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May 28, 2006 7:25 am I have had a preliminary look at my model train layout. Here are my first notes, which I will copy & paste into a train website later.
I began by trying to draw a diagram of the layout. At the moment the layout is not operational, but I consider the track placement to be about 90% accurate, with only a few minor changes likely. The track has yet to be firmly attached to the plywood tables.
I determined that a square on the quad-lined graph paper should represent 4". I then marked off the boundaries of the room. At that point it occurred to me to cut rectangular pieces of blank white paper corresponding to the plywood tabletops and then glue them to the graph paper. This has the advantage of 'erasing' the quad lines where the actual layout occurs and should make it clearer when I place the track and buildings.
The first surprise - I am sure there will be many more - was when I noticed the box containing the pieces for a high level bridge. I have always wanted to have that feature on the layout. While standing there wondering how I could fit it in, it occurred to me that I could add another smaller plywood table in the open space near the entrance to the room. It would be relatively easy to add a branch line to the existing main line that would incorporate this feature. This idea leads to two more tasks: building the additional tables and building the actual high level bridge.
I like the way the day has begun. I am still fairly flexible and open to alternatives. However I must remain focused on my priorities. The first priority is to firmly attach the track to form the upper level mainline and verify that a train will run smoothly on it. This mainline is essentially an oval that will allow trains to run continuously while I am operating other locomotives on the branch lines and sidings. The second priority will be to firmly attach the track to form the mainline on the lower level. The third priority will be to create the scenery along this mainline. Concomitant with this, I will take photos of each step and feature and begin work on a web site. Once the mainlines are operational, I will add the sidings and branch lines. My intent at the moment is to have all mainline switches electronically controlled and all other switches manual throw. This is the point where I will make a final decision on the high level bridge addition.
Now to take some photos of the layout in its' present form. Done. I will download them from the camera later. 8:05 am
It also makes sense to browse the web and identify a few sites that look like they may be useful.
- http://www.modelrectifier.com/products/trainSound/prodigyDCC.asp This is the MRC site which contains information on their DCC system
- http://www.wiringfordcc.com/ I found this site by typing "DCC wiring model trains" into google. It looks like a real gem!
- http://www.railroadandco.com/ Software for running trains in DCC 8:35 am
May 28, 2006 11:05 am This is beginning to get interesting. I have done a little reading, both from the Web as well as from "The Digitrax Big Book of DCC". There is more to the basic wiring than I first realized. Here are two important principles for wiring a layout.
- Divide the layout into Power Districts. Each District has its own Booster electrical unit supplying power to the District. Each District is insulated from other Districts. Tentatively I will plan for 2 Districts, 1 on the upper level and 1 on the lower level.
- Track Feeder lines from a Booster should be spaced every 6 to 10 feet along the line. This ensures that the entire line is receiving full power.
1:40 PM Another web site ( http://www.the-gauge.com/archive/index.php/t-10898.html ) uses the rule of thumb of 0.5 amp per locomotive. This implies that a 5 amp power supply should be able to handle about 10 locomotives before one needs a booster.
May 30, 2006 6:05 am It is exciting to return to this hobby. Part of the excitement is due to the expectation of a great operational layout but another part is what I will learn in the process. Right now the learning is about wiring the layout.
The Digitrax book emphasizes the value of wiring a medium size layout so that there is more than one power district. This ensures that the overall circuit is not overloaded and it makes it easier to locate a problem if there is a short in the circuit. I will use 2 power districts, one for each level of the layout.
The Digitrax book gives a table of wire gauges, recommending a gauge of 14 for a length of 30' - 50' for the power bus. It also recommends using 2 colors, one for the return wire and one for the track segment feed. The colors help insure that one does not accidently wire the system incorrectly.
The Digitrax book gives a photo showing the track feed wires attached to the power bus with a small plastic cube. This looks like a way to bypass the need for soldering the joint. I will check with the train store hobby shop and see if they have any of these.
I will also look for specially wired track feeder wires that are pre-soldered to a rail-joiner. This will look much better than using a section of track with two connecting posts. If I am unable to find these, I will need some wire gauge 22 for the track feeders.
The Digitrax book begins the description of each layout with a layout analysis. I need to review my layout and verify that I will be able to run trains to and from each location in the manner I am expecting. This means that I have a way to bring cars to a specific location and then pick them up at a later time. The locomotive should always be at the front, except for switching within a yard. I have just had a close look at the track layout for the upper level and it is fine.
Before I actually do the wiring I need to ensure that the track itself is properly laid. This implies that the roadbed on which the track rests is also securely fastened. And once the track is laid and wired I want to add appropriate ground scenery along the main line. At that point I will have a fully operational mainline. Not too impressive perhaps, but a very good beginning.
Ooops. It makes better sense to begin with the lower level mainline as some of the table tops need to be fastened down as part of the upper level mainline.
Ooops again. While having a close look at the lower level I realized that one switch would have to be moved to permit scenery (i.e. a tunnel) to be placed on the lower level. This rippled into a few additional minor changes to the layout on the lower level. The net result is a definite improvement.
9:15 am
Sources:
- The Digitrax Big Book of DCC. (1999). pp. 39 - 45.
- Basic Model Railroading. Getting Started in the Hobby. (1999). pp. 20 - 21, 24 - 27.
8:30 PM I visited the Model Baron hobby shop to see about buying wire for the layout. They did not have this but did have the small track feeder wires attached to the connectors. It is a start. I also ended up buying a kit that makes a few trees.
Canadian Tire has some wire that is rated as 18 cwg. It is rated for 30V and costs $1.09/m. It has both a black and a white wire within a brown casing. This should be excellent for the power bus. I will need to fasten it to the underside of the layout and then drill holes through the table top for the feeder wires. Once I see where they meet the power bus I will strip the outer casing and then strip the insulation for the white wire and attach the appropriate wire to the white wire.
I still need some rosin-core solder and some rosin flux. I will try Radio Shack next. They may also have some 14 awg gauge wire. I need a roll of about 100' for this.
I went back to the store a couple of hours later to buy some ground cover sheets that should make a big difference in getting my scenery established. The owner suggested using sandpaper as a surface that looks like a cement retaining wall - all I need to do is spray paint it grey. This is certainly worth a try.
I am also thinking of buying some poster cardboard that is a sky blue color and use that as a backdrop around the layout. Simple and effective.
One of the fascinating aspects of this hobby is the number of times that I am sure that I have a working layout only to find a flaw in the logic of the flow of either locomotives or electricity. I have just spent the last hour revising my lower level layout because I had a short in the circuit. However I now think that I have that fixed. I will have another look at it tomorrow and see what I think then.
10:05 PM
May 31, 2006 6:00 am I am determined to fiddle around with my track and see if I can get a preliminary run on the lower level for the mainline loop. It was only last night that I realized that I had an electrical short in the track plan and began making relatively small scale adjustments.
My intuition is still somewhat sound. Last night I had a cumbersome solution to the join of the upper level and lower level tracks that involved raising much of the track bed by 1/2". I got rid of all that this morning and once again have a level layout on the lower level.
I decided to try out the mainline loop with CN locomotive 7847. It ran perfectly!
Here is a short list of some next steps:
- locate my computer data base of train maintenance. I would like to keep accurate records of all time spent on my rolling stock. At the moment I am not even sure what type of unit is CN7847! This is very embarrassing.
- review all of my materials and tools and get them organized
- lay down scenery roll of "summer grass" on the lower level. This should be done before I put down the road bed. Then once the mainline track is glued in place I can add the ballast.
- review lower level mainline turnouts to see if I should modify them to be operated under the table.
- buy wire for power bus
- rewire mainline on lower level to incorporate track feeder connections to a power bus.
- begin work on building the loading platform for the oil refinery.
- buy 2 sheets of blue poster cardboard for a backdrop
9:20 am I have located my old computer files for this hobby. Great. The CN locomotive 7847 is a Alco RS-3 Diesel.
9:05 PM I have spent about 2 hours going through some of my miscellaneous train stuff trying to get it organized. This is also giving me a much better sense of what I have and what needs to be done next. I have assembled a couple of small models (a cattle stockyard and the sign and stairs for a warehouse) but much more needs to be done on a repair program.
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