I am returning to the hobby after 42 years. Has anyone tried to build the Sante Fe Shortline in HO scale? ? Does it require a reversing loop? Is there a DCC wiring diagram for it? Thanks for your help!
I'm guessing you're referring to this HO trackplan:
https://www.trains.com/mrr/how-to/track-plan-database/ho-scale-santa-fe-shortline/
There is no reverse loop so that wouldn't require any special wiring. In DCC, there are automatic reversers you can put in place so you wouldn't need to throw toggle switches or anything to reverse polarity if there was a reverse loop.
Wiring wouldn't really be different than doing it in DC, except you wouldn't need as many separate isolated blocks. With a small layout like this, it could just be one block. With DCC command control, each engine has it's own decoder and takes it's commands through the track via the DCC system independent of any other engine on the layout.
zino I am returning to the hobby after 42 years. Has anyone tried to build the Sante Fe Shortline in HO scale? ? Does it require a reversing loop? Is there a DCC wiring diagram for it? Thanks for your help!
Alton Junction
No reversing section, so no special wiring. But, not a very workable track plan. No way to turn trains around, so a long backup movement is required.
Why would you need a reversing track?
It's 1961, all diesel. Use one of the two runarounds to move the caboose from one end of the train to the other, put the engine on the other end and go the other way.
Just like real trains do
The biggest problem I see is no runaround in the yard area.
Dave Husman
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
richhotrain No reversing section, so no special wiring. But, not a very workable track plan. No way to turn trains around, so a long backup movement is required.
dehusman Why would you need a reversing track? It's 1961, all diesel. Use one of the two runarounds to move the caboose from one end of the train to the other, put the engine on the other end and go the other way. Just like real trains do
My first sentence was simply meant to point out that there is no reversing section in that track plan to answer the OP's question.
Those other two sentences were intended to suggest greater flexibility if the track plan provided for a means to reverse the train direction. Kind of boring to just run trains in a circle in one direction.
Rich
Another plan you might look into is the "Black River Junction" project from MR several years' back.
I used it, but made the "extension" about 21" wide (it's narrower in the original plan), and built a more useful yard with a main, a runaround, and 3 yard tracks. Also an engine storage track.
I use it as an "out-and-back" type operation.
richhotrainThose other two sentences were intended to suggest greater flexibility if the track plan provided for a means to reverse the train direction. Kind of boring to just run trains in a circle in one direction.
Why do you have to run trains in one direction? Runaround the train and run it in other direction. Most of the time on a prototype railroad, when they turn a train, that doesn't mean running the whole train around a reverse loop or a wye, it means moving the caboose from the east end to the west and and moving the engine from the west end to the east end. What was a westward train is now an eastward train, the train has "turned" without a loop or wye.
Thanks. I'll take a look at the "Black River Junction" in the archives.
Thanks. I'm trying to envision the exchange of the caboose and locomotive.
The oval of track has two passing tracks - two places where it widens out to two tracks. You can stop the train on the main, uncouple the locomotive, and run it around on the parallel sidetrack to the back of the train. Uncouple the caboose, and the engine places it on the sidetrack. The engine then backs onto the end of the train, pulls forward, and then backs up to couple onto the caboose. Away you go in the other direction!