Double Crossover for Kato Unitrack

HikerRobert Dec 28, 2014

  1. HikerRobert

    HikerRobert TrainBoard Member

    55
    0
    12
    Hi Everyone,

    I need some advice or something cleared up. I want to put in the double crossover track section in my layout. The instruction that come with the layouts say two different things. One says I need feeder track to each oval and the other says I need feeder track to each corner of the crossover. So witch one is it. Maybe I am reading it wrong or not understanding it. I am assuming some one has one of these on there layout and can tell me how they did it. I am thinking I can just run a jumper from one set of tracks to the next that are in a straight line. I don't havea diagram showing what I mean, if someone has one lease post it. I also posted this on the Kato user group.Thanks Robert
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,560
    22,735
    653
    Actually it reads as though saying the same thing either way.
     
  3. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

    9,982
    10,821
    143
    I have feeders to the (4) tracks that lead to the (4) tracks of the Xover. I solder the feeders on the leadin tracks as close to the Xover as I can

    I NEVER solder anything on the Xover itself.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 28, 2014
  4. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

    5,685
    2,780
    98
    Robert - the x-over does not pass electricity through on the inner four rails, only the two long rails on the outsides. So, to ensure that you can travel through the double cross over, you need to have electricity feeding into it. Note - this is not "power routing", those legs are dead unless fed externally.

    Now, it also makes a minor difference if you are running DC or DCC, what else is "happening" with the tracks coming from the x-over, etc. Since you mention "each oval", I assume you simply have a dual-oval loop, with the double x-over allowing transition between them. You will need at least one set of feeds on each oval (think about it - this provides power to each leg of the crossover). If you are running DCC, and depending on the size of the overall layout, you may want more feeders on each oval.

    Yes, you COULD just put in a jumper from one set of track to the other, but best practices should be to individually wire the feeders to power buss, and not jumper track-to-track.
     
  5. HikerRobert

    HikerRobert TrainBoard Member

    55
    0
    12
    Hi, I plan on having a double oval. I am just thinking ahead and what I need to buy. I will be running DCC in the near future also. Can I feed both ovals and then also feed the crossover just so I have everything covered. I figure it doesn't take much to run another feeder wire. Thanks Robert
     
  6. brill27mcb

    brill27mcb TrainBoard Member

    38
    3
    9
    To actually answer your question, both descriptions are correct. One presumes that the double crossover is part of a double oval (sounds like you are doing this). The other is more general and doesn't presume anything, meaning the four legs of the crossover can possibly go off to four entirely separate areas.

    Rich K.
     
  7. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

    9,982
    10,821
    143
    Robert...

    Hope this helps. The two short pieces of straight under the signal bridge...and the two short pieces of straight to the left of the yard tower...all have feeders soldered to them. The double crossover itself has no feeders soldered to it. The tracks to and from the double crossover are glued down. The double crossover is not glued down. It 'freefloats'....so nothing binds ;-)

    [​IMG]
     
  8. HikerRobert

    HikerRobert TrainBoard Member

    55
    0
    12
    Thanks, I never thought of it that way. Now that makes sense. I was only thinking of it in an oval not going off into separate areas and not having power to it. Thanks Robert
     
  9. dexterdog62

    dexterdog62 TrainBoard Member

    166
    1
    8
    I love Kato Unitrack. I'm building my layout with Unitrack. I just find the use of the double crossover hard to justify in a North American based layout. It is unprototypical to include one randomly on a layout as they are so rarely seen in real life. Outside of a major passenger station, I've never seen one...
     
  10. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

    9,982
    10,821
    143
    I somewhat agree that a dbl xover just out in the middle of a mainline may look odd. However...near a yard...I find it plausible. I have seen pictures of some really wierd track and switch confugurations around yards. Passenger stations too.

    Then we have n scale and select compression....all leading to >>> "Ya gotta do whatcha gotta do." ;-) JMO...YMMV
     
  11. HikerRobert

    HikerRobert TrainBoard Member

    55
    0
    12
    I have never thought of this either, having a double crossover in a main line but I am not all that familiar with train tracks. I was just going by track plans from Kato. I guess if you were duplicating a real railroad I can see not having one. I guess the average person would never know.
     
  12. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

    9,982
    10,821
    143
    Yup...thats where selective compression comes in. The smaller a layout...the more compression...the more we compromise.

    As an example:

    My THE RV's "U" layout stretched out would be 43'. Taking the turnarounds out at both ends and making it one long track...thats 86' or roughly only 2.5 scale miles of N scale track. Not really enough track for a train to get up to speed...let alone run through 2 towns...past a 1 mile long private resident...a suburban area...and a railroad yard. Using selective compression and me claiming every 3 feet = 1 mile...I can claim almost 27 Miles of track :)

    If we all had warehouses to put our layouts in...we could all lay scale amounts of track to match the real railroad. Since we dont...we make smaller layouts and squeeze things in to make it work. That could well include a double crossover...or 2 !!!

    In the end it's all your model railroad...you build what makes YOU happy. Like I say..."Ya gotta do whatcha gotta do."...just have fun with it :)
     

Share This Page