Gearedenginefreak,

IT WORKED!! On the first try for BOTH engines!!!! I can hardly believe it. I finally had time and didn't expect anything and it worked like magic!!

THANK YOU!!!!!

All,

What would happen if I installed 3 AR-1s, but I only actually needed two. Will the third installed AR-1 cause me problems if it truly did not exist in a reverse loop?
Seriously, this could be my very last question for this string!!  Don't miss your opportunity to educate and as my mother would "to have the last word"!  

AND I just realized that I am missing the PM42 I once had attached before dissembling for moving to new home. 

Hi Flare,

I've gotta ask. Where are you going to purchase your PSX-AR?

Thanks for the tip! I didn't realize there were two types.

Hi Jeff,

We happened to have a train show in town last weekend so I had it checked out and I think it's doing OK. I am optimistic about "Zee".
The jury is still out on my conviction of loco destruction.

I've been spending time tonight researching different reverse loop gizmos. Um, there is quite a variety! Now I know you like AR-1, but... I've read PSX-AR might be better (though more costly). When I reviewed the installation sheet, I nearly ran for the hills. AR-1 seems much easier to install, but everyone raves about PSX-AR. I should stick with cheap and simplicity, right?

Sorry, Jeff, yikes, I was hit with dyslexia typing- SC64 is my code for DS64.

You are correct in that the only means I understood to address the reverse loop and changing polarity are those simplistic insulated joiners.

Much. to. Learn.

Thank you for this contribution and I will study it very closely now!
Lizz

Gearedenginefreak,

Thank you! If this works, I will be ecstatic!! I have to finish my non-train 8 hour of work first. (finger tapping and sighing)

jward,

My million dollar answer will be worth a nickel. I inherited this layout. I haven't been using the DS64 wired to this particular, problematic turnout or any others. I haven't spent my time in learning this aspect yet. I manually flip the switches and not that specific one very often (which could have revealed/caused this problem)!

So, would the SC64 been the correct power source for the reverse loop or should I go ahead and purchase OG AR (and keep procrastinating use of the SC64)?

Trainman203- thanks for the hope! I don't want to be a loco-murderess. 

The loco that I am most saddened to lose is this one: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=kato+ho+union+pacific+5714+ac4400cw&view=detail&mid=27D1C0E06C93AEF0227D27D1C0E06C93AEF0227D&FORM=VIRE

What a great paint job done on this one!

Hi Flare,
Yes, I'm using 4 insulators on the turnout. The feeders appear to correct, but I will double check that again. (It's a low chance of that being the cause).

Hi Gearedenginefreak,
It's a Kato loco DCC with sound (so not cheap). I don't know the type of decoder- still looking for it online though so I can answer you.
What if there is no response? Send back to Kato for repair?

Thank you both!!

Hi! I am using Digitrax DCS51. It's possible that I missed seeing the rolling o's. I was focused on the voltage tester.
The closest feeder wire to the turnout is four feet away. Yes, the 2 sets of tracks off the frog have the insulator joiners. Do I need to replace the turnout?
It's difficult determining the reverse loop on the layout even for experienced folks. I will look into the OG AR for certain. Thanks!

Let's suppose their placement is correct. Could I have caused the short with crossing 3 tracks with the voltage tester?
I see no outward damage to the trains, but are they lost cause?

I wish I knew! I have a photo of the layout diagram which is only 37KB and the system is not allowing me to upload it. One of those days!
The layout is a figure 8 with an outer circle that can loop you back to the opposite direction meeting right back up at the same turnout.   

Hello, I am fairly certain I just killed two DCC trains. They are dead on the main line and test track. Other trains will work on the test track and I am too fearful to put them on the layout. Could I have caused the short by placing Proses track voltage tester across a turnout's 3 rail lead (yeah, I'm on a 2 rail HO)? Or did the short happen because that same turnout happens to be a reverse loop (it has insulated connectors) but the trains always stopped at that point? I ran them over the area A LOT to determine where the power loss was happening.  Recommendations on how to fix this? And are my trains permanently goner's?

Thanks- I'm so sad by all this! But I am really trying to learn as much as I can!