Isolating Rail on a DC Layout

[Masbroughlad]

If I have an isolating rail on a DC layout, how does it work?

Could I use it on a station siding to uncouple a locomotive from its stock, run it forwards a couple of cms and isolate it? Then I could couple a loco on the other end and move off.

Is that how it works? What would I need? Is it an isolating straight and an on-off or an on-on switch, please?

Do I just connect it to the back of the power transformer?

 

[Cowley]

If I have an isolating rail on a DC layout, how does it work?

Could I use it on a station siding to uncouple a locomotive from its stock, run it forwards a couple of cms and isolate it? Then I could couple a loco on the other end and move off.

That’s exactly right.

Is that how it works? What would I need? Is it an isolating straight and an on-off or an on-on switch, please?

What you need is a plastic fishplate (which Peco do) and if it’s a dead end siding you’ll only need one. You then solder a lead either side of it and run them under the board to an inline switch so that you can isolate it or make it live again.

 

[Class15]

That’s exactly right.


What you need is a plastic fishplate (which Peco do) and if it’s a dead end siding you’ll only need one. You then solder a lead either side of it and run them under the board to an inline switch so that you can isolate it or make it live again.

I have a ready to go one of these, without doing anything myself. I don’t know where you can find them now though.

 

[4COR]

I have a ready to go one of these, without doing anything myself. I don’t know where you can find them now though.

The switch? Pretty much any single pole on-off will do it (under the assumption there are no other odd feeds coming onto the rail where the loco will it). A SPST (single pole, single throw) is ideal, and indeed an SPDT (single.pole, double throw) will also be fine - just leave one of the outputs disconnected.

You could use something like a Hornby one, but they are way too expensive for what they are.

If the track plan is.more than a single dead end siding, then posting the plan will help!