dcc reversing section question

[stevelton]

Im kind of planning for an HO layout that I will be building after I get the garage built sometime next year.

Ive got quite a bit of expirence with digitrax, but one thing Im not certain of.
If I have a reversing section, be it a wye or balloon, and I want to use distributed power on long modern coal trains, do all locomotives in the consist need to be in the same reversing section at the time when the polarity is changed?

I would hate to have a 25 car coal train with a pusher on the back and the 2 lead engines hit the gap and make the section reverse, and now the pusher changes even though it hasnt even got into the reversing section yet.

Hope that makes sence.
I plan to use universal consisting if that makes any difference.
Steven

 

[WCWBrassHat]

Steven,

The rule on reverse loops is that you can only cross one end of the loop at a time. In other words, the train must be shorter than the reverse loop section. You can cheap on that if you plastic wheelsets in your rolling stock. The metal wheelsets in your rolling stock will also trip the reverser if your train is longer than the reversing section.

Hope this helps!
Glenn

 

[stevelton]

It does help. Thanks, that was what I was afraid of. Guess it was good in find that out now so I can adjust the track plan a little to accomadate that.

Thanks for the help
Steven

 

[kencunningham]

The only problem would be if the lead loco and the trailing loco crossed the ends of the reverse loop at the same time.