Two rail catenary operation

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Two rail catenary operation - How does it work?

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einotuominen		#1 Posted : 06 February 2025 07:08:40(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 19/09/2022(UTC) Posts: 459 Location: Kaarina		Hi, Just out of curiosity. How does two rail catenary operation work? Let’s say the overhead wire is connected to the red terminal (dc+) and right rail is also in the same terminal. Left rail is then the return rail (dc-). Loco works in one orientation, but how do you switch orientation and how do you know which way is the right way to put it? Same issue with DCC I guess as wrong orientation creates a short. -Eino


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mvd71		#2 Posted : 06 February 2025 10:05:42(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 09/08/2008(UTC) Posts: 1,918 Location: Auckland,		I suspect most two rail users don’t operate with powered catenary


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JohnjeanB		#3 Posted : 06 February 2025 11:12:05(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC) Posts: 3,553 Location: Paris, France		Hi Eino Just like you suspected, the power of the second loco comes from one of the rails and the catenary. and if you rotate the loco 180° it does not work anymore as intended Only the Märklin system gave true independance of 2 locos without restriction (and maybe Trix Express, not sure here) Cheers Jean
		My layout videos latest vid marshalling yard My Layout

2 users liked this useful post by JohnjeanB		marklinist5999, hennabm
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marklinist5999		#4 Posted : 06 February 2025 12:40:53(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 10/02/2021(UTC) Posts: 3,869 Location: Michigan, Troy		If the power supply polarity can be reversed if you turn the locomotive around, why wouldn't it work the same way? About a decade ago, pantographs became aesthetic only anyway. I don't have any models after 2007 with working pantographs other than movable.


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JohnjeanB		#5 Posted : 06 February 2025 17:09:03(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC) Posts: 3,553 Location: Paris, France		Hi Simply because we assume we are in 2 rails here - the normal DC loco can be turned around 180° the loco will reverse but because of the 180° rotation it goes towards the SAME location. Even when rotated it is STILL controlled by its control unit. - to control the OTHER DC loco (almost independantly) you connect its power supply between ONE OF THE TWO RAILS and the catenary. Similarly this OTHER loco picks its power from ONE OF THE 2 RAILS and the catenary. If you rotate the OTHER loco by 180° it will then pick the power from tha ALGEBRIC ADDITION of the two control units which is NOT very interesting (no real control and risk to burn the loco by application of up to TWICE the voltage). Cheers Jean
		My layout videos latest vid marshalling yard My Layout

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einotuominen		#6 Posted : 06 February 2025 17:51:13(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 19/09/2022(UTC) Posts: 459 Location: Kaarina		Great discussion! Thanks! -Eino

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hennabm		#7 Posted : 06 February 2025 19:02:47(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 22/09/2009(UTC) Posts: 2,073 Location: Edinburgh,		Originally Posted by: JohnjeanB Hi Eino Just like you suspected, the power of the second loco comes from one of the rails and the catenary. and if you rotate the loco 180° it does not work anymore as intended Only the Märklin system gave true independance of 2 locos without restriction (and maybe Trix Express, not sure here) Cheers Jean The Z system has a working catenary. The lok has to face the way of the arrow on the bottom of the lok. Turn it the other way and no go. Mike
		1957 - 1985 era What's digital?

5 users liked this useful post by hennabm		marklinist5999, TrainIride, Carim, mbarreto, 1borna
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