After months of frustration with trying to make a 4 x 8 layout for my grandson to be stored vertically behind a dresser I am taking the whole thing apart, getting rid of the Gargraves manual switches and track and going all FasTrack on the same 2" Foam base.
After purchasing Ken Hoganson's excellent book, 21 Great Track Plans for Compact Layouts, I chose the Cisco RR Two-Train Operation on a 4'x8' Platform plan on page 111.
I have nearly all the materials to build it and am awaiting the two 048 RH Remote switches. Ken uses a single CW-80 transformer, one 50' roll of 22 gauge solid core two-conductor wire . He runs two runs of wires. One for train power and a second for building and accessory power. He is running LionChief locomotives.
"Power enters the layout at one corner where the wires go under a Woodland Scenics grass mat. The wires are pressed into the foam. That provides power to each of the loops. A wire pair also runs underneath the outer root track to the other end of the layout. That connects to a track section within each train route. Power connects at four places on the layout: two connections at each end of the loop."
He gives alternate power suggestions:
For LionChief or Command Control he suggests using a single power source without any power toggles with two power drops in the middle of each semi-circle (four total).
For Conventional Transformer Control he suggests wiring each of the two loops to separate transformers with a shared common on the outside rails and the center wires to separate transformers. The connecting tracks that connect the two loops should have isolated center rails connected to a SPDT switch. Each toggle connects the sidings center rail to either transformer allowing the trains to change loops. The two spurs would have center rail on -off toggles for loco parking.
My question is that my grandson has one LionChief loco and one conventional. How should I wire it so he can use either / or. Conventional on both loops, LionChief on both loops, or one on each at the same time.
Thanks,
John
I removed the copyrighted track plan image. It consists of an inner and outer loop with turnouts connecting them plus two spurs on the inner loop.
FWIW, I used #14 for my 12 x 24 layout, and I see minimal voltage drops across the entire layout. I also have around 80 drops for the 500 feet of track, so there is lots of redundancy in the wiring.
