Track Plan

2008.11.30

Here is a schematic diagram corresponding to the iconic diagram below it.

Schematic

Here is the latest diagram for the layout. It focuses on the mainline track and uses a revised numbering system for the switch ID#s. I have abandoned the idea of districts.

track

2009.09.22

Here is the latest diagram for the layout. It reflects the removal of the reversing loop around Black Diamond and the removal of turnouts 64 and 66. It also shows the addition of a holding track at the west boundary of Queenston for mainline trains travelling from Wild Rose to Black Diamond. This involved the addition of two turnouts (#s 66 & 67) as well as an overall renumbering of the turnouts in the Black Diamond District.

track

2008.09.16

Here is the revised layout showing the new numbering system for the turnouts.

layout

2008.09.05

I am beginning to think seriously about connecting my two Digitrax DS64 Stationary Decoder modules to the layout. This will enable me to control 8 turnouts. The obvious choice are the turnouts along the mainline in Jasper District 6. These are all difficult to reach and throw manually.

I have tentatively numbered all of the turnouts in Jasper District 6 using the system I envisioned in February.

Number	Line	From	Status	To
601	outer mainline	Black Diamond	closed	Lennox
			open	Coaldale
		Lennox	closed	Jasper outer mainline
			open	X
		Coaldale	closed	X
			open	Jasper outer mainline

602	inner mainline	Black Diamond	closed	Coaldale
			open	Jasper
		Coaldale	closed	Black Diamond
			open	X

603	inner mainline	Black Diamond	closed	Coaldale
			open	X
		Coaldale	closed	Black Diamond
			open	Jasper

604	mainline	Jasper	closed	X
			open	Coaldale
		Coaldale	closed	Black Diamond
			open	Jasper

610	Jasper mainline	Black Diamond	closed	X
			open	Jasper
		Jasper	closed	Jasper spur
			open	Black Diamond

611	Jasper mainline	Black Diamond	closed	Jasper mainline counter-clockwise
			open	Jasper mainline clockwise
		Coaldale or Black Diamond	closed	Black Diamond
			open	X

612	Jasper mainline	Black Diamond (counter-clockwise)	closed	Black Diamond
			open	Jasper spur
		Coaldale or Black Diamond	closed	Black Diamond
			open	X

613	Jasper mainline	Black Diamond	closed	Black Diamond
			open	Coaldale
		Black Diamond (clockwise)	closed	Black Diamond
			open	X

614	Jasper mainline	Black Diamond (counter-clockwise)	closed	Black Diamond
			open	Black Diamond
		Black Diamond (clockwise)	closed	X
			open	Jasper

615	Jasper mainline	Black Diamond (counter-clockwise)	closed	Black Diamond
			open	Jasper spur
		Black Diamond (clockwise)	closed	Jasper
			open	X

651	Jasper spur	Jasper mainline	closed
			open
		Jasper spur


661	Jasper spur


662	Jasper spur

Turnouts 601 - 604, 610 - 613 will be digitally controlled. Turnouts 614, 615, 651,661 & 662 will be manual throws. I am looking forward to the next issue of Canadian Railway Modeller to see how to build such manual throws. The Jasper District will have 8 digital turnouts and 5 manual throws, for a total of 13 turnouts.

Here is a diagram of this part of the layout:

layout

I have reviewed the instructions in the Digitrax DS64 Stationary Decoder manual and the hook-up seems straight forward. Two wires connect the TRKA and TRKB terminals to the track. The 3 wires from turnout #1 connect to terminals 1R, 1G and P+. The three wires from turnout #2 connect to terminals 2R, 2G & the same P+ as for turnout #1. Similarly for turnouts #3 and #4. That takes care of the physical setup.

But the first step is to buy some small screws for attaching the first DS64 to the underside of my table. Then I need to drill holes near each turnout to pass the 3 wires from the turnout to the underside of the table and then to the DS64.

2008.02.15

I have decided to divide my layout into 6 districts. At the moment this is just a conceptual issue but I will take advantage of this soon when I number the mainline turnouts. Each red dot represents a turnout. I will use a 3-digit code for each turnout. The first digit will represent the district, if the second digit is 0 - 4 then the turnout is on the mainline, if the second digit is 5 -9 then the turnout is on a spur line. The third digit is a sequence number. At the moment I have only identified turnouts that are on the mainlines. My thinking at the moment is to build in some redundancy to the turnout numbers so I can spot some possible errors (i.e. if I know I am on the mainline and I see a switch #355 then that should be in District 3 and it is on a spur line.)

Here are the numbers for each district (loosely based on the order they were developed):

District #1: Coaldale
District #2: Wild Rose
District #3: Queenston
District #4: Black Diamond
District #5: Pine Ridge
District #6: Jasper

districts

2008.01.20

Here is the plan for the layout with the addition of track to make a continuous loop around the outside of the room. The new track and modifications to the existing layout (i.e. creating a second reversing loop) are in red. The additions will include provision for two double-track bridges, two high steel viaducts and one wooden trestle. I have yet to make the two viaducts. There will be two new "towns": one where my work table presently is located and one on top of a bookcase in the hall adjoining the room.

Here is a sketch:

track

The track for the second reversing loop is now in place. But it will not be operational until I purchase an MRC reversing loop module for the DCC.

2008.01.18

This page provides an overview of the layout. It contains sketch of the layout plus a series of photos of each area. More detailed information of the layout may be found on the specialized web pages. Links to these pages (see left margin) will be activated as soon as the information is available.

Here is a hand-drawn sketch of the mainline track with the various locations identified.

track

Coaldale is a large classification yard. This is where trains are formed and is the start of most trips. A train will typically leave Coaldale and travel either to Queenston or to Black Diamond. There is a reversing loop around Black Diamond that allows the train to change direction and thus return to Coaldale. Or the reversed train may first go to Pine Ridge, The Channon, Prairie Dog and then Queenston and finally Coaldale.

Note that the three areas known as The Channon, Prairie Dog and Pine Ridge form a continuous loop. This allows a train to repeat the loop a certain number of times to simulate that the distance from Queenston to Black Diamond is much longer than a direct route would suggest.

Black Diamond is a coal mine with a number of spur tracks for both empty and loaded gondola cars. Loaded cars from here may go to Prairie Dog (where there is a coal yard) or Coaldale.

Distillery Row contains a refinery complex and has two spur tracks for empty and loaded cars. Loaded cars from here may go to The Channon or Coaldale.

Pine Ridge is a lumber mill with two spur tracks for empty and loaded cars. Loaded cars from here may to Prairie Dog (where there is a lumber yard) or Coaldale.

The Channon contains a fuel depot. It may receive loaded cars from Distillery Row or Coaldale and send empty cars to either location.

Prairie Dog contains a grain elevator, coal yard and a stock yard. Box cars and grain cars may go from here to Wild Rose or Coaldale. Stock cars may go to Queenston (where there is an abatoir) or Coaldale.

Queenston contains a station, an abatoir, a warehouse and a seed plant. Passenger cars may go between here and Coaldale. Box cars and grain cars may go from Queenston to Wild Rose or Coaldale.

Wild Rose contains a grain elevator. Grain cars may go from Prairie Dog to Wild Rose or to Coaldale.

Box cars may go from any location to any other location as they might be carrying anything.

There appears to be a wide variety of possible trains and switching operations.


Pine Ridge	The Channon

Prairie Dog	Wild Rose

Queenston	Coaldale

Distillery Row	Black Diamond