gpaI have a wye set up just like this. It has a one leg connected to a very long tail (which also happens to be my yard lead.) It is wired to a PSX-AR and works great.
Thanks, I was hoping to hear from someone that actually had this configuration. I’m still laying track and it looks like it’s going to be at least a couple of weeks before I can test it out for myself, but it’s great to hear more evidence that I’m on the right track.
SleeperN06I have a very small WYE that is way too small to run a long train through. I want to know if I can have the reverse loop extend outside the WYE so that I can get an entire train inside the reversing section. The track in red would be my reversing section as shown below.
I have a very small WYE that is way too small to run a long train through. I want to know if I can have the reverse loop extend outside the WYE so that I can get an entire train inside the reversing section.
The track in red would be my reversing section as shown below.
Greg Amer
The Industrial Lead
mfm37A metal wheel will cause a short (tripping the autoreverser) as it crosses the gap and briefly makes contact with the rail on both sides. Unless the gap is wider than the wheel but that might cause stalling.
Oh I forgot about that and I have a lot of cars with metal wheels. Thanks I’ll have to work that out.
Note: Remember that it needs rotated 90 deg to reflect the layout drawing and the red track is the reversing section.
Also, you don't necessarily need to have the whole train fit inside the reversing section, just the portion of the train that is drawing power such as the engine. Unless you have lighted passenger cars or lighted cabooses, only the engines need to fit inside the reversing section.
A metal wheel will cause a short (tripping the autoreverser) as it crosses the gap and briefly makes contact with the rail on both sides. Unless the gap is wider than the wheel but that might cause stalling.
SleeperN06 richhotrainI colored the rails red and blue to differentiate the polarities. The black circles indicate the gaps or insulated rail connectors that are required to create a "reversing section". Your reversing section could be the entire length of the left side of that track diagram as long as the gaps or insulated rail connectors are outside of the two turnouts leading to the wye. That should leave plenty of room for that Kato lighted passenger train. Rich Thanks Rich, that sure makes it easier to follow with the gaps and the color for polarity. I’m a little confused on the WYE turnout, should both sides of the WYE be gaped? I was trying to imagine it after it reversed and it appears that it would then short on the other side or did I miss something.
richhotrainI colored the rails red and blue to differentiate the polarities. The black circles indicate the gaps or insulated rail connectors that are required to create a "reversing section". Your reversing section could be the entire length of the left side of that track diagram as long as the gaps or insulated rail connectors are outside of the two turnouts leading to the wye. That should leave plenty of room for that Kato lighted passenger train. Rich
Rich
Johnny B,
I amended my initial comment and diagram by pointing out exactly that. Normally, you wouldn't need the second set of gaps at the top of the wye because you would return to normal polarity once the train exited the reversing section. But, as my amended comment suggested, if the reversing section is long enough and the train does not exit the reversing section before backing up and re-entering the wye from the other side, problemo!!! So, add the second set of gaps or insulated rail connectors to be safe rather than sorry.
Alton Junction
MisterBeasley You will have to be careful with how you place your reversers in insulated gaps. There are 2 reverse loop in the "old layout," two in the upper left section, one in the steel mill, with multiple entrances, the wye itself, and another with a lot of ways in and out in the yard in the lower left. You should not have two reversing sections adjacent to each other. When you do that, the circuits will "fight" each other because they will both try to flip polarity at the same time. When that happens, you still have a short.
You will have to be careful with how you place your reversers in insulated gaps. There are 2 reverse loop in the "old layout," two in the upper left section, one in the steel mill, with multiple entrances, the wye itself, and another with a lot of ways in and out in the yard in the lower left.
You should not have two reversing sections adjacent to each other. When you do that, the circuits will "fight" each other because they will both try to flip polarity at the same time. When that happens, you still have a short.
I’m glad you brought that up because although I was aware of the reverse loop in the steel mill, it didn’t occur to me that it would be adjacent to the other reversing section. Thanks for the heads up.
I don’t have any plans for any actual operations at the steel mill it was a gift from a good friend and I was just going use it as a diorama. I do want the track to be functional just in case I get bored again after I get the yard finished and working
Thanks Rich, that sure makes it easier to follow with the gaps and the color for polarity.
I’m a little confused on the WYE turnout, should both sides of the WYE be gaped? I was trying to imagine it after it reversed and it appears that it would then short on the other side or did I miss something.
As I review my diagram, it is conceivable that if your reversing section along the left side of your layout is long enough, you may not return to "normal" polarity after having reversed polarity. That could happen if your train enters the reversing secton but never leaves it, a somewhat improbable but possible situation.
Say you run the train to the left, through the wye and down the layout on the left side. For whatever reason, you stop the train, then reverse its direction up the left side of the layout and then return to forward direction to turn and re-enter the wye headed right. When your train enters the wye, a short will occur. To overcome that problem, it would be advisable to add two more gaps or insulated rail connectors adjacent to the two already shown at the top of the wye. In other words, the two top legs of the wye should both be gapped or insulated to eliminate any possibility of a short due to the sheer length of the reversing section.
Mr. B. raises a good point about the inadvisability of two reversing sections next to each other.
Another caution, given the potential length of the reversing section is the possibility of a second train tripping the auto-reverser before the first train has completely entered or exited the reversing sectiion.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Thanks, that helped a lot.
Here is a diagram showing the wye track and the resulting reverse polarity. Rotate it 90 degrees to represent your track diagram.
I colored the rails red and blue to differentiate the polarities. The black circles indicate the gaps or insulated rail connectors that are required to create a "reversing section". Your reversing section could be the entire length of the left side of that track diagram as long as the gaps or insulated rail connectors are outside of the two turnouts leading to the wye. That should leave plenty of room for that Kato lighted passenger train.
richhotrainI have to agree with Mister Beasley. Now that you have shown your track diagram, can you be a little clearer about exactly where the wye you are referring to is located, maybe circle the location on your diagram? Also, you don't necessarily need to have the whole train fit inside the reversing section, just the portion of the train that is drawing power such as the engine. Unless you have lighted passenger cars or lighted cabooses, only the engines need to fit inside the reversing section. In any event, help us understand exactly where on your layout you need to deal with reverse polarity and we can provide a specific solution. Rich
In any event, help us understand exactly where on your layout you need to deal with reverse polarity and we can provide a specific solution.
Well here is the new layout extension up close and it is the WYE on the top left in question. If you rotate the 1st photo in this thread 90 deg and place it over that WYE, that would be it.
Motley First there is nothing wrong with your trackplan, it looks like it will keep you busy for a long time. Yes you can extend your wye, I did exactly that. Just make sure you gap all the rails and any switches that you want to extend out to. So you should have one big isolated section. I would also reccomend getting the Tony's trains PSX-AR auto reverser, it works great and is completely silent (solid state) when switching polarity. I had the digitrax reverser and couldn't stand the clickety noises from it. Good luck with the build.
First there is nothing wrong with your trackplan, it looks like it will keep you busy for a long time.
Yes you can extend your wye, I did exactly that. Just make sure you gap all the rails and any switches that you want to extend out to. So you should have one big isolated section.
I would also reccomend getting the Tony's trains PSX-AR auto reverser, it works great and is completely silent (solid state) when switching polarity. I had the digitrax reverser and couldn't stand the clickety noises from it.
Good luck with the build.
Thanks, I already have two PSX-ARs and I already know that I’m going to need a few more. I also have a PM42 that I don’t know what I’m going to do with it.
As far as the track plan goes, it ‘IS’ suppose to keep me busy. Well I built the Unitrack on top first then I got bored just watching it go around in circles so I decided to add a yard and staging for my trains. Everything is modular so that I easily move it. It’s basically two 3x8 layouts with a small 30”x40” bridging the gap between.
Oh then the other layout in the closet is my 1st N-scale layout and I don’t know what to do with it yet. I’m kind of attached to it but it will not handle the kind of trains I want to run like passenger trains.
MisterBeasley I guess I'd need to see more of the layout diagram to figure out what your plan is here. To reverse a train with a wye, the whole train must fit on at least two legs of the wye. There's nothing wrong with what you've drawn, but I just don't see how you plan to run trains through this.
I guess I'd need to see more of the layout diagram to figure out what your plan is here. To reverse a train with a wye, the whole train must fit on at least two legs of the wye.
There's nothing wrong with what you've drawn, but I just don't see how you plan to run trains through this.
I have to agree with Mister Beasley. Now that you have shown your track diagram, can you be a little clearer about exactly where the wye you are referring to is located, maybe circle the location on your diagram?
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
mfm37 Yes, it can extend past the wye on one leg to make it longer than your longest train. Would need a huge wye if it needed to be only on an inside
Yes, it can extend past the wye on one leg to make it longer than your longest train. Would need a huge wye if it needed to be only on an inside
Thank you that is great news.
The top layout is Unitrack Double SuperElevated V11 Track and there is nothing more that I can do with it. I’ve had this question posted at a few Forums but everybody was just theorizing and could not tell me for sure,
Well if it has to be inside the WYE then I'm in trouble.
I was kind of avoiding showing the whole layout because everybody flips out when they see the all the track right away and try to get me to just do a boring oval. If it comes down to that, I'm giving up model railroading. I have everything worked out except for this WYE.
Every example that I have found on the internet shows the reverse loop inside the WYE.
Well here is the layout and I’m only interested in the WYE on the left hand side toward the lower end..