I have a Shinohara code 70 30 degree crossing that I plan on using for a dummy crossing where the one set of tracks isn't electrifed but just part of the scenery. Is there any thing I have to do to prevent a short in this situation or can I just install it alike a short piece of sectional track. thanks - Nevin
I can tell you I was similarly curious when installing some Atlas code 83 crossings, as I wanted to be certain that the two sets of rails could not create a short with each other, say through a loop that comes back. I used a meter to find (kinda no surprise) that the two pairs of track are totally independent of each other. This would be necessary, for instance if the two tracks through a crossing were intended to be parts of two different electrical sections or districts, so trains on each could be controlled (e.g., with DC) independently and with any polarity (for direction).
Of course there are insulators at the actual crossing points so each rail consists of three pieces (ends plus middle) at the rail tops that are jumpered together somehow around the insulators. (It's possible that two rails are straight through and the other pair are split and jumpered, but I don't know if that's done). I imagine that all crossings are similar, certainly in function.
In your case the main path will be electrified and the inactive rails dead. If you decide to add power to the incomplete section, say to have a loco there with it's light on, it will need additional power feeders.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent