Atlas-O Signals and Fastrack questions..

Adam,
The first thing you want to check would be two outside rails on the switch.Most likely they are tied together common. This would be the long straight rail and the long curved rail. You do not want to interrupt continiuity on either of these two rails.They common or ground is normally connected to these rails and if you isolate either one no trains will run across the switch. The two exit rails on the inside that are in front of the frog also cannot be used as these control the nonderail feature on these switches.The best way to get around the problem is to make a short section of rail ahead of the two short rails I mentioned. Then attach your insulated rail lead wire from the sections you want for your block. You will also need to place an insulated rail on the end of the switch (entrance) end across from the long straight rail. Now you can connect the wires from the insulated rail sections that make up the block you want to create. You can connect multiple wires to the signal control board "DIN". If you need further clarification you can reach me at www.steve@AtlasO.com .

Hi Adam, I have the back of a FasTrack 036 remote switch as we speak. It is my feeling you will not be able to do that.
There is a ground tie bar just behind the pins on the straight branch exit. It connects the long rail to the short rail near the track screw hole. That bus also supplies a ground to the circuit board via a yellow wire. The control rail for straight is the little rail near the V frog. The continuing straight rail that extends to the straight rail is insulated from ground.
With the long rail as a insulated rail for the singal circuit I feel short locos may stall on switch. The non-derail takes a very low current, but it may not work properly until the other train wheels give ground to the long rail. The non derail depends on a clean ground signal for the most part.
I expect you could cut the pins on each end of the switch long rail & have your signal control rails on each side. Only a short loco or motorized unit would fail to trip the signal.
As a point of information, if all the outside rail pins were to be cut off a switch, you can always ground the switch via the AUXGND terminal on the bottom. It is crimped to the ground bus internally.
Very best, Don Johnson