I am hoping to reach someone who could help resolve a wiring problem regarding crossings. (Many pages address reverse sections, loops, wyes and turnouts, but not crossings, especially those with solid frogs where the crossing involves routes powered by different boosters).

We have a 4000 sqft club layout in Milwaukee and have had a few problems regarding crossings and shorts. All our other wiring has been problem free.

I can provide more specifics on the problem.

-- Mike Beckemeier (michaelb@execpc.com), April 27, 2001

Answers

Mike:

The only solution, and the one that I use on the Teton Short Line http://www.ida.net/users/tetonsl/railroad/ requires a four-pole, double-throw relay ($5 at Radio Shack). Each of the four frogs attachs to one swinger of the relay- the rest is obvious.

The real problem is how to sense traffic to operate the relay. In my case, I do it manually. It's near a small yard and I work it with the magnetic uncoupling tool in my hand. There is a log lying in the scenery that is in reality a magnetic latching reed switch. Hold the tool one way to latch it and rotate it to unlatch it. A dwarf signal the the crossing indicates the route. If you can read ACAD.DWG files, ask and I'll send it.

-- Wayne Roderick (tetonsl@ia.net), April 28, 2001.

I was really trying to avoid relays and sensors. Was hoping to find a way to gap the frogs and then control the block with an auto-reverser. Any Thoughts??

-- Mike Beckemeier (michaelb@execpc.com), April 29, 2001.