He has already stated "I do not currently own any lighted passenger cars nor cabooses and if I did, I would not run them." From that statement, he seems to also understand that you can not have tail end helpers because they would cause the same issue.
DigitalGriffin richhotrain: The only reason gapping ever came up is that he is temporarily installing reverse loops on either end of the double mainline effectively creating a dogbone layout. As construction progresses, one of the reverse loops will be relocated further down the layout as the oval expands. His only question was the recommended size of the gaps isolating the reversing sections. Okay then these will HAVE to be the contraints: 1) He can have no tail end helper power 2) Each piece of motive power will have to have pickups on the left and right trucks for EVERY truck. IE: Older engines that pick up left rail on the front truck and right rail on the rear will not work. 3) The isolating gap can not be longer than the length between the motive power trucks. At the same time, if you have something like lighted passenger cars where the pickup is in the trucks, it wil have to be longer than those. For example if the distance between the first and last trucks on the engine is 12" (first wheel to last wheel) and the distance between the trucks on the lighted passenger car is 11" (first wheel to last wheel) then the gap would have to be between 11.1 and 11.9" As you can see it creates "issues" and lots of contraints on what you can and can not run. This is why the recommend reverse loops be longer than your longest train.
richhotrain: The only reason gapping ever came up is that he is temporarily installing reverse loops on either end of the double mainline effectively creating a dogbone layout. As construction progresses, one of the reverse loops will be relocated further down the layout as the oval expands. His only question was the recommended size of the gaps isolating the reversing sections.
The only reason gapping ever came up is that he is temporarily installing reverse loops on either end of the double mainline effectively creating a dogbone layout. As construction progresses, one of the reverse loops will be relocated further down the layout as the oval expands.
His only question was the recommended size of the gaps isolating the reversing sections.
Okay then these will HAVE to be the contraints:
1) He can have no tail end helper power
2) Each piece of motive power will have to have pickups on the left and right trucks for EVERY truck. IE: Older engines that pick up left rail on the front truck and right rail on the rear will not work.
3) The isolating gap can not be longer than the length between the motive power trucks. At the same time, if you have something like lighted passenger cars where the pickup is in the trucks, it wil have to be longer than those. For example if the distance between the first and last trucks on the engine is 12" (first wheel to last wheel) and the distance between the trucks on the lighted passenger car is 11" (first wheel to last wheel) then the gap would have to be between 11.1 and 11.9"
As you can see it creates "issues" and lots of contraints on what you can and can not run. This is why the recommend reverse loops be longer than your longest train.
DG,
You are one determined guy!
You are correct on all 3 points and no one is disputing that the recommend reverse loops be longer than the longest train. But, you are preaching to the choir.
dbduck has set out on a course from which there is no turning back, and in the end his way will work.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrain DG, You are one determined guy! You are correct on all 3 points and no one is disputing that the recommend reverse loops be longer than the longest train. But, you are preaching to the choir. dbduck has set out on a course from which there is no turning back, and in the end his way will work. Rich
Sorry to the OP if I'm sounding like a hard nose on this. I just want him to be aware the limitations of what he is proposing.
To finally answer his question, provided his engines have all wheel pickup, then gap length should be equal to the length of his longest truck. I've seen some metal sidebolster trucks that are active between the wheels even though they aren't designed to be electrical picksups.
Also even if there is no lightbar installed in walther's passenger cars, he can not use them with a short neutral gap as they are electrically active between the front and rear trucks (all truck pickup).
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
dbduck,
Have you finished that layout yet?
What is taking so long?
me and digitalgriffin want to know.