Rich, just a quick follow up on your 3 rail question: no this is not 3 rail, it was just easier to start with the straightline and add the color coding.
FWIW the "Y"s in the upper left are 1 mainline running into staging and 1 interchange track running into staging. The inboard track is the interchange and would likely see 1 train each "day" running in and back. The other track , main, would also likely see 1 train a day, so low traffic for sure and very unlikely 2 trains at one time, especially since they join to run on 1 track into staging. One train to to clear the block before another can enter.
The Whiskey Island loops can and will see multiple trains (2 any more would get crowded) at a time and it's possible that they may enter a reversing section together. But since one loco will be dedicated to that location and not venture onto the main, it does open the possibility ofkeeping that loco in the reberse loop at all times. But where then should the gaps be?
Reversers at the ends of the staging tracks was a given. If need be I'll purchase 7 reversers but would like to see if this can be done with only 4.
Modeling the Cleveland and Pittsburgh during the PennCentral era starting on the Cleveland lakefront and ending in Mingo junction
So, basically you have a reversing loop with staging tracks and a crossover. At one time, I had twice the headache that you are experiencing. I have two reversing loops together, (one EB and the other WB) with staging tracks in each loop, with a crossover to connect the two. I have no high-tech reverser, so I chose to use good old toggle switches. Regardless, If It was me, I would totally isolate the reversing loop from the layout and have a toggle switch to power the isolated staging tracks within the reversing loop. Since I don't completely grasp the crossover, I can't make a comment on it. However in my case the crossover connects EB with WB, allowing me to change the direction on the layout without the use of a loop or a wye. Before I leave the loop (in the opposite direction) I reset the crossover and toggle switch.
ruderunner Rich, just a quick follow up on your 3 rail question: no this is not 3 rail, it was just easier to start with the straightline and add the color coding.
LOL, I realized that right after I emailed you.
Alton Junction
ruderunner The Whiskey Island loops can and will see multiple trains (2 any more would get crowded) at a time and it's possible that they may enter a reversing section together. But since one loco will be dedicated to that location and not venture onto the main, it does open the possibility ofkeeping that loco in the reberse loop at all times. But where then should the gaps be?
ruderunner,
Not sure where on the layout you are referring to with your question. Are the Whiskey Island loops the three loops in the right center of the diagram?
Rich
Yes Whiskey Island is the 3 loops nested together. I guess I should have figured out how to label stuff in the diagram.
Whiskey Island was kind of an early attempt at loading unit trains, much like grain haulerstoday. Long train enters a loop around a grain silo and loads the whole train at once. Only Whiskey Island was for ore and developed in the 30's (I think)
Basic operational plan here is: road unit brings in cut of empties on one loop, road unit cuts off and pickus up loads from another loop, hauls loads out. The switcher then breaks up the empties and places them under the Hulletts for loading. Switcher also assembles loads for road unit pickup. The switcher has no need to venture out on the main.
Here is a diagram that isolates the Whiskey Island Loops.
Here are the locations of the gaps (circles) that you need to accomplish this threefold reversing section. You could either wire in three auto reversing units, one for each loop, or wire in one reversing unit and hope that two or more trains within the loops don't simulataneously trip the auto reverser causing a conflict. I have marked each loop as A, B, and C, respectively.
Here is an alternative wiring diagram that would permit the use of one auto reversing unit. The only risk here is two trains crossing the gaps simultaneously, but it would be a lot easier in this instance to control the movement of trains than it would in the prior configuration.
I hope that I got all of these rail colors and gap locations correct. My head was spinning by the time that I finished these diagrams.
OK it looks like the 1st close up is the way I drew he gaps, the 2nd is an alternative I hadn't thought about. I was thinking the gaps would have to be at the multiple turnouts, and wouldn't work if placed on the lead tracks for the loops. Interesting and if correct, which it looks to be, then yes that solves the situation quite nicely. The dedicated switcher shouldn't have to travel that far for any reason so it would stay in the reversing section the whole time, road units could come and go and there would be little to no risk of 2 locos bridging the gaps at any time.
Cool. Glad I asked for some help here or I may have built this and then had to add extra reversers.
I never did address the two reversing sections on the upper left portion of your diagram.
Are you going to use one auto reversing unit for those two sections?
Rich, the 2 sections in the upper left of the diagram both lead into a hidden track running into staging. Very unlikely that multiple trains will be in those tracks at any given time since one needs to get out of the hidden track before another can enter. I'll try it with 1 reverser and if it ends up being a problem then I'll add another.