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Sante Fe Shortline Track Plan

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  • Member since
    April 2023
  • 7 posts
Sante Fe Shortline Track Plan
Posted by zino on Thursday, April 18, 2024 2:28 PM

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!

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  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
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Posted by wjstix on Friday, April 19, 2024 9:06 AM

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.

Stix
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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Friday, April 19, 2024 9:37 AM

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!

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.
 
Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by dehusman on Saturday, April 20, 2024 10:47 AM

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

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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, April 20, 2024 6:02 PM

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

I was trying to answer the OP's question and then make an observation. I could have done that bettter with two separate paragraphs.

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

Alton Junction

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Posted by OldEngineman on Saturday, April 20, 2024 9:55 PM

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.

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Posted by dehusman on Sunday, April 21, 2024 9:37 AM

richhotrain
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.

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.  

Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com

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Posted by zino on Sunday, April 21, 2024 11:42 AM

Thanks. I'll take a look at the "Black River Junction" in the archives.

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Posted by zino on Sunday, April 21, 2024 11:44 AM

Thanks. I'm trying to envision the exchange of the caboose and locomotive.

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  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
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Posted by wjstix on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 1:12 PM

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!

 
I grew up across the street from a dead-end branchline with a runaround track at the end, so I saw this operation a lot.
Stix

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