basic wiring 101

I run conventional.  I'm also new and learning. I'm not sure how to help with DCS.

 

I isolate the center rail if you want to stop a train in that section.  I isolate one of the outer rails (be consistent! I use inside rail for isolation) when I want that block to trigger something like an accessory or in my case fire a relay that will then trigger some automation.

 

Here's a video of what mine does.  Just got it working today:

 

 

I just watched it. nice. I just use a small gap of isolated outside rail to activate an accessory. I plan on using block sections to make it possible to run more than one train on a single line.

 

ill have to get pictures of ours on here once we get it at least running we plan on using nanny cams on the locomotives to run our trains. we would then be able to watch them on our tv.

Yeah, isolated outside rail for accessories is the right track.  isolating the center rail will let you stop a train.  I thought that the digital systems would do it without having to cut power to the center rail.  You'll need to deactivate the reverse feature on the loco if you chose to do it that way.  You won't be able to back up or sit in neutral.

Well you still need blocks to isolate power supplies from one another so you can run multiple trains one same track

What is the grade of your over/under?  And how'd you handle the transition from flat to incline?

From what I understand at this point is that the dcs signal travels the center or hot rail and the outside is just neutral. The only reason you isolate the center rail is for the block section for separate transformer control. This comes in handy when running multiple trains on one loop of track.