Newbie - Design Quest

[Anonymous]

Hello all, Being a newbie to the model railroading hobby, I have many, many questions and not enough answers. I started with one of the kits from the hobby shop that had the track, loco, cars, and even a building. I have since bought all the track the store had in inventory and tried many different layouts. The current layout consists of two ovals, an inner and an outer. There are three turnouts, two on the front straightaway and one on the back. I can currently run both locos at once (in opposite directions on opposite loops) but I'm having a hard time switching them. I've put a Visio diagram on my web page that shows the current set up. If there is someone out there with the wiring knowledge and software knowledge, you could copy the .gif file, modify it, then e-mail it back to me. If you can't modify it, it might be possible to describe the best method of correcting the problem.
I am using one transformer connected to an Atlas switch (I think it's #210) then into each TR on each loop. As soon as I try to bring one train from the outside loop to the inside loop, both locos stop. I put a turnout on the righthand outer loop that I might insulate and supply with it's own power. Then, I can park one train there while I switch the other from the inner to the outer or vice-versa. Sorry for the long-winded post, but as soon as I get this corrected, I get to move on to the detailing and construction of my mini-city/thriving metropolis. Thanks all! My web address is: http://www.geocities.com/daveztoyz if the moderator deletes the web address, my e-mail address is [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Dave - If the two trains are running opposite directions, then the polarity between the inner and outer loop is probably different. (Saying it another way, on one loop the inner rail is positive, and on the other loop the outer rail is positive.) Try switching the wires going to one (and only one) of the loops.
Bill K

[Anonymous]

Wow that is an ambitious layout for your first try. I'm now on my second layout and I way over engineered the first one. After about a week I was already tearing up track and made a simpler design. I forgot that I have to add scenery. Once you start adding buildings, bridges and mountains it starts filling in a lot of the space and it makes it very interesting to watch the trains running. My sugestion would be to see what layout you like that has rail yards, towns or rivers and lakes. I've now found out one of the cheap parts of building the H O railroad is the tracks. I'm currently building a layout with 7 bridges and each bridge will be about 30 bucks for a half decent one.

A good book is 101 track layouts.

Good luck.

Dave

[Anonymous]

Hi Dave, I looked at your diagram on your web site. What the problem is....no independent control of the polarity of the outer and inner loops. I have never used Atlas components for train/track control but I do know that Atlas makes a component that will solve your problem. Get one of Atlas' wiring books. It will show you what to do and which component to use....Vic

[rogerhensley]

That was good advice about checking out the Atlas Books for the other control devices. Another good place for basic information is the NMRA Beginner's Pages at: http://www.nmra.org/beginner/ It doesn't cover Atlas controllers, but does have a lot of Basic to Intermediate info.

Oh, and by the way, "He who dies with the most toys, still dies."

Enjoy!

Roger

Roger Hensley
[e-mail]
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