Two powered loops, joined by electrofrogs...

[RattyB]

Hi,

I'm building a DC system and using Peco electrofrogs for reliability and to allow me to use my older stock trouble free.

There will be two loops of track powered by two controllers, but they are to be joined with electrofrog points. So I can, say, take a goods train out of my inner loop yard and on to my outer loop or visa versa. Because I want to be able to use both loops to run trains, they will be powered independently. Now, this used to work on my old layout with insulfrog points but it doesn't appear to be possible to make electrofrog points work in this manner.

Can I do this, or to achieve it am I going to have to stick with insulfrog points, or just have one controller for the whole layout and sacrifice the idea of being able to run a train around the inner loop at the same time as one running on the out loop?

Thanks,

Ratty

 

[315801]

Hi RattyB

Using electrofrog turnouts / points ( whichever term you prefer ) is a good idea, they are as you pointed out more reliable.

However, when connecting 2 loops of track with these turnouts you need to have plastic isolating track joiners fitted on both rails of the connecting part of the turnouts instead of metal track joiners, if this is not done the power will short out and nothing will work.

 

[RattyB]

Hi RattyB

Using electrofrog turnouts / points ( whichever term you prefer ) is a good idea, they are as you pointed out more reliable.

However, when connecting 2 loops of track with these turnouts you need to have plastic isolating track joiners fitted on both rails of the connecting part of the turnouts instead of metal track joiners, if this is not done the power will short out and nothing will work.

Thanks So, assuming I want to start my train on the inner loop and take it on to the outer loop, how do I do that when the join at the turnout is isolated as you suggest? I realise that in this way I would only be using one controller to power the whole track, which is how it used to work when I had a layout using insulfrong points.

 

[315801]

The important question here is are you planning to run more than 1 train at the same time ?.

I ask this because if you were wanting to transfer wagons or coaches from the inner track to the outer track, any locomotive running on the track where the stock is being transferred to would be able to collect the stock if the locomotive on the inner track pushed the stock to the connection between the 2 loops.

Once uncoupled from the stock, the locomotive on the outer track could couple up to the stock and pull it onto the outer track.

It sounds confusing but it works.

The only other way is to have the controllers set opposite to each other, ie inner track set to forwards and outer set to backwards, that way the locomotive on the inner track can cross the connection between the 2 tracks but ( there's always a but isn't there ) any locomotive running on the outer track would have to be parked up in a siding protected by an insulfrog turnout.

It may all sound complicated and confusing but trust me it works.

Hope this helps and I will try and answer any further questions you may have.

 

[Cowley]

The only other way is to have the controllers set opposite to each other, ie inner track set to forwards and outer set to backwards, that way the locomotive on the inner track can cross the connection between the 2 tracks but ( there's always a but isn't there ) any locomotive running on the outer track would have to be parked up in a siding protected by an insulfrog turnout.

It may all sound complicated and confusing but trust me it works.

Hope this helps and I will try and answer any further questions you may have.

Just to add to that, in my DC powered 00 gauge days I’d have two isolating fishplates on the connection between double track and just set both controllers (one for each oval) correctly so that the train would slowly run onto the second (up or down) line.

Welcome to the forum by the way @315801.

 

[RattyB]

Many thanks for all the help. After a lot reading I’ve decided to go full DDC to save my hair!

 

[Cowley]

Many thanks for all the help. After a lot reading I’ve decided to go full DDC to save my hair!

That’s what I did in the end. Of course it does bring other challenges but I’ve never regretted making the change.