Layout
Track Plan
DCC
Structures
Scenery
Railroad
Locomotives
Rolling Stock
Maintenance
Layout
Track Plan
DCC
Structures
Scenery
Railroad
Locomotives
Rolling Stock
Maintenance
Daley Train Log
Page 49
I have had brief forays downstairs over the last two days but never for very long. There is clearly a problem with the reversing loop wiring but I haven't had a chance to have a close look at it until this morning.
So far I have been able to verify that diesel locomotive 1720 (a GP7) runs perfectly on the mainlines.
I then ran it onto the reversing loop around the Jasper Yard. It entered the loop without difficulty but when it tried to leave the loop is shorted out. I tried reversing the polarity of the power into the loop but that shorted out the entire system. I then tried removing the source of power totally from the loop. Done. I then put a locomotive on the track and it powered up! At the moment I have no idea where the source of electricity is coming from.
One possibility is that the reversing loop module actually provides power to the loop. That will be easy to test. I only need remove the connection of the two yellow wires to the loop and see what happens. ... Yes it does. I have then removed the other source of power from inside the loop and added it to the mainline circuits.
Genuine progress. It was clear that I also had a second problem - the handheld cab was not communicating with anything. I finally (desparate measures) looked at the manual and it said that might be caused by a Universal Consist controlling the decoders. This is solved by clearing the old consist by pressing CONSIST until "Cons oLd cLr" flashes in the display and then press ENTER. Done. That solved that problem. I think I accidently hit the CONSIST button at some time while running the locomotives and that set up this Universal Consist status. I lost over an hour trying to figure out why the cab wasn't communication but the good news is that I now know what to do if (when?) it happens again.
I am making further progress with the reversing loops. The one near Lone Pine and Prairie Dog now seems to be working. But there is still a problem with the reversing loop around the Jasper Yard. At the moment I cannot see what the difference is between the wiring for the two loops. I am beginning to think that the reversing DCC module is not working. Time for a break. Then I may try replacing it (I have an extra) and see if that makes a difference.
Success. There was one difference in the wiring between the two reversing loops. I changed the location of the plastic insulator joiners so the two loops were the same and now both loops appear to be working. There is still some final nailing of the track but I think I have solved the logic problem. If I am right, the entire layout is now working.
I have finished cleaning up the layout. All of the track has been nailed down and all of the electrical connections have been made. I will run a final set of tests tomorrow.