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I'm just getting my new layout up and running. It is 100% Postwar. Tubular track, ZW powered. The newest engine is a 1978 Blue Comet. Mostly I will run steam engines- 2037, 2055 , 665 etc. All that to say I don't do "fancy".

There is a downgrade (5-inch drop) that is made up of two 40" sections of "O" Gauge straight track before leading into a 90-degree curve. Just beyond the curve is a 46" drop off to a concrete floor. Except for this curve, I can leave the ZW throttle set in one position and watch the train go about its journey. I was thinking that I could put insulator pins in the center rail at either end of the 80" long downgrade and power this section with a separate tap off the buss line in conjunction with some sort of variable resistor. I'm thinking it needs to be variable because the size/ length of the train could vary quite a bit.

Am I thinking correctly and if so how would I do it? If not, what else might work?

I tried the search function for this forum for someone with a similar issue but after 3 pages of search results I gave up.

Thanks in advance for any help that may be offered.

Richard

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You are right on track.  Pun totally intended!  The separate section can either be powered by a separate throttle output on the zw, set to a lower voltage, or you can use a resistor.   To stay absolutely lionel,  get yourself a lionel 81 rheostat.   

16140348442131790949001217083525

Either way you only need to isolate the center, or hot, rail.  Leave the ground rails connected. 

Good luck.

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Your thought process of isolating that 80” section is correct for separate speed control. What are the other three throttles on your ZW being used for? Is one of them available to power that section? That would be the simplest way. Otherwise if you have another transformer you could phase the two of them and power it with that.

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