Hellgate Bridge and Tubular Track

I put electrical tape on the underside of the track (both ties and rails) going through the bridge.  Some might see that as overkill, but I didn't want any issues with shorts. And, when I added DCS, there were no issues.

John

@Trainlover160, if your talking about the Lionel reissue from about 2000/2001, I can tell you that mine has consistently given me operating problems with TMCC locomotives. According to the documentation, it's supposed to be insulated  against such problems, but neither my standard gauge Commodore Vanderbilt nor my Hiawatha Hudson will run through it without stalling while operating on TMCC.

DCS does not cause the same problems. My MTH DCS equipped locomotives run through it just fine, as do the Lionel engines if I run them on DCS. Why this is beats me. That said, as I only use the bridge for a Christmastime floor layout, I have made no attempt to create a ground plane to address the TMCC signal issues.

At one time I also was troubled by electrical shorts, so I eliminated track screws altogether and replaced them with plastic cable ties to secure the track ties to the structure. End of problem.

For what it's worth, neither the original Lionel bridge nor the MTH repro appear to have these problems.

Good luck!

- Mike

You’ll get many different answers on this. Using gargraves track I run two tracks through my newer bridge and have absolutely no problems with command control. Tubular should be no problem either since it attaches to the bridge through plastic.

@BlueComet400 posted:

I put electrical tape on the underside of the track (both ties and rails) going through the bridge.  Some might see that as overkill, but I didn't want any issues with shorts. And, when I added DCS, there were no issues.

John

Simple, but effective- Thanks

@Mike Casatelli posted:

@Trainlover160, if your talking about the Lionel reissue from about 2000/2001, I can tell you that mine has consistently given me operating problems with TMCC locomotives. According to the documentation, it's supposed to be insulated  against such problems, but neither my standard gauge Commodore Vanderbilt nor my Hiawatha Hudson will run through it without stalling while operating on TMCC.

DCS does not cause the same problems. My MTH DCS equipped locomotives run through it just fine, as do the Lionel engines if I run them on DCS. Why this is beats me. That said, as I only use the bridge for a Christmastime floor layout, I have made no attempt to create a ground plane to address the TMCC signal issues.

At one time I also was troubled by electrical shorts, so I eliminated track screws altogether and replaced them with plastic cable ties to secure the track ties to the structure. End of problem.

For what it's worth, neither the original Lionel bridge nor the MTH repro appear to have these problems.

Good luck!

- Mike

Mike,

I do have the reissue with the lighted towers. I hD considered getting the thinnest sheet of Masonite, cutting little strips, painting black. And inserting into bridge under the track. May be overkill. Since this is going into a permanent layout, I want to be able to run Conv. TMCC,LEGACY, and DCS.

Joe

Joe -

For what it's worth, I tried what you're considering, but I used .020" sheet styrene. It made no difference.

I suspect that the creation of a ground plane may solve your problem, but you'll have to get help with that from someone who knows how to do it.

- Mike