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If I understand train movements properly, there is some confusion about what a saw-by movement is. If two trains are going to meet at a siding too short for the longer train, and the longer train gets there first, then you have a saw-by. The longer train pulls up to the second turnout on the siding and waits for the arrival of the second shorter train. (If the shorter train gets there first, it just pulls into the siding and waits for the longer train to go by.) When the shorter train arrives it pulls past the front of the first train into the siding and down to the other end and waits in the clear for the longer train to pull away and clear the main. The engineer of the long train aligns the turnout, performs a break check and continues on. When the first train clears the other turnout, the engineer aligns that turnout, performs a break check and pulls his shorter train past the turnout. A trainman aligns the turnout for the main and they pull out and continue on their way. What some are describing with two long trains passing at a short siding is called a double-saw. A double saw requires one train to be broken into two parts and there is much more back-and-forth movement until both trains have passed by each other and are ready to continue. Information on saw-by movements may be found on the web or in John Armstrong's (RIP) book, Track Planning for Realistic Operation -or- in Bruce Chub's book (out-of-print) How to Operate Your Model Railroad. As for wiring turnouts, I recommend wiring each for individual operation. I wire crossovers and ladder tracks for multi-operation because they have to be aligned in all circumstances to work anyway. Good Luck - Ed
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