New to N scale and XTrackCAD

My name is Bill and I have been collecting European N scale for some 30 years. I am finally ready to start a layout! While working in XTrackCAD I have a problem while running a train. Seems as though the train will come to a connection and automatically reverse. I can't figure it out. Perhaps someone could help. Thanks...Bill

 

Hi Bill, Merry Christmas, and Welcome to the TrainBoard. We're glad that you're on board, and looking forward to sharing lots of information and help with you. I don't know anything about XTrackCAD, but I'm sure there are many here who do and can help you.

 

Welcome aboard, Bill!

In your "throttle window" in XTrackCAD, is the "Auto Reverse" check box checked?

What's happening (most likely) is that at the connection where the train reverses, the track isn't actually quite connected. If you look closely at the joint, you should see only a single line across the tracks (tie tie | tie tie). if you see 3 lines separated by ties (tie | tie | tie | tie), there's no connection, and when the train gets there, it will stop or reverse.

To fix the connection, you can use either the "Join" tool or the "Connect" tool. The "Connect" tool is handy for sectional track, as if they are mis-aligned by a small amount (which will prevent them from being automatically connected), the "Connect" tool will "fudge" the mis-alignment and connect them.

(And yes, this thread/question should probably be in a different forum, probably either Layout Design & Discussion, or Computers & Trains. N Scale gets a lot of traffic, but this question is scale-agnostic).

 

Train reversing in XTrackCAD

Thanks for the information. It seems as though I had a single line at the junction but the train still doubled back on itself. I finally replaced the sections and all is now fine.