2nd Beta Test Went Very Well

Things were very smooth for the second test. I was worried about the helix because there were 4 trains the first time and all of them had some sort of derailment. This time there were 10 trains with no derailments. There was a struggle all the way up to the day before trying to get things straightened out. I almost called off the session, but apparently I got through it.

There was a couple of programming issues that were not realized the first time. I had changed some Internal sensors to a new ID, and some of the logic didn't convert and I didn't catch it. They are fixed now.

Below is some of the crew from last Saturday. About half came back from the first time and others were from my last layout.

Friends On30

Here is a link to a carpool friends layout. Very nice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yR_qyCzUlU

Chuck

Well I Did Have more Resistor Wheels and Throttle Issues

I little while back when I was bringing more cars onto the layout, I thought I had another box of resistor wheels, but they were no where to be found. So I rushed to more resistor wheels done, which came in the other day. While looking for something else, I moved some stuff and there were those wheels that I thought I still had. Now this is not a super big deal, because I will probably use them as the layout grows, but I could have used a box of non resistor wheels in the short term. Just another one of those gotcha's.

On another note I had a dropped throttle, which broke the rheostat and another that was over twisted (maybe from before the move). Both are now repaired.

All of the issues, except Engine lights, have been resolved. so, good to go for the next session.
Chuck

An Observation From the First Session

I did some checking on what cars went where. The while all cars seemed to be at the spot where they were supposed be. They didn't get there on the train they were supposed to be on.

For example the Wood Job train is to only carry rough wood (ie. Logs, Chips, Pulp). In this case there were some other Paper Mill cars that were put on that train.

The Milk train should only carry Milk cars. In some cases they stopped and picked up Ice Bunker Reefers.

In either case the cars were delivered to where they should have been, but not necessarily on the right train.

With 5 newbies to my railroad and of course the three who have been to my other RR, but are still new to this layout, I will have to re-emphasize this for the next op session.

Pictures from today

Luckily someone was smart enough to take pictures so here are a few.

First Session in the Books

Finally done and everyone seemed to have a good time. The comments were positive about how well it went for a first session. That being said I still have a lot of work to do.

1. I had two different switches that lost power.
2. Two others at the wye in Belfast operated backwards. On the local panel it was working correctly, so that was left in manual.
3. Brunswick A/D track at both ends needs another block to work correctly. The work around was to allow the DS to throw that turnout even under occupancy.
4. We did have issues with the trains on the helix. I will have to look into that further.
5. Some engine lights seemed to be out.
6. Two throttles are busted. One was dropped and one was over twisted, which it could have been that way from before. Either way I must get some Rheostats to fix them.
7. I need to get more cars ready, the yards did not seem to busy. That will come with more layout.

Even though I thought it would be a quick session, we quit at about 4 hrs and didn't finish the trains.

Chuck

First op session tomorrow

Well folks, tomorrow is the day of the first Casco Bay Op session at the new location. I believe that I'm as ready as I can be. Hopefully all will work out. Whatever doesn't work will get repaired for the next session.
I will have three visitors from the old layout and five new folks from the local area. The layout has similarities from the last one, but there are still plenty of differences.
With any luck and my memory we should have pictures for a future blog post.

Getting Closer to Ops

All of the necessary components are in place and working. There should be enough cars on the layout, time to get out a few more engines to cover the trains I expect to start with. 

 
Being that NMJ staging is smaller than planned, I will start with a few through trains, some locals, the Milk Train, the potato train, the Paper Train, and smaller version of the Wood Job.
I will pass on the passenger, commuter, piggyback and tank train for now.
Now to get to some beta testing on the system.

Fast Clocks

I got out the fast clocks today and hooked them up to make sure they were working. Of course some had issues. The three original ones I got from GML Enterprises were doing fine. The newer ones were hesitating some. One of the boxes needed a wire re-soldered and the gears were not connecting.
I got all that straightened out and all of the clocks were running together up to 10:1 and then the newer ones started to run slower, to the tune of 5 fast minutes per fast hour. Since I only run at that speed during staging this should not be a problem.
Now to find the places to put them so that everyone can see them when necessary.

Phone System Working

This picture is for the DS call system.

After much trials, tribulations and cussing, I finally have the phone system working. I only broke two high dollar signals while running wire.

Right now the needed buttons are working. They will need to be relabeled to match this layout.

There will be less towns from the last layout so I will eventually have to redo the face of this panel.
There is one more phone to install, but that section of the layout has not been built yet.

The only thing left that hasn’t been done is the fast clock. I hope model railroading gets back to fun, this week was not that.

Phone system backboard

In case you were wondering….The main board that holds the phone connections has been installed. I also have connected the DS panel to this backboard. Now to connect the individual phones around the layout.

Phone System

I have been dreading having to get out the phone system and get it working again. I did mark wires and took pictures before I took things apart. It was a good thing too. I had did have a difficult time at times when first wiring it up. Mostly because phone wiring diagrams are different from what I used to.

So I had to go back try try and figure things out again. The first thing was to hook up two phones and see if they worked. They did. On to the next step. Getting the DS call box working. This was a little more tricky. The 12 vdc wires were Black and Green and I didn't remember what was the positive wire. I used an off color because I already used the normal colors for something else. I fixed that this time around. So did I replace the Green with red OR did I use the Green as ground. When first hooked up and wires were swapped and still didn't work, I wasn't sure where to go. Then I noticed there was and extra black wire at the phone connections….then I remembered that we had to use an extra wire as a common hooked to my accessory bus, because with the call light and busy light we didn't have enough wires. That wire was black so I figured it went to the old black (common).

After some testing it turned out that Green replaced red and now the busy light works, the call button will buzz the local station. Things are looking up. The last thing to get going was the DS headset. I had hiccups with this before and currently I still do.
Back to it again tomorrow. This puzzle is the last piece of getting my layout back to what I had before the move. If all else fails at least radios work…for the short term.

Getting more rolling stock ready

 Since the CTC panel programming is complete and since I had more resistors wheels ready to go, it was time to start adding more rolling stock to the layout. My wheels are going to an Intermountain wheel set with 10k resistors soldered on the two outside wheels. There were plenty of wheelsets to work on.

I was able to get about 30 cars cleaned up and checked out with the new wheel sets and placed on the layout. I will have to get their car cards and waybills printed out to bring them up to date and make them ready to be used. Of course now I will need more engines out to pull them. 

Still hoping for a September op session.

Signal Updates

I have been working on t he signals for awhile now. All of the heads currently installed are able to be lit as needed. The computer sees all of the signals and will display whatever aspect I want.

The first step was too get the signals working on simple logic in JMRI. That is working as is expected. The signals react to turnout position and occupancy detection as expected. No direction control.

The next step was to get the CTC part working. To do this I had to go back to the old layout files and figure out what I did then. What I wanted was the signals to reset after a train goes through. And enough signals to go red to prevent a head on meeting. So when the dispatch activates a signal, all of the appropriate opposing signals go red. They stay red until the dispatch says otherwise.

Well this has been done and some of it has been checked, but I ran out of time to finish it. Hopefully tomorrow.

On another note my new resistor wheels are on the way and I can move on to getting more rolling stock on the layout.

Signals are getting in.


Almost all of the signals are in. A couple of signals still to go in Searsport and all of the signals at Belfast and the wye. The actual logic will come later. I did have to repair (re-solder wires) a few signals to get where I'm at.
There are a few locations in Searsport that probably need a few extra dwarf signals that will be needed to protect the mainline from the yard.

There will need to be more signals repaired to make it all right. 

When the mainline expands there will be a lot signals to be repaired. 🤬

Ready To Start Mini Ops

Of course this is for me, for now. For the about 125 cars on the layout and the engines to support them, I have the car cards printed and I'm ready to start moving cars around the layout. I will use this info to see how things are working and what changes might need to be made.
I did tell the folks at the local train club and a few others from my previous layout. I don't believe I will have trouble attracting enough people to run the layout.
When I get this little bit of testing done, I will open up to bigger groups to do a crash and burn.

Engines, Car Cards and Power Supplies

Today I moved the Power Supplies for the DCC, CMRI and Accessories to their new home. They will be more centrally located power wise. Better for the DCC and Boosters. I also have the connections for the plug in throttles for Brunswick. Searsport will be soon. The main problem is that all of my wires are to short. On the old layout I had so much problem with the wireless (until I found the problem), I had plug ins everywhere. I don't need as much, so I need longer wires or a lot of in line connectors.

I have about 1/4 (~120) of the cars on the layout and about 20 engines. This is good enough for starters, but I can support more as I get a chance. I am trying to get all of the cars set up with Intermountain soldered Resistor wheels that I get done for me. I have run out for now but there are more on the way.

For the the cars and engines on the layout, I now have car cards for them, so I can actually move cars according to a plan.

People I used to know

I had a great surprise today. I went to the Apple Valley Club in Hendersonville to meet an old friend who use to operate on the old layout. I met him and also ran into a different guy who also operated on my layout and his brother who had been there a time or two. Both of them now have family in the area, so there will be time to get together again. It's always good to meet old friends.

Chuck

Current plans for Trains

I am. Is looking at getting cars on the layout and trains to cover the current installed business.
It looks like
2 trains in each direction from Rigby to Northern Maine Junction
1 train in each direction from St. Albans to Searsport
1 Train in each direction from St. Albans to Brunswick.
1 local in each direction fro Brunswick to Searsport.
1 Paper Train from St. Albans to Bucksport and return
1 local in Searsport Industrial
1 local in Brunswick Industrial
Hopefully a Wood Job, Milk Train and Potato Train. We will see how that goes.

So far about 130 cars on the layout and engines to come tomorrow.

Chuck

Temporary Northern Maine Junction in Place

I was looking at Car Cards and Op Sessions this week and I just felt the flow would be better if I had some NMJ staging. So I put 6 tracks of temporary staging in. It is located two towns early. It was as far as I could do right now. All of the turnouts are manual. The turnouts themselves are the older non DCC ready Walthers. The track is all used. I just didn't want to install all of the good stuff now, knowing that it will come up later when I'm ready.
I started working on the new car cards for the cars that will be used early on. I won't need everything because it is only a little more than half of a layout. I even put up car card holders for each town. Some are not perfect because of changes from the old layout to the new one, but it will get me started and I can modify the ones I have or build new ones when I know exactly what I need.

Wiring and the testing of that wiring complete…..for now

Everything is now ready for engine and train running……except…. I noticed that I forgot to add a late track addition to the control panel. Sigh!!!!
I had put in a house track by the station and COMPLETELY FORGOT to add it to the local control panel. The good news is that I can wait until more testing is done so I see can see if this panel needs other changes. It can still be thrown by the dispatcher, but this particular track does not need to be used right away.
Time to run trains over all of these changes and make sure the trackage and electronics works the way it is supposed to.

Day 50 of Brunswick Wiring

At least it seems like it. Actually only day 5. Both panels are wired up and the computer knows where everything is. There were a few gotchas to get through, but I got there.
I did add six more tortoise machines, so all of them are in. I did forget to actually plug them in. That can be tomorrow.
The next big step is do do all of the programming of the logic so that all of the push buttons, lights and tortoises do their job correctly.

Day 2 of Brunswick wiring.

From day 1 to 2 I have cut the holes for Brunswick the left and right side control panel facia. They are being painted now and almost done.

I have cut a large control panel in half and rebuilt what was needed to hold the components for both sides of Brunswick. I felt that with the extra length of the yard, two half panels would be better than one in the middle.

The last of the turnout motors have been installed and will be tested tomorrow (hopefully).

Once the panel fronts that hold the push buttons and lights are ready, the lights and push buttons will be added and all of the programming for them will be done. Probably two more days total, maybe three. Then I can get back to run testing trains.

If that goes well then signaling.

Track is wired up

I have spent many hours under the benchwork the last few days, running wires and hooking up all of the track to its appropriate block. Testing that work comes tomorrow.
There are still a few blocks to cut the gaps for. Then I will have to make the control panels for Brunswick to control. Then I will be back on the computer doing routes to make all of the control panel buttons do what I want.
That's all for the next couple of days worth of work.

Locomotive Facility and having troubles making up my mind.

I usually hate when I can't make up my mind. In this case it is turntable versus straight diesel facility. Certain structures I already have so I must try to incorporate them. I also wanted to have all turnouts in the right position so even if I changed my mind, I would not have to redo a control panel. 

So I came up with a plan that on the right hand side (#1) would stay the same no matter what. This would keep my control panel the same. I would start with just tracks for engines that matched up with the track spacing for #1. It would be the cheapest and easiest way to start. 

If I decided to go with the turntable (sized for Walthers 130' or 90’ table), I would just have to remove the track labeled with #2 and put the turntable in place and curve the tracks to match up with existing track.(Much more costly and I have a chance to see how bad I want that turntable, before putting out the bucks.
This plan gives me a car repair shop and spots for diesel fuel, coal and sand deliveries. 

If I go with no turntable the turnout of the yard lead can be used for an incoming north bound engines to hide while being serviced. If I go with the turntable, there would be easy entrance from both the north and south end of the yard.

Rigby

10 of 12 tracks are in for Rigby. The last two will come when I get a PECO curved turnout in the mail. In the foreground the track not finished will be for the Portland Terminal branch. This will have a swing gate that will only be closed when needed.
All of these turnouts are the newer Walthers turnouts and one PECO. They all have a spring to hold the turnout in place. The good news on this is that I can operate them without tortoises for now. The holes for the throw has been drilled for each turnout. 

It is time to go back and wire all of the area and Portland Yard. Then start testing of all the trackage. 

Now there is more than enough track laid down to support operations, with 21 staging tracks, two yards and four other towns.

Southern Staging

Now that my Covid is done, I can get going again on the layout. This 8' section and the piece on the flour will hold 12 staging tracks. These will get wired first because both sections will have to slide under that one loop section in the background. I just won't be able to do major work on this area once in place. Luckily only the back five feet will be under this area. Once this part is in I can work on the yard throat area and connecting everything up.

Main Yard Updates and Turnout Motor installation

The hard part today was making sure I had the right industries to fit the area allowed so that I could install all the the turnouts for that. So…The main yard now has all of the yard tracks, caboose and through track installed. The through track with it's turnouts to the industry areas are in place. The industry's are figured out.
The only unsure area is the engine facility. Do I purchase a turntable or go with a diesel facility. Yes I would like to do some steam. On the old layout I just made the steam a through train with no turning needed. I do like the idea of a small roundhouse and turntable, but it takes up so much space. So, for now, I will leave that space alone.
All of the turnouts from the other day have tortoises. I wasn't sure if I could get off the floor on some of the machines father back in the layout. Now there are five more and they are all to the back…….but they do not get in the way of the framing of the layout. UNLIKE yesterday.
Remember Model Railroading is fun…. I say that a lot while under the layout putting in tortoise machines and wiring.
If you were wondering about the industrial section, the engine facility with coal, sand and fuel oil will be there. The will also be the REA building, the A&P, the coal company and lumber company. I was able to fit in the icing plant…but it would only be the racks themselves . I will have to paint the building itself on the backdrop.

Local panels

In case anyone was interested in what my local panels look like under each section of the layout. I have presided what I could before I put it in place.. 

The upper left board will be used for all the push buttons and lights on the local control panel. The upper right is where the Tortoise machines, signals and Occupancy Detectors will connect. 

The middle is the PSX circuit breaker. The bottom is the actual detection to each block.

This is for only one half of the main yard. 

Yard is coming Along

The main yard is making progress. You can see the Main, Passing and A/D tracks on the right and the first four yard tracks on the left. The turnout in the middle will lead to the other yard tracks and industrial area.the one the closest to the bottom of the photo will lead to the engine facility.

Coming around the bend

Today was a Good day. I put in 16' of upper bench work, 24' of lower backdrop, 24' of lower plywood and 6' of cork. I just about have the plan for the next yard nailed down.
There is enough plywood down now that I can do all of the next yard.

Main Yards update

Here is the current idea for the main yard. Sometimes called Portland, sometimes Brunswick. Either way the main reason for the changes was that maybe I could have an aisle with a swing gate instead of something that you could not get past. The swing gate would be the lower right section, leading to a port/wharf area on the lower area. On the upper level maybe some of the sawmill/logging area. We will see how that plays out.

Have you have any opinions on this plan, let me know.

Bath Control Panel installed

The Bath Control panel has been installed and tested. The buttons and lights are working with the computer. I programmed the routes needed for each button. The next step will be the logic for what happens when you push the button. I just ran out of time.

I also started on the River section with two bridge section when leaving Bath. I am trying to do this now instead of later like I did with the last layout.

Bath is Operational and further down the road

Bath has been been completed as far as track work and all of the connections to the computer. The next step is to put in the local control panel so I can test everything out.

Just past Bath is and area of about 20 linear feet. No towns are planned for here so I can increase the distance between towns, which was not something I had the last time. Since I'm modeling Maine I need more water, again something I didn't do as good the last time, I need more water. The first 8' section will just have a River and two bridges. This seems very weird and a waste of space. I have to remember that my plan was more distance between towns. I should be able to show something soon.

Chuck

Updates

Since the last update I have put down track about eight foot down the left slide and around the corner on both levels. I came back about six more feet on the lower level. 

The backdrop is on for about 75% of the lower level. There is enough plywood to go halfway up the right side on the top level and all of the way up the lower level and back around the corner to the third leg.

Upper Level Looking Good

I had some help today from Kenny M. and we got in 24' of upper level bench work and 16' of backdrop for the lower level. 

More importantly we had a great chance to discuss my thoughts of where to go from here. He had some good ideas and thinks to think about that maybe would help the people flow. We got the basics about getting the transition to the true upper level and possibly some small branch lines. More on that later as we get farther along 

Stud Wall and Helix/Loop

The current progress shows a good portion of a stud wall which will hold the second level. 

The single loop up to get to the proper height for the second level.

Rounding the Corner

Rounding the corner into the second bench. The idea here is to convert the upper section into a true upper level the rest of the way. The upper section will do a loop and be far enough above the lower level for this to work.

Ceiling is done

I think I am finally out of excuses and now I must go full steam ahead with the railroad. 

Things Are Looking Up

The drop ceiling grids are in. Most of the lights are in and the rest will be tomorrow. Still working on getting the heating vents moved. Then all of the ceiling tiles will go in.

In the mean time I built 19 more feet of bench work and installed those plus 16' more. So the bench work away from the wall comes almost all the way back to the other side. One 8' section left to do and then work my way back up the other side. Two of those are already built.

The real trick will be figuring out whether or not I can transition to a real upper deck or not. It will require me to connect to the joists for stability. Time will tell.

For those that knew the old layout, the ceilings are much closer to normal.

Progress again

The other construction is winding down. The train room is available for trains again. So now the ceiling tile grid is in. Next steps is to do some electrical and get a few heating ducts moved. The good news is I can work around that.