I am new to model railroading

[Mark railroading]

I am a bit confused on a side turnout. I have two locomotives, n-scale, kato, unitrack. I have a side turnout--so one train can pass another. I do have the power pack with two switching levers. I don't quite know how to operate the switches and so need to reset the power often. Could someone explain how to switch a train to the turnout, stop it, let the other train pass, and then have the train on the turnout move once again and reset to the normal straight track movement for both. I know its not difficult so am somewhat frustrated. Thank you for any information--Mark

 

[RhB Michael]

You can't control individual locomotives with one powerpack. That is, if they are DC.

What you want to do requires one of two things.

1. A DCC controller and DCC equipped locomotives, or,

2. Two DC powerpacks and DC locomotives. One powerpack is wired to the mainline, the other powerpack is wired to the passing siding. The turnouts have to be isolated with insulated rail joiners. Only in this way can you independently control two DC locomotives.

 

[timlange3]

I don't know what a power pack with switching levers is. I'll assume you have a DC power pack. To use that you will have to wire your railroad into multiple electrical blocks. For two trains a double pole, double throw switch will suffice. Your main track with a passing siding would be two blocks. You may need additional blocks depending on the size of the railroad and what you want to do. Each block would go to a DPDT electrical switch and each DPDT switch would go to two different controllers. You would set the DPDT switch depending on which train you want to control with which controller in a particular block. This is easier to explain in person or with a phone call.

There is another method called DCC, it would eliminate the DPDT switches, but requires decoder circuit boards in each loco, a DCC controller and power booster, and at least one DCC throttle. Cost would be significantly more.

 

[RhB Michael]

It doesn't have to be that complicated with a single loop and a passing siding.

 

[Jim at BSME]

A little more information will give you better answers. If you could provide the model and manufacture of the power pack and/or a picture of it and the terminals track connections you might get better answers.

My guess is that the two switching levers provide two track connections that can be turned on and off. If that is the case you would wire one to the mainline and one to siding and isolate the siding.

With the siding electrically isolated from the mainline, you can stop one train in there and allow the second train to pass. Also does this siding have turnouts at both ends? To isolate the siding requires insulated rail joiners between the turnout and siding track.

As others have mention DC trains unless they run at similar speeds are hard to run on the same track with one power pack.

 

[Iron Horseman]

I am a bit confused on a side turnout. I have two locomotives, n-scale, kato, unitrack. I have a side turnout--so one train can pass another. I do have the power pack with two switching levers. I don't quite know how to operate the switches and so need to reset the power often. Could someone explain how to switch a train to the turnout, stop it, let the other train pass, and then have the train on the turnout move once again and reset to the normal straight track movement for both. I know its not difficult so am somewhat frustrated. Thank you for any information--Mark

So you have one loop with one side track?
I presume the two switching levers turn on/off power to the two tracks of the side track.
I presume you have electrical isolation gaps or insulated rail joiners on both sides of both side tracks.

Start with one train on the main next to the side track.
turn the power on to the one on the main, and off for the one on the siding.
make certain both turnouts (switch tracks are aligned to the main).
Turn on the throttle and take the one train around the loop.
switch the turnouts both ends to the side track.
Change the direction on the controller.
flip the one switch off for the main, and the one on for the siding.
Run that train around the loop.
Realign the turnouts back to the main (both ends)
change the direction on the controller
return to 2nd step above.

On the other hand if you are wanting all this to happen automatically, that is like walking off a cliff on complexity.