Watch those sparks fly! -looking for help w/Realtrax

[SpiderLee]

Hello and thanks for looking.

I'm trying to run two trains on the same oval of track that has two sidings. I'm running the trains in opposite directions. The two sidings each have an insulated track block to pause an engine. The turnouts on the sidings are wired in pairs for opposite throws to route the trains properly. An ITAD is placed on the mainline to tell the paused engine to startup.

The problem: as soon as either of my 1970's Lionel engines move onto the de-energized, insulated track block, the circuit breakers on my transformers trip. Any ideas why?

I'm using RealTrax track and RealTrax turnouts from MTH. I'm powering the layout with two 180w transformers connected to a modern Lionel ZW controller. I've got pictures, details and the layout drawing on my home website if anyone would like to get a visual:

http://home.earthlink.net/~dntrennie/

Thanks, any suggestions welcome!

 

[roryglasgow]

My first thought, which you've probably already thought of, is that the wiring on the siding is backwards...

-Rory

 

[SpiderLee]

Thanks, I did think of that. I've been moving lock-ons to the opposite side of the sidings, but then the circuit breakers trip as soon as power is applied to the track. I'll try again though and thanks again.

-SL