wiring HO

[Anonymous]

I have a large layout of HO and would like to know where I can find good information on the wiring of it. I don't have a problem with block and etc. But, I don't quite understand howI can isolate the yards from the main track so I can run the trains and yet work the yards. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Max Snyder
Lugoff, SC
[e-mail]

[Cthetrains]

use insulated rail joiners...they're white, made of soft plastic, and they work...

[Anonymous]

Wouldn't the rails touch still?

[cwclark]

send me an e-mail and i'll send you back a bunch of basic wiring diagrams that i drew in microsoft word that I can send to you in an attachment ..it may help you understand block wiring...(and a few other things) Cthetrains uses plastic rail insulators to form the blocks, the only problem with the plastic rail joiners is that they stick out like a sore thumb, they start to deteriorate after a few years, and they are longer than a standard metal rail joiner and can cause problems with track alignment after a few of them are installed, they also can't hold a rail together in a curved section of track, i prefer to just cut right thru the rail with a dremel tool cut off wheel or a razor saw to form a gap and then glue in some styrene plastic strips with CA glue. Once the glue dries, take a hobby knife and whittle the styrene down to match the shape of the rail...they're practically invisible once the track has been weathered and ballasted...chuck

[grayfox1119]

There are many great MRR books on wiring, all the LHS's carry them, or you can order them from Kalmbach directly, just go to the main website of MRR or Kalmbach.
It sounds like you are using DC also. If you go to DCC, you will not have any problems working the yard while running on the main/s.

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by LSIModeler
Wouldn't the rails touch still?

No, the insulated rail joiners have a vertical piece that sticks up in the center to prevent the ends of the rail from touching.

[Leon Silverman]

Regarding the insulated rail joiners, makle sure you have extra clearance BELOW the rail. Otherwise, the extra thickness of the rali joiner will cause the joint to elevate, making your trackwork kinky.

[Cthetrains]

thnx, guys..I was kinda in a hurry when I left that post..and left a few details out..cwclark has the right idea for an alternative, too

[Howardr]

Hi,

I'm not an expert but I'm now doing this on a small layout. The main is cut off from the yards just beyond the yard switches with isolated rail joiners (plastic) on one rail and I control the yards with Atlas Selectors.

Hope this is what you are looking for and helps.

[:I]

[Cthetrains]

Howard..if you want to be able to run both directions at the same time in the yard, you will need both rails isolated

[nbrodar]

The best reference is Andy Sperandeo's Easy Model Railroad Wiring. I've used it to solve almost every problem I've come across.

Nick