AF Switches - Diagrams of 2 Train Operation

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

Here are 4 diagrams illustrating the operation of the switches with the buttons set for 2 Train Operation:

These operations seems correct to me.

Note in the second diagram with the switches set to diverge into the inner oval, power is cutoff to the upper portion of the layout above the switches. If an engine is in that portion of the layout “above” the switches, and the switches are both thrown to divergent, power is cut off to the engine. Of course, you would not want to throw both switches to divergent in this situation since the engine will derail when it reaches the switch.

However, I want to place an additional set of wires at the top of the layout in the upper portion, opposite the current wire terminal pictured in the diagram to assure that there will be no loss of power to the engine motor as this remote spot. As Texas Pete has indicated, placing additional wires at this location will prevent a power loss in the upper portion of the layout above the switches. Is this correct?

Rich

2

The last two diagrams don’t look right to me. You seem to be indicating that you have voltage at one end of the middle left-right track and that you don’t have voltage at the other end. That seems impossible unless you have gaps somewhere in that track section that you haven’t told us about.

3

Bob,

Your skepticism forced me to look closer at the situation. There were no gaps, at least not intentionally. I did lightly sandpaper the contacts and tightened the track connections a lot better and I was able to eliminate the problem that I illustrated in the last two diagrams.

Rich