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Transformer For 2-3 Lines?
Arthur has a question he is hoping someone will be kind enough to answer:
“I purchased last year a train set for my grandson aged 5. I have been busy collecting some trains over the year and I am about to start on the layout.
Hoping to either have 2 or 3 lines going plus some sidings. Could one of your knowledgeable readers advise what can of transformer to obtain. I dont think the one I have is suitable (probably only for 1 line).”
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2 Responses to Transformer For 2-3 Lines?
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If you want to run multiple trains on your layout and still keep the wiring simple, I suggest you consider digital command control. I will involve installing decoders (or purchasing locos with them already installed) but it’s simpler than the wiring for direct current layouts. You would either have to create blocks that you can switch a single transformer to, or install multiple transformers on isolated tracks. Things to think about!
Hi Arthur, Kens answer is great and if you plan to continue to go larger on your layout this may be the way to go. For me old habits die hard and I will probably stick with DC. I have seen a lot of problems with both DC and DCC on different sites and in my estimation DC seems easier to find and avoid problems in the long run, but that is me. That being said, in a train set while all parts are good they are not the best but a good starter. If you decide on DC and you are going to run or want to run more than one line at a time and control each line at different speeds etc, you will need to segregate each section of the layout with insulator track connectors and run power to each section seperately with different power packs (transformers)that goes for the sidings as well, by the way power to these sidings can be controlled by 1 transformer and mulitple on/off switches as long as you insulate the sidings from the rest of the layout and power each one separately. It sounds like a lot but it is not. You will actually be building multiple layouts with in one layout. Operation can become a little complicated and running one line into another can also be complicated, but it can be a lot of fun during operation and to me more realistic. Once you do it it becomes easier and just as enjoyable as DCC, I think. If you are new to this you may want to invest in Roberts book and or a good layout book like “Atlas” has. You will get the basics up to the in depth info. I have installed one DCC piece of equipment that basically runs on its own for a reversing loop, but that is another discussion that has been previously blogged on this site.
Tony P