Reverse Loop Help

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Trucklover

Trucklover

BNSF SD70MAC's
Hi guys,

i need a bit of help for a buddies layout. I recently did a layout plan for him centered around the Steel Industry. This is what we came up with:

Picture1-1.png


I know there is at least 2 reversing loops in the plan. Any tips on how to wire a reverse loop? Is there anything special that you need to get for a reverse loop? He is going to be doing DCC, and all the turnouts out of reach in the back will be wired for DCC so he can switch them automatically, all the turnouts along the front and within reaching distance will be manual so he can have a little fun doing some manual switching.

I havent the slightest idea when it comes to DCC, i myself am new to it and have not yet explored into it so im turning to you guys for help ;)

Thanks in advance,
 
I would recommend isolating the two "loops" and hook them up to the AR-1. Then you can have the track between plugged into straight DCC current. I would recommend more than one AR-1 if you are going to be running more than one train into a given loop block, and isolate the areas where two trains may be tripping the AR-1 at the same time.
 


Jim and Adam, awesome thank you guys!!

Looking back on the plan, i think there may be 3 sections that would create a reverse loop. I put black circles around the sections i think? make the reverse loops. Are these correct?

Picture4.png
 
Yes, but there are more!

One above Mill #3 / EAF

The switch next to the circle at Mill #2


When you wire the AR-1 (or whatever you choose), Make sure to use jumper wires from the loop to the module, wire has a lower resistance value than the rails, so you won't risk a short as easily as not having jumpers. If you wire these jumpers close to the insulation point, you will improve the operation of the reverse module.

What you want to do is reduce the amount of reversing points you have, or at least keep the amount per module to as few points as possible. Don't have two different reversing module sections back to back, one will mess with the other when a train crosses. You always need a stationary current between sections.
 
Adam, thanks for the additional help.


Looking at the picture above with the black circles, would it be best to move the right top circle down to the around the red turnout just to the left of Mill #3?
 
Okay, so i was told by another member over on Trainboard that i would need 2 AR-1's and to isolate at these 5 locations for this to work right:

Picture1-4.png


Sound right? Anything else i need to do besides isolate at those 5 spots?
 
Two AR-1's should handle it. The only concern I have isthat short section of track under the coke oven. You may have a problem getting the whole train (assuming they have metal wheels) into the reverse section, which may lead to shorts. It's not clear to me what purpose that small section of track and the crossover serve, but I'm also not a steel mill modeler. If it won't screw up any vital operation, I'd get rid of it.
 
UP2CSX said:
Two AR-1's should handle it. The only concern I have isthat short section of track under the coke oven. You may have a problem getting the whole train (assuming they have metal wheels) into the reverse section, which may lead to shorts. It's not clear to me what purpose that small section of track and the crossover serve, but I'm also not a steel mill modeler. If it won't screw up any vital operation, I'd get rid of it.
Click to expand...

The length of the train in the area you pointed out was brought up on the other forum as well. This is a steel mill, and i dont think he will be running long trains anyways with his kids, just something to set up and let the kids watch for a few minutes. The real fun for him will be switching the different buildings, and those steel mill trains will be pretty short, maybe 2 small engines and a few cars.


I see your point about the crossover. I took it out, this still allows a train to change directions without stopping and running the engines around the cars to go the other direction. But does this change the isolation points now that it is gone? In otherwords, do i need an isolation point anywhere else then the 4 black circles on the picture?

Picture2.png
 
No, but, if you got rid of that small crossover below the coke oven, you could handle the remaing two isolation points with one AR-1. However, it still appears to me that the cross over track in red to left top of the the three large structures is still a point of entry and exit from the reverse loop and needs to be isolated, unless I'm tracing it wrong. If so, you'll probably need two AR-1's to handle the reverse loops.
 


UP2CSX said:
No, but, if you got rid of that small crossover below the coke oven, you could handle the remaing two isolation points with one AR-1. However, it still appears to me that the cross over track in red to left top of the the three large structures is still a point of entry and exit from the reverse loop and needs to be isolated, unless I'm tracing it wrong. If so, you'll probably need two AR-1's to handle the reverse loops.
Click to expand...

Nope. Only one way into that reverse loop.
I know, I was fooled for a while there too. But if you follow the red track, that's the only one that gets you into the reverse loop.
 
Jim and Wolf, thanks guys

Im pretty sure ive gotten it straightened out now. I have 6 insulation points, and 2 AR-1's will be ordered, one for each loop

Here is the new one with the 6 Insulation Points:

attachment.php


Thanks again for everyone's help, i really appreciate it!! :D
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Josh, I can't see your picture, just the dreaded red "X". Wolf, is still looks to me like that crossover at the very top and to the left of the three structures is a point of entry to the reverse loop since it connects to the spur that completes the reverse loop. Any track that enters a reverse loop, no matter how it does it, needs to be isolated.
 
If you isolate the loops at the either of the first switches as Jim pointed out you should be fine with the two AR-1's. That is unless longer trains are being run, in which case you would need to isolate farther into the layout.
Very nice track plan, tons o' switching to be sure!
 
UP2CSX said:
Josh, I can't see your picture, just the dreaded red "X". Wolf, is still looks to me like that crossover at the very top and to the left of the three structures is a point of entry to the reverse loop since it connects to the spur that completes the reverse loop. Any track that enters a reverse loop, no matter how it does it, needs to be isolated.
Click to expand...


The picture shows up for me, can you see it now? LOL
 
Rico said:
If you isolate the loops at the either of the first switches as Jim pointed out you should be fine with the two AR-1's. That is unless longer trains are being run, in which case you would need to isolate farther into the layout.
Very nice track plan, tons o' switching to be sure!
Click to expand...

Thanks Rico, we spent quite a while in the planning stages for this layout LOL

And i made a mistake, there are 6 Isolation Points, 4 on the right loop and 2 on the left loop. There totally isolated now, the 2 loops will be wired with one AR-1 each, and the rest of the track on the layout will be wired normally :D

Thanks again guys!!
 
Josh, I still see the red "X", don't know why. :confused: Your track plan shows the difficulties of identifying reverse loops correctly and getting the isolation points correct, especially considering train length. It's why I try to avoid reverse loops whenever possible.
 
UP2CSX said:
Josh, I still see the red "X", don't know why. :confused: Your track plan shows the difficulties of identifying reverse loops correctly and getting the isolation points correct, especially considering train length. It's why I try to avoid reverse loops whenever possible.
Click to expand...

I just avoid loops altogether, as I'm a fan of point-to-point operation. :P
 


I don't see the short section as the reversing section. I would use the section from the switch under the coke oven around the end of the loop to crossover on the top section.
 
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