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| Links to Notebook Pages: | Trains |
Sunday May 28, 2006 5:20 am Lethbridge Alberta
A. Morning Musings
5:20 am It is overcast and cool with a light rain. The temperature is + 6 at the moment with a forecast high of + 9. The normal high for this date is + 20. But the moisture will be good for the crops.
The Edmonton Oilers beat the Anaheim Mighty Ducks 2 - 1 last night to win the series 4 games to 1 and advance to the Stanley Cup final. They will play the winner of the series between the Buffalo Sabres and North Carolina Hurricanes. It has been 15 years since Edmonton last made it to the finals.
The weather precludes much out-door activity for today and tomorrow. Then the forecast is for warmer temperatures and sunshine. I plan to visit a hardware store today to buy some cedar stain for the fence and discuss what is involved in mortaring some cement blocks together along our back fence.
Another goal is to return to a regular exercise/diet routine. I would like to lose about 10 pounds and firm up a few muscles.
The idea of setting up a web site that chronicles my model train activities raises the issue of whether this should be imbedded within this daily journal entries or whether it should be an independent web site for posting to the world. I am leaning toward the latter, partly because I am likely to receive some feedback from fellow modelers with suggestions for next steps. However I want to stick to the overall format of a journal entry with a two-color insert that documents my activities in a chronological sequence. I think I would like to begin by creating a schematic diagram of the layout on quad-lined paper. I can then scan this and add annotations.
I also need to read a few manuals. I still do not know how to use most of the features on my cell phone. Similar comments apply to my camera.
I have yet to establish a routine for mathematics.
B. Plan
Chores: visit hardware store
Fitness: walk & begin abdominal exercises
Literature: Continue reading "The Mrs. Dalloway Reader".
Model Trains: Review layout and focus on upper level mainline.
C. Actual/Notes
7:25 am
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
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.
5:00 PM I have begun reading "Citizens" by Simon Schama. This is a narrative history of the French Revolution.
D. Reflection