Model Railway Reversing Loop Explained - Manual Operation

[@Boobear83]

Finally!!! I found a video where this was explained so “someone like me” could understand it. I know it’s not rocket science, but my head was really starting to hurt. I now get it and it’s going to save me a ton of money as I’m just getting started and I’m not wealthy. Thank you sir!

[@wimbletrain]

Glad it made sense, thanks for watching!

[@markcross2696]

Outstanding!!! Very patiently and thoroughly explained!

[@wimbletrain]

Glad you found it helpful Mark

[@markcross2696]

Your style and the quality of your videos is really great. I look forward to watching all of them soon.

[@BrianSeaman]

Thank you John. That's the kind of stuff I can understand (I'm not an electrician), but you made the process easy to follow. This is a must for anyone venturing into loop building. Cheers, Brian

[@wimbletrain]

Thankyou Brian, I'm glad it's easy to understand, I spent quite a bit of time trying to get it right!

[@duncan1945]

Best video i have seen on this subject. I have a similar problem on mine and that really helped me a lot to understand how it works. Many thanks John. All the best Duncan.

[@wimbletrain]

Thanks very much Duncan for the comments. Glad to know it helped you out. John

[@alexmorgan2296]

Another excellent explanation - gives me the confidence to try to build a reversing loop which is such a great feature on any layout (didn’t dare before!); so thanks for sharing.

[@wimbletrain]

Thanks Alex, glad you got something out of it, good luck when you give it a go! John

[@iansngauge]

Great explanation John! The practical demonstration made it very easy to follow! All the best, Ian.

[@wimbletrain]

Thankyou Ian

[@grahammoores7244]

That is the best example I have ever seen

[@wimbletrain]

Thanks very much, glad it helped

[@MarkJT1000]

Nice clear explanation with graphics that make it so easy follow. Great job, thanks.

[@wimbletrain]

Thanks for watching Mark

[@SciencePotli]

15👍👍👍 Informative knowledge. Great upload friend 👍👍👍

[@wimbletrain]

Thankyou Mr Science!

[@danotech594]

Good job! 👏 Thanks for the tutorial and making this clear. I can see where a reversing loop is good for secondary spurs and operations, definitely be a hindrance on a main though…

[@wimbletrain]

Cheers, thanks for watching!

[@robinatkinson6499]

The best explanation yet ,thanks mate I will try it 👍

[@wimbletrain]

Thank you very much!

[@ModelTrainOutsider]

Excellent walk-through and how-to, John! Brilliant as always! Hope you have been well!

[@wimbletrain]

Thanks very much Anthony, all is well here. Haven't had much time for watching YT recently don't know where to start, too much out there!! Regards and all the best.

[@Wickford_N_Gauge]

"Your turning Japanese, I really think so" 😱🤣🤣🤣🤣 Very nice train 😍 As always a very well laid out and explained tutorial 👏👏👏👏 I 'm sure you could rig up a signal to the mechanism and make it like something the "big railway" does such as single line token exchange 🤔 Very best wishes to the Upside-down from the over the hill ☘️

[@wimbletrain]

🤣🤣 Yes indeed!, was always fascinated by the Kato models and how they are priced so decided to see what they are like. They are very nicely built. The signals idea is interesting, hmm has me wondering now might have to have a bit of a tinker! Cheers and best regards.

[@graemevickery2977]

Hi John, appreciate the overall Reversing Loop plan. Can you elaborate on the wiring of the LED's please including rail hook up and resistor placement as I am unable to interpret this.

[@wimbletrain]

Hi Graeme, The LEDs indicate which rail is the positive side. The Anode of the LED (longer lead) is connected to one rail. The Cathode of the LED (shorter lead) is then connected to a 680 ohm resistor. The other end of the resistor is then connected to the other rail. This is the same for all of the LEDs in the demo. You can't see the resistors because I mounted them underneath the track. Hope this helps. Cheers. John

[@graemevickery2977]

@@wimbletrain Thanks John, very straight forward response. If updating your video you might include this detail or add a schematic. You have helped with an issue which isn't easily addressed as more people just go down the DCC path.

[@lucar.5045]

Can you attach a relais, so when the train hits the reed contact, the relais switches polarity and sense of march?

[@wimbletrain]

Hi, you can buy ready made reversing loop modules online, which will do the job for you. Just do a search on the internet

[@patrickquinn5962]

Just seen your video Great explaination

[@wimbletrain]

Thanks, I'm glad you found it helpful !

[@joshroten3997]

Excellent.

[@wimbletrain]

Thanks for watching Josh

[@davestrains6816]

Great explanation. Very helpful. Thanks for sharing. Dave

[@wimbletrain]

Thakyou very much Dave.

[@lonebeagle]

Great video! Thanks.

[@wimbletrain]

Glad you liked it!

[@mysticrailroad]

Great video John. I understand how it works better now. Aren't there gadgets that do it automatically?

[@wimbletrain]

Hi John, yes there are. Personally, I like to know the basics (that's just me and my tinkering ways!) before diving in to more advanced gadgetry! Also it provides a cheaper alternative if you are on a tight budget. I have no plans myself to include one on my layout it's just someone commented on a previous video asking about the reversing loop. Cheers and all the best.

[@clayc124]

Good explanation. Well I won't be using a reversing loop. I like to sit back & watch the train run.

[@wimbletrain]

Hi and thanks. That's just the basic way it works, you can buy devices that automate the reversing loop so the train can run continuously.

[@harrygolata9762]

Operating a return loupe with dual pwr packs. Can it be done?

[@wimbletrain]

Hi, I guess it would be possible you would have to connect a toggle switch or similar to switch between the two powerpacks.

[@markdalton3834]

Nice!

[@wimbletrain]

Thankyou Mark

[@djulien234]

Put the DPDT switch on the mainline, not the reverse loop. Then you don't need to stop the train on the reverse loop and you don't need to toggle 2 switches simultaneously - the DPDT switch would correct the mainline while the train is moving through the reverse loop.

[@wimbletrain]

Hi, I'm not sure if it would be that simple. You still need to reverse the direction of the controller. Have you done this differently to what I have shown?

[@djulien234]

@@wimbletrain The DPDT switch will only change the polarity of the main line so the controller itself doesn't need to be adjusted. If you use the direction switch on the controller, the train itself will reverse direction, which is not helpful for traversing the cross-over section. I've used this method on my single-line dogbone with reverse loops at both ends and it works well - it allows continuous motion of the train because the DPDT switch only needs to be changed once each time the train is on the reverse loops.

[@wimbletrain]

@djulien234 I see now what you are saying (I had to draw it out!). Thanks, I might have to make a video showing how it works. It's much simpler, and like you said, continuous running with only one operation of the DPDT switch. Cheers

[@daniellojtek]

Nice video. 😃

[@wimbletrain]

Thanks Daniel

[@Richard44077]

Fun!

[@wimbletrain]

Thanks for watching!

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

good vid thanks lee

[@wimbletrain]

Cheers Lee thanks for watching

[@emdB67]

Of course taking it to the next level, you can throw the reverse loop and controller direction switches at exactly the same time while the train is still moving. Just don't forget the turnout if it's not a trailable one. ;-)

[@wimbletrain]

Yes absolutely, I did give it a go at the end of the video and you gotta get your timing right!!

[@emdB67]

@@wimbletrain and so you did. Well that's weird. The video stopped before that last bit when I watched the first time. and I had thought that was the end. lol!

[@MaboPete]

That's very helpful, particularly if the loop is 'hidden' inside hillside scenery with a tunnel entrance..

[@exehavenharbour]

Hi John, very well explained mate, even I understood it, i think…🤔😂 There will be I’m hoping a reverse loop on Exehaven if I can get down to the lower level although I will buy a reverse loop module. Thanks for the demo, always interesting , cheers for now, John

[@wimbletrain]

LOL John, I must be doing something right if you got it! 🤣🤣. I like to start off with basic explanations on how things work just to understand it. Automating this is is a whole new world and I'll let you explain that when you get it going! 🙂 Regards and all the best from oz

[@ryanclarke2161]

Laughs in superior German 3 rail

[@wimbletrain]

Thanks for watching