Hello.

Does anyone here have any experience of running trains through trailing points that are set for the other route? It would be a great help to me if I can do that on my proposed layout. I recall having read somewhere that locos and coaches have no problem but I am wondering if some of the lighter stock (e.g. low sided open wagons) can cope with it. I am, of course, talking about the Marklin Z scale points.

Best wishes to all,
Chris.

Thank you for responding.

I presume that K, C and M are all HO scale where the stock is much heavier. Some of the Z scale stock is VERY light (less than 25gr). Unfortunately I am not in a position at the moment to be able to test the idea as most of my stock is packed away and inaccessible.

All the best,
Chris.

Thank you your comments spitzenklasse and ozzman..

Actually, I am unable to check anything at the moment as I am moving rooms (10 years of hoarding junk - cables everywhere - re-routing home network - squeezing quart into pint pot - you get the idea) so trains are inaccessible. While doing the move I am still developing my layout routing logic and trailing through certain points will make matters much simpler. To give you an idea of where I am coming from you can see the layout on my webspace at http://trains.manvell.or...Z-trackplan-20080713.jpg . The points in question are: 2 between signal L2 (rt end of platforms) and detector BA(IR), 1 adjacent to relief road's R2 and 1 at the other end of the relief road adjacent to detectors RA and DC. As you will realise, there will be times when the points will need to be set the 'wrong' way, e.g. to accommodate locomotive access to the turntable, but for normal operation they will only be used to direct trains one way.

All the best,

Chris.

Edited by user 17 April 2011 21:42:35(UTC)  | Reason: Addition of a space after link.

Real nice looking layout. What's the real world size of the squares?
thanks,
-George

Yes, it is an interesting layout, with lots of operational possibilities. I wish you joy of it!

Thanks Rob.

I found a flat truck and tacked it onto the back of a passenger train with excellent results (as long as the train was travelling at a reasonable speed). But, I will only be happy once I have run a train of two-axle wagons through curved trailing points.

So, unless I get problems, I think the answer is "Yes".

All the best to you all,
Chris.

very clever idea. thanks rob!

Thanks for that. I do have that book but it is hidden away in piles of boxes at the moment. I also have 0294 (in German) but as a non-German reading person, I didn't spot that. (Incidentally, the two books are not the same as page 35 is the start of the track plans.)

Chris.

Well, it's now the week after, but better late than never.

Not only could I pull (using my trusty Krokodil) a string of three four-wheel freight cars over a trailing turnout set for the other route, but I was able to push them through it too. A most satisfactory result!

Chris, what is a CDU? For me the virtue of going through a turnout set the wrong way is at the exit from staging tracks. On my "ultimate" layout (as yet not even planned) the trains will always go through those turnouts in the same direction.