I  think this has been discussed before, but what are your thoughts of laying a second track on a helix, and using it for a staging yard? The helix will have 4 turns totalling over 80 feet, enough to stage 4, 20' trains on my layout. 

Good morning.  I've been doing some experimenting using an Arduino based C/MRI system connected to JMRI.  I'm really quite new to using JMRI, but having fun.  I've been able to setup a number of "normal" LEDs and modify the aspects using JMRI signal heads and masts. 

I have over 100 Peco Insul-Frog Turnouts on my layout and am having constant trouble with Loco's (mostly steam) shorting when they cross the frog rails in these turnouts. This is a real distraction when we are trying to have a Operating session and even more so with sound Locos, sound going on and off. I have found that the insulator piece between the frog rails is so inconsistent, some are wide and some are very close together. I have tried heavy duty finger nail polish sometime it works other times not so much. I am at my wits end trying to fix this.

Hi everyone,

Looking for some pointers on how to animate a turnout with lighted signals indicating turnout direction at least and possibly indication control / occupancy. Some aspects of note:

*The turnout will feature two main tracks joining into a single main track as seen below along with position and number of lights indicated.    (3) = 3 Color Vertical    (3 over 2) = 3 Color Vertical over 2 Color Vertical "For the diverging route.

_____________(3)______________________________________(3 over 2)____