So looking into building the Cortina layout and it calls for several isolating tracks and isolators. Which, from what I gather , is to be able to run 2 locos on the inner loop and one loco on the two outer loops, as well as have the signal lights being functional (with the circuit track) to stop an approaching loco as the lead loco passes a circuit track (8589), then as the lead loco passes over another circuit track it turns the signal light to green as well as run power to the trailing loco....do the two locos run off of one transformer?

Broadly I understand they are used to "isolate" the tracks from one another.

But I still have some questions...total newbie here so you'll have to explain it to me as an equivalent 13 year old

1 - can you leave off the isolators and run one loco on the whole layout?
2 - if you have one isolator track, do you have two transformers and one brown wire from one transformer to one side of the cut track and another brown wire from another transformer to the other side of the cut track?

Thanks

Brilliant!! exactly what I needed.....thanks