So here is my idea...sort of...
I want to have a loop with an isolated siding...but the siding has the same power supply as the main.
I want to enter the siding, then reduce voltage within the siding block to stop the train...but only on the siding. The loop voltage is still constant.
What device do I use to reduce the voltage on the siding?
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I'm sure the brains here can fill you in on how to go about your idea. However, from a simple electrical outlook, I would suspect that you could power the siding with a second terminal on let's say a traditional ZW. For instance, the right hand lever would control the main while the smaller variable voltage throttle, just to the left of the RH lever controls the siding. Since the U terminal grounds everything, you should be okay.
My over simplified approach would be to pull the train into the siding so that one of the center rollers of the locomotive is resting on the siding center rail. Now you can cut the power on the main throttle and use the secondary throttle to take over.
What I did was run the power for the center rail of the siding through a toggle switch. One leg of the toggle goes to the siding and the other leg goes to the hot side of your transformer. You also have to isolate the siding by using an insulator pin where you want the switched power to start. I use lighted bumpers so I can tell whenthe siding is powered.
You could feed the block through an adequate capacity variable resistor. Lionel marketed one before WWII, so users could get better control from the multi-volt transformers between steps. ANy derailment on the siding could easily overload (maybe burn out) the resistor.
I'd use a secondary transformer, it dispenses with all the vagaries of the resistor approach.
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