I working on my/ our first set together. I have a problem that i need help with. This is h/o silver nickle track, i picked up a 90 degress crossing and when I connected it together i had no power. I now realize that it created a short circuit but how do i fix it. My 5 y/o and i are new to this hobby, pls help
Thanks
Good Morning,
Without seeing a track plan, the best I can guess is that you have a reverse loop on your railroad. If you can go into a segment of you track via a turnout and come back out that track via the same turnout then you have a reverse loop which requires special wiring. Best way I can help you visualize would be to imagine a figure 8 railroad. Once you have either or both sides of the 8 connected by straight track you created a reverse loop.
Since you are new to the hobby, I strongly suggest you get one of the Atlas beginners books. They will show you how to wire a reverse loop or wye track using their components and they make it very easy.
Bob Rule, Jr.
Hatboro, Pa.
There is a Kalmbach book about wiring that you might want to read. If if you are going to be making a temporary layout, you might just want to re-arrange the track instead of doing fairly complicated wiring for a beginner. Remember, if the train can reverse it's direction on your layout, there's going to be a short circuit. ;)
Shut off power to reset power box. Always shut off and unplug power before any track moving or restructuring.