I'm getting to the point where I need to consider where to cut the gaps in the rails for to reversing sections on my layout.
The first is a staging area with a main that passes on the outside and a few staging tracks on the inside (all orange lined tracks).
View attachment 4971
should I gap the whole staging area (the red slashes) or a train length of track along the back side of the reversed loop (the black slashes)?
The next situation is a branchline/alt. route that reverses. It is the green track lines that snake around the layout, starting at the upper left corner and ending up at around the 7 oclock position.
View attachment 4970
Again, should I gap the whole route (the red slashes) or just a train length section at the begining of the loop (the black slashes)? Does gapping the whole route mess-up other engines that might be sitting on a sidings on that section? I have 2 industrial spurs on it.
Also, I heard the double gaps in both rails should be staggered about 1/4" or so, so there's no shorting of the circuit. Is there any validity to this?
I'm think of using tony's train exchange reverser/breaker any feed back on this?
Ok, so that's 4 questions... I hope I get my money's worth from this post.
Thanks
Ron
The first is a staging area with a main that passes on the outside and a few staging tracks on the inside (all orange lined tracks).
View attachment 4971
should I gap the whole staging area (the red slashes) or a train length of track along the back side of the reversed loop (the black slashes)?
The next situation is a branchline/alt. route that reverses. It is the green track lines that snake around the layout, starting at the upper left corner and ending up at around the 7 oclock position.
View attachment 4970
Again, should I gap the whole route (the red slashes) or just a train length section at the begining of the loop (the black slashes)? Does gapping the whole route mess-up other engines that might be sitting on a sidings on that section? I have 2 industrial spurs on it.
Also, I heard the double gaps in both rails should be staggered about 1/4" or so, so there's no shorting of the circuit. Is there any validity to this?
I'm think of using tony's train exchange reverser/breaker any feed back on this?
Ok, so that's 4 questions... I hope I get my money's worth from this post.
Thanks
Ron
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