Post 11b 7-13-2016
More Wiring Details on LW Transformers, TT and Tracks
Reply to questions from Casco
All tracks outside rails and transformers share the same common. All transformers are phased so trains can go from a loop on one transformer to another loop with another trans. I have a LW transformer selector switch that select all tracks and all loops to be run on the Red lighted LW trans. A second selection is for Red lighted LW transformer to operate Main board inside loop only and Green lighted LW to operate main board Outside loop and New board to right of Main board. Another LW transformer selector switch on the New board control panel selects which LW will control the New train board. The Green lighted LW can control the Main board Outside loop the New train board. The transformer selector switch can select the Orange lighted LW transformer control the whole New board thus giving three LWs operating the whole layout. This last selection allows three operators to each operate a separate LW and zone.
The turntable track and all the stall tracks have common outside rails. The center rails of the stall tracks are each wired individually to a spot on the rotary selector switch on the control panel thus allowing only one stall track to get power at a time. Once this track is selected, pushing down the momentary Black push button on the control panel allows that track and the TT track are wired for the Red lighted LW trans on the right to control the engine to go from the Inside loop, over the TT and into that elected stall.
I do not have a diagram. All of the center rails of the stall are wired to the rotary selector switch. The rotary selector switch and TT track are wired to the Black push button switch. The other terminal of the Black push button switch is wired to the out put of the Red lighted LW trans. When the TT track and selected stall track are activated by the momentary switch and power from the Red LW is applied, a light comes on in the little house on the TT to indicate power is on the TT.
The Red lighted Trans always controls the stall tracks, TT track and all of the inside loop on the main board. It also is wired to all switches on the inside loop of the main board.
Picture Below:
See the RH track rotary selector switch with black pointer knob: Black push button switch that must be pushed for power to go to selected RH track and turntable track is below the black knob on track to TT.
Red and Green buttons are for switches and Blue buttons are uncoupling or accessories operating track sections. Black slide switches turn On and Off the section of track they are on.
The black slide switches show "white" for "On" and "black" for "Off" (The black is from the black of the switch slide lever). All tracks are blocked into four to eight track pieces sections and controlled by a slide switch. All track on all the Marx 1590 switches are always hot or on.
With the transformer selector switches above the Red lighted LW transformer can also control the Outside loop of the Main board as another selection or it can control the Outside loop of Main board and the New train board thus giving it control of every piece of track on the Whole board.
As to how TT on real trains are controlled, in days of steam the tracks were not powered and trains moved on and off on their own steam power. The same goes for diesel electric engines, their own power but they normally do not use a TT as they can operate in both directions. I do not know about an all electric engine although most would not be on a TT.
If you meant how were real TT rotated, the small ones were often pushed by men by hand with the engine and coal tender balanced as to weight distribution. Bigger ones had small gasoline motors or electric motors through a gear box to rotate the TT.
I hope this helped rather than confused you.
Charlie
revised 1-7-2023
