Planning formthe future of 2 boys in the house. I already have a bunch of track to make a nice sized layout around the christmas tree. Figuring how boys will be i want to have 2 tracks to run on and eventually fill the room with track and buildings for the christmas season. As far as crossovers go…if i cross over a track but do not loop back around the track tomthe same crossover…,…,ie i crosss with one train and another train crosses from its own track. Inrealize boys being boys will try to crash the trains unless they are on seperatd loops, but i would like to eventually think they could be trusted not to do this. Question is…at the crossover are each routes seperatly powered or are they allmpowered by one. Say i had two seperate tracks that crossed over each other will both trains run with one power packmor will it be seperate and run on two seperate power packs? Confused yet. Lol. Maybe not explained the best huh Thanks Mike
The crossovers are powered in all directions with one transformer, so all trains would be under the control of one transformer. There are circuits that can be built to make blocks, so that 2 trains can approach the crossover and one train will stop automatically. The circuit needs insulated blocks and relays. See here and here for a description of what is needed and how it is done.
Larry
I have never examined a Lionel FasTrack crossover but the general practice for crossovers in general is the center and outside rails are always tied together. So if you have two separately controlled loops when you install a crossover the power for both loops will be shorted together.
If you turn over the crossover you should be able to modify the crossover in a way the center rail for each track are not tied together.With FasTrack this usually involves removing a tie strip that that electrically connects the rails. You only need to insulate the center rails as the outside rail is always common to all power blocks.
Another suggestion is if you plan to purchase new Lion Chief+ engines or sets to run? These would be ideal as the boys can run them from their included remote controls and you would not have to worry about electrical blocks. All you need with remote control trains is 18V on the tracks at all times and control the train with the remote. An upgraded power supply or transformer with proper wiring should be able to handle 2 trains.
I guess the bigger problem is how to control the crossovers so the boys do not crash the trains which is inevitable. There are numerous ways you could rig-up an interlock to protect the crossover. Check the Kalmbach books for some advanced Lionel wiring techniques for a relay circuit that protects crossings.
All parts of the crossover are connected underneath. You would have to cut the connector. Keep in mind that no power would run through it so you will have to make sure all parts of the loop are powered.
2 boys using 1 crossover? Hmm I’m not so sure about that idea.
A couple post got on ahead of me but I will leave it anyway.
Although Lionel calls it a “crossover”, the right name for what you’re dealing with here is “crossing”.
The word crossover has probably been used in the toy train industry for nearly a century. Although it may not be correct I think that after all that time I will accept that as a legitimate toy train term. The same can also be said for switches/turnouts.
If the writer wants 2 independent circuits it can be done easily enough.
Thanks guys. I have one berkshire 1226 polar express setup for theone boy that i bought fornhis first christmas. Will do the same formthe other boy. Not sure what yet. I believe, posssily the berk can be upgraded with a chip but not sure i want tomgo that expensive for only a month setup. I will probably for safety sake run two independent loops or have a over under deal.
Lionel used “crossing” until after WW2. “Crossover” seems to have appeared first after the 1946 advance catalog. Both words were used until 1949. So, more like 68 years, as far as Lionel is concerned.
“Switch” and “turnout” are nearly synonyms, for toy trains and for prototype trains. My “Railroad Curves & Earthwork” manual, shows “turnout” used at least as long ago as 1899. The only distinction they make is that a turnout comprises a switch, a frog, and guard rails, all of which are included in a toy train turnout. So, in this case, “turnout” for toy trains seems to agree perfectly with prototype terminology. I also find it a very handy way to distinguish between electrical switches and track switches when trying to diagnose problems over the Internet.
(The same book also uses “crossing” and “cross-over” in the way I described.)
For some spare time reading, download the book here free.
Larry