I was wondering what, if any, issues would arise if I attempt to add a gapped bridge to my auto reversing part of my layout.
Background: I bought an Atlas 18" bridge kit and put it together as best I could. In doing so I left of the rail joins that go in the middle of the bridge (two 9" pieces of track for the bridge) This leaves a small gap in the middle.
I am hoping to be able to put the bridge 'inside' a reversing section of the layout. I've done reversing before but was wondering if the extra gap would cause a short or cause the train to just stop.
Thanks in advance
MikeC069
I would make sure that you have current going on both rails all the way through the bridge. Run some wires from each rail joiner on the ends to its rail joiners on the other end. Painting the wire black will hide it.
if you run a set of feeder wires to the track on each side of the gap you should be ok. you'd probably be using more than one set of feeders in the loop anyway, even if you had put the rail joiners in, so you aren't doing anything unusual there.