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Post by husafreak on Mar 15, 2019 12:46:36 GMT -5
I ordered a NOCH Cortina layout and I have to make a couple of decisions about turnouts and operating them. This is not planned to be a DCC layout. Rokuhan track.
I have to choose between 4 turnouts to move from one track to another or a crossover style one piece. I much prefer the look of the 4 turnouts. I don't know if there are pros and cons between the two.
I don't understand how the trains are continuously powered when switching tracks. What I mean is if train A is on track A and controller A, and train B is on B and B. Then I would have to cross train A onto track B along with train B until train B comes around and I can cross it over to track A. So I would be controlling the speed of both train A and train B with controller B for a loop? Can that be done? Also, do I need four turnout controllers to do the switches in this example?
There is another spot on the track where trains can be parked on either of two sidings on dead end tracks (forgot proper term). That uses two turnouts and looks simple, I would just need two crossover controllers to make the track selection. So I don't think I have a question about that area!
Thanks.
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Post by Commodore on Mar 15, 2019 13:03:50 GMT -5
DCC works, and can be much less expensive.
(I know this to be true, right at the moment) ...but I just won't pick sides. Maybe, someone else?
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Post by zscalehobo on Mar 15, 2019 13:08:20 GMT -5
Different layout, but in this video I show handoffs from inner loop to outer loop ... both loops are isolated from each other.
The key is to have both throttles at similar level and most importantly dialed in same directions.
Crossover vs 4 turnouts will basically run the same but instead of one wire control on the crossover you can control all 4 individually (you will have 4 wires ... one cable for each turnout). This will also raise the costs of your investment if you buy C002 controllers. You might be able to Y connect the pairs to save needing so many C002s. All depends on how you want to operate the crossing over.
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Post by markm on Mar 15, 2019 13:25:04 GMT -5
Seems to me there is a liability to operating the four turnouts independently as you could have a pair mismatched. I'd suggest using the Y connector and operating the turnouts as "left transfer" and "right transfer" each with a switch,
The crossover performs the same basic function, but with the switches you can park a train at the station on the outer track and go around it (time 0:58 in the video).
Hope this helps,
Mark
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Post by husafreak on Mar 15, 2019 14:51:31 GMT -5
Thanks everyone. This helps me to "see the light" of how these work together. The video is great for showing me in real time what it would be like to operate the transfers manually. I like the idea of using Y's and two transfer controllers to do a left and right transfer. Not as many options but it gets the job done. Not sure how I can park a train without DCC though. Thinking of both the train station area and the bumper track parking area here. As for DCC I can see how the the Rokuhan e-controller may well be the least expensive option in the long run but I have to study that. I did download the Ztrain magazine review for study. But I also wanted this first layout simple and self contained.
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Post by Commodore on Mar 15, 2019 16:48:49 GMT -5
Thanks everyone. This helps me to "see the light" of how these work together. The video is great for showing me in real time what it would be like to operate the transfers manually. I like the idea of using Y's and two transfer controllers to do a left and right transfer. Not as many options but it gets the job done. Not sure how I can park a train without DCC though. Thinking of both the train station area and the bumper track parking area here. As for DCC I can see how the the Rokuhan e-controller may well be the least expensive option in the long run but I have to study that. I did download the Ztrain magazine review for study. But I also wanted this first layout simple and self contained. DCC = Simple (less transformers, etc) + Fun (just run trains) |
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Post by markm on Mar 15, 2019 16:52:52 GMT -5
This may be more than you need right now, but the Rokuhan turnouts can be configured for power routing: power flows only in the direction they're pointing. Not very useful in DCC but in DC it allows you to disconnect power to a siding or a bumper track and park a locomotive.
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Post by husafreak on Mar 16, 2019 9:32:57 GMT -5
That sounds like it would be necessary with this Cortina layout in DC. The pair of bumper tracks are connected via a pair of turnouts and yes I would like to be able to park trains there. I’ll have to learn more about how power flows through those turnouts.
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Post by markm on Mar 16, 2019 9:45:35 GMT -5
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Post by husafreak on Mar 16, 2019 11:07:09 GMT -5
Ah, this is all a bit "too much" but from a hobbyist standpoint I love it! What is the fascination if you can do something without thinking? So thanks for the turnout manual!
It is too bad the turnouts cannot be powered or unpowered remotely. In actual use I imagine that powered turnouts allow a train to run all the way to the bumper. But then there is no way to keep train A "parked" against the bumper while bringing out Train B from the parallel bumper track. I'm guessing that while operating the turnouts unpowered would allow the trains to be parked there I would have to manually complete the task of rolling a train up to the bumper after the engine passed the turnout into the unpowered track.
I will research the possibility of putting the option on a switch, surely someone has done it.
Using the KISS principle (to make a layout that is visually appealing if limited in operation) I could have one bumper track powered and the other unpowered. I would manually park a train or cars on display on the unpowered bumper and bring the running train in and out of the powered bumper just for fun.
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Post by markm on Mar 16, 2019 11:31:56 GMT -5
Remember that as long as the turnout points to the bumper track "B" it's powered. When the turnout points to bump track "A", it's powered and "B' is de-energized. Rokuhan also makes rail insulators for you isolate sections without using the turnouts and nearly every piece of Rokuhan straight track can accept a poer feed.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2019 12:37:27 GMT -5
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Post by husafreak on Mar 17, 2019 11:37:43 GMT -5
Thank you, I think I get how the turnout power works now and also how I could park a train in any section of track using insulators.
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