So luckily Im at the stage in my layout where I can get things right the first time around. Right now I am running DC but I do plan on getting a DCC system soon (6 or so months from now) anyways what my question is, I am going to have a double track mainline and from browsing through the DCC forums I got a little more confused. Do I have to completely isolate the inside track from the outside track? Or can i just simply hook it all up with no insulators? Basically I just have a simple oval no fancy reverse loops or anything like that. I have not laid any track down yet, I just want to make sure I co this right the first time. thanks!
Think of a double track mainline as simply a really, really long passing siding. From what I know, DCC double tracks do not have to be isolated. You can have one train running one way on track 1 and another running the other way on track 2 because DCC decoders are what determine train movement, not the track itself (although a reverse loop or wye without proper wiring will equal NO train movement!)
Awesome, that was the answer I was searching for. Alrighty, now next step is to save some cash that I'm currently blowing on building my layout on a DCC system. Too bad christmas is 12 months away haha. Luckily I only have 3 locos that I would need to convert, and from what they look like they only need drop in decoders. Thanks again!
Seperate loops do not need to be isolated from each other with the exception of using Electrofrog switches between the loops,you will still need to insulate the frog rails. Insulating the two loops would give you the ability to run DCC on one loop and DC on the other. My clubs layout has three loops (soon to be four) that can be run on either DC or DCC to accomodate members not having DCC systems. Since most decoders are dual mode it will not damage them.
You might want to consider isolating them anyway and using each track as a separate power-block. I'm building a double loop w/ double tracks (a double-double) and that's what I'm planning to do.
