Back to 3 rail code 148 turnout. How I simplified and did it.

Very interesting project Ron.  We'll be following it..

Nice work. How far from the stock rails did you move the guard rails? Do the 2-rail locomoives/rolling stock have any issues?

Hi Sam and Matt. I moved the guard rails a little less than an eighth but more than a sixteenth. I use some big flanged 3 rail trucks as my guide.

Ron H

Ron H posted:

Hi Sam and Matt. I moved the guard rails a little less than an eighth but more than a sixteenth. I use some big flanged 3 rail trucks as my guide.

Ron H

Excellent.

Don't forget - Legacy, etc. all work in 2-rail.  I bet some truly smart electronics type could make TMCC work with battery power.

bob2 posted:

Don't forget - Legacy, etc. all work in 2-rail.  I bet some truly smart electronics type could make TMCC work with battery power.

Bob, that is what I wanted to do with the TMCC, but I needed a very small inverter to change the battery DC to AC. Couldn't find one. I called ERR to see if they new of a way to directly use DC in their systems, but they are just a marketing team and knew nothing on the subject. I contacted John off line and he had no solutions. I know Lionel has the capacity, but probably do not perceive a marketing opportunity. I could 2 rail AC the TMCC, but it would be a lot of work to do each locomotive. 

Good luck finding an inverter that will fit inside with all the other electronics. I tried for a while but gave up. FWIW... The S scale Legacy electronics will operate on DC power, but I don't think it will work as TMCC and Legacy rely on the ground in your home to your track to complete the signal path. At least that's how I understand it.  Choosing a "Dead Rail" system and starting from scratch would probably be your best bet.

I hope Lionel eventually creates a battery capable system with the quality of RailSounds.

Yeah, I gave up on two railing TMCC, that is why I'm back to 3 rail for the heavy investment in TMCC.

I finally got around to grinding the rails to get rid of some of the factory height differences in the rails and threw on some ballast. Here is 4294 going through the turnout.

The big deal is I have figured out how to modify the 2 rail Atlas code 148s so one has no shorts and I will show later how it is done.

This is how I make a 2 rail atlas 148 turnout operate with no shorting when converted to three rail.

First, one has to flip the turnout over and cut any inter rail electrical connections including the switch rails and frog. All must be dead.

Second, negative power goes only to the outer rails only. The loco doesn't care which side is the negative or ground.

Third, Positive power obviously goes only to the center rails.

Switch rails gapped electrically so even though they pick up negative current through the outermost rails, the current is not passed through to the crossing rails or frog.

All interconnections are severed.

This would be much easier to do with hand built turnouts. If you have any negative current flowing through the inner rails the locomotive or car rollers will spark or short as the train transitions through the inner rails.

I hope this is clear. Also, you can see how I relocated the guard rails to permit the wider flanges of 3 rail locos to go through.

Love it, thanks!