Building my pre-war O gauge layout at last...have question.

Try using the non de-railing feature on each switch to trigger both. Inner train comes to the switch and triggers it to flip to the inner and at the same time triggers the second switch also to the inner (assuming that is what you are after).  The same could work on the outer loop.  I've never tried this idea, but I think it would work.

Thanks Dennis.  I neglected to mention these are Lionel 0-31 modern switches.   Do they have the non-derailing feature?   I am use to using Realtrax and they do have it.

Am I correct that power for the switches would come from the track?

Jim.

Not sure about the new switches, but I would think they do.  The old ones had a plug that allowed you to bypass track power and power the switch separately.  I expect the new ones would have that feature as well.  Also, although I have not used the new switches, I thought I remembered people having issues with them. Hopefully someone with experience with them can comment.  Here is a link to an old thread: https://ogrforum.com/...nel-o31-switch-issue

Honestly, old 022's are plentiful and easy to come by even in the box for less than the price of new switches. 

Old 022's

Jim Katz posted:

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.

Grandson Matthew and I are building a new layout as with his brother before him.  This time it is a pre-war style layout of approximately 4 x 7 feet in two tables joined at the center.   It could be transported but it will be too heavy for one person.  I have included my RR Track mechanical drawing for it and a video of the layout that I have shamelessly copied.

Question:  The switches on the drawing labelled 1 and 2 need to work together but throw in the reverse of each other so that the train can automatically trigger them as it travels the outside loop.  Does anyone know how I need to wire those two so they will throw just from the presence of the train?  Maybe point me to a diagram.  Thanks as always.  Jim

 

 

Simple. The switch housing has three terminals. Calling the terminal on the shortest side of switch "A", next is "B" and the last "C". Connect Sw. 1-A to Sw. 2-A and Sw. 1-C to Sw. 2-C.

The switches will interact with each other.

Ron M

Thanks Dennis and Ron.   I will give it a try.

ron m posted:

Jim Katz posted:

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.

Grandson Matthew and I are building a new layout as with his brother before him.  This time it is a pre-war style layout of approximately 4 x 7 feet in two tables joined at the center.   It could be transported but it will be too heavy for one person.  I have included my RR Track mechanical drawing for it and a video of the layout that I have shamelessly copied.

Question:  The switches on the drawing labelled 1 and 2 need to work together but throw in the reverse of each other so that the train can automatically trigger them as it travels the outside loop.  Does anyone know how I need to wire those two so they will throw just from the presence of the train?  Maybe point me to a diagram.  Thanks as always.  Jim

 

 

Simple. The switch housing has three terminals. Calling the terminal on the shortest side of switch "A", next is "B" and the last "C". Connect Sw. 1-A to Sw. 2-A and Sw. 1-C to Sw. 2-C.

The switches will interact with each other.

Ron M

The center is common. By wiring A to A and B to B you are throwing the switches in the same direction. A to B throws the switches in the opposite direction. closed to closed open to open open to closed closed to open. A piece of wire adds so much to routes. I put a off/on switch in the wire to disconnect the action.