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I'm still trying to set up my first layout but had a question about the location of block isolation points.  As an example it really would be easiest to locate these with a fiber pin at the center of diverging tracks out of a switch.  However, I had previous advice to move them back an inch or so from the O-31 Lionel tubular switches I use.  I'm guessing this is to not interfere with that switch's anti-derail function or speed of the train/shortness of the switch or both.  Is this generally true?  Does the same hold true with larger switches like Ross O54 and O72 that I use elsewhere?

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 Perhaps there’s something within the newer remake of the O22 (O31) switches that defeats the non derail function when fiber pins are used immediately at the divergent, or straight thru track...but I believe they’re electrically identical to the postwar version. 

Having said that, eight of my PW O22’s are isolated with fiber pins in their center rail, and they’ve performed perfectly.  They are fed by 16 volt fixed voltage, which I would think helps, versus track power. 

Tom

There is no electrical reason why you can't put the block ends at the joint with the switch. However, there is a reason why you might not want them there, which is logical not electrical. That would be if you were trying to stop a train, you wouldn't want it to get beyond the "fouling point". Fouling point is where the train on one track interferes with the other track.

Tom - When you use the fixed voltage plug on an 022 or modern equivalent, by definition you are disconnecting the motor power from the track power. The entire point is to keep a constant voltage going to the lamp and coils, regardless of what you are doing with the track power. If you unplug that, it reverts to using track power for those functions.

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