How do I wire 3 rail track for 2 rail operation please?

Highlander posted:

I have just bought some 3 rail Gargraves track and to run some of my 2 rail locos I would like to know how to connect it up for 2 rail operation.  I tried connecting a feed to each of the outer rails and that does not work so any advice would be much appreciated.

That should work unless you have turnouts.

Try a 3 foot section of Gargraves with  wooden ties  for testing.

What engines are you trying to run? (AC, DC?)

What happened when you connected the wires as you describe? Was there a short?

Did you remove any and all three rail equipment from the track?

Thanks for the replies.  It was "a 3 foot section of Gargraves with wooden ties for testing" and I was using a DC 2/3 rail switchable loco with the skate removed and the switch on the loco set for 2 rail running (which has worked fine on some dedicated 2 rail track I have).  There was no other 3 rail equipment on the track and as far as I am aware the controller did not short (it is a dual controller and the other output to a 2 rail HO test track is still working fine.

If I can't get the 2 rail loco running could someone please advise how I should wire the track for a 3 rail loco?

GG track has wooden ties; all 3 rails are insulated from each other from the factory - they do not know that the others exist, unless you connect them with a jumper, intentionally or otherwise.

If you have correctly connected the 2 outside rails to a DC power pack (the center rail does not exist electrically here) and your 2-rail loco does not run, then the problem is with the loco or the power pack.

Next, I would connect the wires directly to the engine from the power as a test and see if it runs. You have to see where you're losing the power and rule things out. I would even try throwing that 3/2 switch a couple of times as they maybe stuck. I have even seen the switch fail.

May sound dumb, did you put in the scale wheels into the engine?

I don't have any 2/3 equipment but don't you have to change out the wheels also?

Rick

Connect you GG track with the + and - leads to outside rails. Use voltmeter to see what voltage you get with pack at max. If you have power it;s loco.

The Rail profile of GG track my not let you run Scale wheels because the flanges aren’t deep enough. You may get constant derailing

Highlander posted:

Thanks for the replies.  It was "a 3 foot section of Gargraves with wooden ties for testing" and I was using a DC 2/3 rail switchable loco with the skate removed and the switch on the loco set for 2 rail running (which has worked fine on some dedicated 2 rail track I have).  There was no other 3 rail equipment on the track and as far as I am aware the controller did not short (it is a dual controller and the other output to a 2 rail HO test track is still working fine.

If I can't get the 2 rail loco running could someone please advise how I should wire the track for a 3 rail loco?

 

hook up your HO out put to the rails one to each outside 

Matt Makens posted:

The Rail profile of GG track my not let you run Scale wheels because the flanges aren’t deep enough. You may get constant derailing

Than k you for that   At the stage I am at every bit of information is helpful.  The loco has coarse scale wheels.  I have no managed to get a loco working in 3 rail mode with one wire to an outside rail and one to the centre rail.  Thanks again