I know return loops and or Y's require their polarity to be switched.  Nearly all of the references mention that the switched track section must contain the whole train.  Is this intended to include rolling stock with insulated axles or just the power units?  I can't see how normal insulated axle rolling stock could cause a short.

Thanks

Dick Sipp

Looking to create colorized smoke.

Namely a iron oxide red, nat gas flaming blue.

Looking to do this for industrial sceenery, namely steel industrial stuff.

Iron oxide red smoke to be used for slag pit, steel-making stack, BF cast house.

The blue for BF bleeder (gas bleed off burner).

Is it a matter of adding a coloring compound, or buying the stuff.

Think cheap, the cheaper the better.

On my HO switching layout I have 24-Inch radius "super elevated" curves using plastic shims underneath the ties.  All curves have proper easements.  

The super elevation height change is very gradual, (at least slightly longer than my longest 60-foot car), and set at the following levels throughout the turn:

.010 - before the start of the curve and into the begging of the curve

.020 - next level up 

.030 - maximum elevation

The super elevation of the curve than decreases from .030 to .020 to .010  

Let's assume I know little to nothing about DCC (very accurate assumption).  Instead of programming CVs numerically, I want to use a plug-and-play graphical interface.

Exactly what does a Sprog3 do? 

What do I need to program using DecoderPro-style?  Have a laptop and a test track, but what needs to go between them?

Cost is a consideration, of course.