Is there a way to prevent TMCC signal interference from one track that passes over another independent loop? My main line climbs up a trestle and crosses over a smaller independent loop. TMCC works fine on the main line, but when trying to run command control engines on the smaller underlying loop, they will stall and behave erratically at the "cross-under" point. I assume this is from interference of the TMCC signal. So, I've been just running conventional engines (using the throttle handle from my PW ZW) on the lower loop.

Hopefully Will Allen will jump in here and go into detail, but if I understand correctly you need to run a ground plane around your track to prevent this.

My basic understanding that a ground pane is a strip of metal that runs parallel to your track and is wired to a ground. Many people run a ground wire to copper pipe or even outside to ensure a good ground

With your layout, the overhead track could be causing the signal interferance. Use a wire from your water pipe between your upper track and the lower. Some forum members have used wire between telephone poles to accomplish the same thing. On mine it is between the homosote layer and the plywood. On a earlier layout it even worked under the plywood. Good luck and search the forum for other references. There have been many threads addressing this issue.

As winrose said...

Take a piece of wire and leave the insulation on. Make sure it is long to reach a good earth ground point such as a water pipe or even the ground receptacle or plate screw on an outlet. Anything that is a know good earth ground. Run the wire under the track that goes over the lower loop. Secure it with wire ties or what have you. Disguise it or if it right under the track it shouldn't be seen.

Now keep in mind that this is not attached to anything on the layout end. The wire will basically end where the crossover is clear of the track below and the other end of the wire will tie to the earth ground.

Also make sure that your 3 prong TMCC base power supply is plugged into a well grounded 3 prong receptacle as well. Keep in mind some AC strips have surge suppressors that null the grounding effect.

Will's layout has many of these areas and he and a friend have come up with some creative ways to incorporate these into the layout such as power lines and phone lines. Really neat. But if you are only have issue in this single area I think the simplest method would suffice.

Thanks for the help. I'll give that a try.