from your diagram, it looks like you have a grade starting at turnout - B (I'm probably wrong), but be careful of steep grades, i.e. 4% or greater!

Looks like a pretty neat railroad. You may want to block your loops (take the inner oval for example) so that 2 trains (1 cab for each) can occupy the oval at the same time ( 1 may need to be stopped.... maybe Chuck addressed this....)

Think of various operating scenarios, keep in mind the length of your trains (e.g. spur), and different block sections will present themselves. Yep, I can see a great deal of action with 2 trains ( and some operational challenges!) here. I highly recommend adding another spur ( add swich where you have power source indicated and extend spur to right end of diagram (or vice/versa)... adds operation and track for later expansion) This would allow you to move an entire train off of the mainline.

Yep, good job and a great starter railroad

Good luck,

--Ed