Help with setup

Have you purchased any engines?  You have picked two popular roads, so choices are not going to be difficult.  I recommend getting a system that is wi-fi enabled.

I think your layout is busy.  I would suggest cutting out the cross over part and make a simple set of switches at the top of your layout.

John

Hi John,

Thank you for the response. I have the Lionel union pacific double diesel engine and 2 ready to run sets (Pennsylvania flyer and Santa Fe) . I am almost done with the track layout. I am not sure how to power the tracks and set up the switches. The ready to run sets came with 2 ac adapters to power the tracks but I assume they would not be sufficient. Is there a command module that I should look into?

Thanks again, 

Arun  

So your engines are lionchief?   If so  and you dont plan to run any AC trains you can just isolate 2 72 watt DC power packs  and run the Lionchief engines.   Us one pack on the outside loop and one on the inside.  Very simple to do .. You will also want to run some power feeders to points around your track.  I have a 17x11 around the room set up and thats what I use with Fastrack.

Jim

Thank you Jim. Both the Pennsylvania flyer and Santa Fe are lion chief. However, the union pacific diesel locomotive 6- 28311, I am not sure about.

Thanks again! 

OK if you want to run AC trains you can but you will have to get a good transformer.   Ive used 2 CW80s without problems.  But most say that isnt enough.   Maybe a Z4000 would be good.  

Jim

If you're not planning on running command control engines, like Legacy, I would start with a single CW-80 or Z-1000 and run a standard buss line with several power drops (feeders) about every 10' of track and see how that works. It should be fine for what you've described. There are many threads on here that discuss how to set that up.

In addition, the CW-80 has a separate outlet on the back that will power your accessories (run the outlet to a 12 port distribution block and then hook your accessories up to that).

If you need more power you can always add another or sell and upgrade to something like a Z-4000.

The Lionel 6-28311 is a Legacy DD35.  You have multiple issues if you want to run this beast.  First, I don't think the CW-80 is going to cut it, powerwise.  Second, it is rated for minimum 042 curve but recommended is 054; your outside loop is 036 with 048 easements - I see derailments in your future.  Lastly, while the DD35 will work in conventional, you really won't get the full effect without a legacy control (appx $400).  Your two Lionchief units will work fine on this layout.

Good luck.

Thank you very much for the responses. Dan, I would have to consider expanding my curves with extensions on this layout with a Legacy control.  I will work on it. Thank you all again for the input. I really appreciate it. 

The minimum you will need to do is make the outside loop all 048 curves.  Big locomotives, like the DD35, look and work better on large radius curves, so go as big as you can.

The power supplies that came with the Lionchief sets are okay for them but if you are going the run other locomotives, lighted cars and accessories you are going to need more power.  Transformers are not cheap but are critical to your operation.  Overthink the transformer size, bigger is better.

I'm not sure where you got this layout plan, so I do not know if you got a wiring plan to go with it.  Since you are new, the simplest connections you can make are to attach one power supply to the inner loop and the other to the outer loop.  To isolate the two loops disconnect the red wire on the fitter piece of each of the two 048 switches on the outer loop that connect it to the inner loop (the switches that lead to the crossover)..

Danr posted:

The minimum you will need to do is make the outside loop all 048 curves.  Big locomotives, like the DD35, look and work better on large radius curves, so go as big as you can.

The power supplies that came with the Lionchief sets are okay for them but if you are going the run other locomotives, lighted cars and accessories you are going to need more power.  Transformers are not cheap but are critical to your operation.  Overthink the transformer size, bigger is better.

I'm not sure where you got this layout plan, so I do not know if you got a wiring plan to go with it.  Since you are new, the simplest connections you can make are to attach one power supply to the inner loop and the other to the outer loop.  To isolate the two loops disconnect the red wire on the fitter piece of each of the two 048 switches on the outer loop that connect it to the inner loop (the switches that lead to the crossover)..

And we should note that the power supplies that come with Lionchief sets are DC.  A big no no for the Legacy engine which runs on AC.  Lionchief will run on either.   I sure hope someday we can run Legacy on DC. 

Jim

Danr posted:

The minimum you will need to do is make the outside loop all 048 curves.  Big locomotives, like the DD35, look and work better on large radius curves, so go as big as you can.

The power supplies that came with the Lionchief sets are okay for them but if you are going the run other locomotives, lighted cars and accessories you are going to need more power.  Transformers are not cheap but are critical to your operation.  Overthink the transformer size, bigger is better.

I'm not sure where you got this layout plan, so I do not know if you got a wiring plan to go with it.  Since you are new, the simplest connections you can make are to attach one power supply to the inner loop and the other to the outer loop.  To isolate the two loops disconnect the red wire on the fitter piece of each of the two 048 switches on the outer loop that connect it to the inner loop (the switches that lead to the crossover)..

Just an FYI, I have a DD35, it does just fine on my flat inner O36 loop but it looks absolutely stupid doing so as the overhang is quite large. I also have an O48 outer loop with an incline, at first it would derail at the top of the incline as I have a curve right before the loco reaches the top. I have since fixed this by ensuring that the track is perfectly level but the overhang is still a bit of an eye sore if you care about those things.

P.s. O36 back to back switches are out of the question and O48 back to backs seem to JUST let the loco through.

You have a large engine and a small layout, unfortunately a recipe for disaster and a lesson I learned the hard way.

Good Luck!

Thank you for all the kind responses. I am expanding the layout on the ends to include a O60 curve. I am planning on getting the legacy control and a ZW transformer. Would that be a decent setup to start wiring?

Thanks again, 

Arun.