You have 2 reversing sections (shown in yellow). Isolate them (both rails) one section at the red lines and the other at the blue lines.
You could isolate just the lower leg of the "Y", but then you could only run very short trains because the train needs to be shorter than the isolated reversing section.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
One other thing. The Diagonal can be bottom of the yard. Simply take yard that is now there, throw it away and build a new ladder right off the bottom loop straight track with a run around so that a train does not have to cross all those switches on it's way somewhere. Bonus will be equal storage with less number of trackage.
(Edit, brain freeze.)
You are correct about reversing only once with the loss of the diagonal. So think about how to make a yard out of it. It will help disguise the sneaky return turning around.
DCC will not exactly rescue you from your reverse loop situation.
You will need auto reversers in the diagonal, one leg of the wye and another for the turnback blob.
In DCC, you can divide the layout into power blocks via some reverser models out there. They are essentially circuit boards with wire connections.
It is a nice layout and my thinking for removal of diagonal is scenery or perhaps cutting it down to a stub siding to a industry or something. That close to a yard probably makes it a engine track or something.
Looking at the plan I saw at least three reversing situations. I think if I had long enough trains I can maybe make 5. But head hurts right now. LOL.
Last ChanceYou have there a very big ticking reverse loop monster of a bomb in that plan. I would lose the diagonal entirely and rely on the bottom right hand blob as your return route.
You have there a very big ticking reverse loop monster of a bomb in that plan. I would lose the diagonal entirely and rely on the bottom right hand blob as your return route.
Thanks! But if I get rid of the diagonal, that'll allow me to reverse only once, then I'm stuck in one direction only.
UPDATE: I've seen the light...I'm going DCC. This would be a nightmare.
Long Diagonal Return Cutoff just Prior to the Yard on the Bottom Left gets a dual insulated joiner.
The other end of the long diagonal cutoff at the end of the siding (Or passing siding) gets another Dual insulated joiner.
This will isolate the length of the Diagonal cutoff from inside it's long loop of track.
At the right end of your plan you show a switch returning track towards the yards via the WYE.
Now. The blob just past that switch on down the right side and round the bottom back towards the WYE needs to be isolated just before the wye switch that forms a downwards angle pointing to the bottom of your plan.
That is it for DC. (NOT DCC)
It's DC. The train can go around the circuit clockwise and then find its way back counter clock wise. ???
Thanks!