Static parking sidings - Got it, I think. Thx for help

If you are using the same primary wires as the running track, you might consider locking the engines on the spurs in neutral.

Yup, suggestion noted, and power is from mainline.  Should have been more clear, however, the engines are command control.  Does that present other problems?  Ted

You should be fine, if the power is sufficient (yes) there should be no issues that I can think of.

In my layout design projects, I look for spurs able to hold a train or cars:  always good to have - but sometimes hard to work in.

Looks like  a fun layout - 4 trains running concurrently!

Ted:

Basic answer is no. Command engines will not move until you tell them to do so.

More complete answer has to do with how much current you have available from your power source. With everything lit up you may run out of available current to run the trains you want to. Also depending on the size wire you used for main power/ground from the power source to the first terminal connect you may tend to overheat them maxing out current (in your case I highly doubt this). Best to check total current you have available versus what you are using with all the 'lights' on to see what is left for running trains.

Joe

Model Structures posted:

Ted:

Best to check total current you have available versus what you are using with all the 'lights' on to see what is left for running trains.

Joe

This is good to know.  And will help me when I get it together for something bigger/permanent.   I'm at 2.5A +|- on the DU mainline running engine with smoke and at normal speed, with two additional engines static. Another 1A on BU for buildings, and 1A for lionchief engine on fastrak, on CU. Shouldn't be a problem. I wanted assurance I wasn't damaging electronics in Legacy engines having them sit there with power for an hour or so. Thx for the help, I appreciate it. Ted

On a temporary layout you should be fine. On a much larger layout. I always have a toggle switch to power locomotives down. I have seen things like spontaneous board combustion and operators having the same address and of course a derailment on another part of the layout that have created issues with a parked locomotive with the power left on....best to be safe.

J Daddy posted:

On a temporary layout you should be fine. On a much larger layout. I always have a toggle switch to power locomotives down. I have seen things like spontaneous board combustion and operators having the same address and of course a derailment on another part of the layout that have created issues with a parked locomotive with the power left on....best to be safe.

Gotcha.  I would guess the toggle on/off would just be the center(hot) rail.  How are they organized, by number/letter?  And, do they have command(Legacy) power switches, if so do they work well?

Just a FYI, if you ever get any MTH engines, they keep track of the hours the engine is powered so the clock will still be ticking while parked. I don't think Legacy engines keep track of this. Some folks look at that as an indicator of run or on time when purchasing a used engine. Should you ever want to sell one it might make a difference. Something you might want to think about if you make a permanent layout.

Cutting power to the center rail only is how I kill power to all my sidings and spurs, works fine here. I have a lot of MTH engines, most of them in fact. Only have just a few Legacy engines.

rtr12 posted:

Just a FYI, if you ever get any MTH engines, they keep track of the hours the engine is powered so the clock will still be ticking while parked. I don't think Legacy engines keep track of this. Some folks look at that as an indicator of run or on time when purchasing a used engine. Should you ever want to sell one it might make a difference. Something you might want to think about if you make a permanent layout.

Cutting power to the center rail only is how I kill power to all my sidings and spurs, works fine here. I have a lot of MTH engines, most of them in fact. Only have just a few Legacy engines.

Wow!  Wouldn't have thought of that.  "For Sale, 1000 hours 500k miles SD70ACE NIB"    MTH engines require a DCS control system, right?  That means at least a TIU, MTH WiFi, and the WiFi (premium) app, (DCS remote going away). Eatin up the better part of $400 bucks??  Not sure I'm into it that heavy quite yet to have two control systems.  Time will tell, I guess.  TW

It's just the hours, you have to actually run it to rack up the mileage. If I were just getting into DCS today I would get the full DCS package (TIU and Remote - $350 MSRP I think) to start with and the WiFi stuff can be added any time later on. Street price for the TIU & Remote might be in the $300-$320 or so range? The remotes will be around for a while yet. Personally, I still prefer the remote although I have the WiFi and app, but I am old.

You can't run DCS with a Lionel system, but you can run Lionel with a DCS system. However, you still need a Lionel base to do so. Might as well just get the full Lionel Legacy system and have both in that case, which is what I did. Then you get the full features of all engines, MTH and Lionel. Of course the electronics part is just as interesting to me as the trains are so I may have a different view here on the additional control systems.

Again, not suggesting you need to do all this, just something to think about for future planning. I got back in the hobby in 2011 and bought a few things I really did not need and missed a few that I needed. I think for most, there is a learning process. I am still learning and this is a good place to learn!

I'm highjacking my own thread talking about control systems, so I can "search" that topic myself. I think I have a handle on the sidings and/or spurs. I'm actually thinking about(this isn't a joke), about getting a bigger chunk of cheap carpet to approximate a raised layout area.  Try out ideas. Am starting to figure out what I want to do, operation, theme(s), geographic location around the room, even a name(maybe this- 大君  複合企業  鉄道 ) , etc,etc. Will take my time.  Ted

I did what you are thinking about with the carpet, only I got ordered a 6'x16 Mianne bench work kit. The Mianne is easily re-configured and added on to for expansion. It's pretty difficult for me to work on the floor, bad knees and back. That part worked out very well.

What hasn't worked is that I have rains running and have been stuck trying to figure out what I want to do for an expansion plan. I think the running trains is sort of a double edged sword. I did that because I wanted to learn and experiment to see what I liked and id not like, the good part and it works. The bad part is there are so many options for an addition and it's difficult to commit to a final plan. I always want more than I either have room for or can afford. However I imagine all of us have that problem, unless we happen to be quite wealthy (which I am not)!! 

So much for me... I hope you don't get stuck like I have and can get things all figured out more quickly and move on to your layout building. 

Also, IMO, there is no better place for knowledge and information than the OGR Forums, you are in the right place!!