Layout zones

@cpasam posted:

Any solution, in layman’s terms please?

@cpasam,

Not easily.  The locomotive crossing over is temporarily carrying the command level voltage from the zone it's leaving to the zone it's entering, until of course it completely clears the track joint with the plastic pin in it.

It's acting as a short circuit, i.e. a jumper, between the center rails of the two zones, temporarily.

1.) Go to dead rail and that will solve your problem.

    or

2.) Insert a track segment, not electrically connected (dead), approximately the same length as your locomotive in place of the joint that presently has the plastic pin it.  Place a plastic pin in each end of this segment.  As long as its moving at a reasonable speed the locomotive will carry itself into this dead section and out the other end of it without acting as a jumper.  It won't be powered during the center portion of the transition (when directly over this dead section), and as such will simply be coasting through.

Mike

You should consider adding a single-pole, double throw toggle switch for each block. Set up the toggle so it connects either your ZW or your command voltage to the block/track (assuming you have a common return for both). That way you can easily select whether you want to run conventional or command for each block.  Of course you'll need to switch these toggles as your train progresses through the blocks, but this would eliminate the transition mismatch between the current block and the upcoming block.  This is similar to what HO scale folks do when they are running two transformers (dual cab control) for two trains.  Look online for block control wiring - ignore that it is for DC, because your problem is identical even though it is for O gauge.  Running conventional and command on the same track is messy.

Dale

If you don't like any of these electrical solutions, you could consider implementing some operating rules. For example, newer engine seeking to exit zone X (in your scenario) is not permitted to enter zone Y until older engine is at a station stop, or stop signal. Then newer engine is allowed to move into zone Y. Now older engine may proceed in zone X.

I think it would be fun to wire up two signals controlled by toggles on your control panel. One signal is at the exit from Zone X to Zone Y and is normally red. When the newer engine comes up to it, it has to stop. Now you can throw a toggle to turn the other signal--on the route of the older engine--red. You stop it in front of it. Now you change the exit signal to green and the newer train enters zone Y.  Once the engine has passed into zone Y, change the exit signal back to red, and you can change the signal in front of the old engine to green. No need for fancy detection. Two SPDT toggles would do the job.