Building a control panel using LED touch toggles - check it out.

Ed.

It's very neat work and looks good.

I change our panels around that much I'm not sure it would be good for me. I use the picture frames for our panels as well they make a nice border.

As for an old dog learning new tricks I did try an I pad at one stage but rejected it because if something went wrong or I had to change the track diagram I had to consult the owners of the soft wear to do it they would not sell me their soft wear unless I paid them more than the layout is worth!. We like to do everything ourselves and not rely on outside help.

I do like your panel though, congratulations, thanks for posting. Roo.

Beautiful!

Good job Ed!!!  I can't recall, what did you have in the first place?

Ed, Looks Great! Thank you for sharing your panel and information on it! Job Well Done!

Ed,

Cool!!

Ed

Thanks for the feedback guys.  Some layout context:   One of the towns along my representation of the PRR's Middle Division is Huntingdon, PA. which had several small industries served by local freights.  As I learned more about PRR operations in and around Huntingdon what I found most interesting was the PRR's interchange traffic with the Huntingdon & Broad Top Mountain RR.  The 50+ mile H&BT was a standard gauge line on the west side of Broad Top Mountain.   The more famous narrow gauge East Broad Top RR served mines on the east side of the same mountain. While exchange of hopper cars is neat, what my crew most enjoys is simulating the daily moves of Supplee milk cars that took place in Huntingdon.  A pair of empty milk cars from Philadelphia arrived on a westbound passenger train every morning,  and were returned loaded eastbound that same afternoon.  One of the cars was loaded at a creamery in Huntingdon.  The other car was line hauled south over the H&BT to PRR tracks in Bedford, PA.   I didn't have space to model the H&BT line south of Huntingdon, but a hidden 3 track staging yard and turntable enables us to capture the major elements of freight and passenger/milk interchange at Huntingdon.   The new touch panel pictured above controls the H&BT operations.  The H&BT tracks are orange, the PRR tracks white.   Two video cameras enable the H&BT crew to follow moves in the hidden staging yard and on a AtlasO turntable.  The turntable's stop and go rotation might be annoying to some - but it make aligning the bridge relatively easy when viewed on video.   PRR trackage through Huntingdon is controlled by a larger panel down the aisle from the H&BT one. 

In addition to the Huntingdon HUNT interlocking, the PRR  panel  controls moves in and out of a hidden 8 track (5 through/3 stub) Middle Division staging yard.  PRR routes are automatically set using rotary selectors and "activate" buttons which when pressed release DCC turnout control commands stored on NCE Mini-Panels.  To better capture the feel of heavy PRR operations I've recently decided to signal the PRR main.  I'll be using the relatively new NMRI sponsored Layout Command Control (LCC) open standards which features a Layout Control Bus (LCB) that is electrically isolated from the existing DCC track bus - but logically interfaced via occupancy and turnout status sensors.  Work will begin this month and will be done in phases one interlocking at a time over a year or more.  The objective is to maintain the railroad in an operational status while the signals go in, and to allow for time to mix in other modelling projects.   When I have the first section of the railroad with functioning interlocking and block signals I'll post an update on the Forum. 

Thanks for the Inspiration, Ed! 

What I could do with that space!

Beautiful layout Ed, well finished off, nothing lying around under the baseboards, well lit, it's a credit to you mate. Roo.

Ed,

That all turned out great!

Is there a hinge on the screen?

My oher panels have hinges on the lower edge to facilitate wiring.  As this one only required plugging in the connectors I didn't use a hinge.  The picture frame  just lifts out of the supporting rack. 

Not to hijack Ed's wonderful work....

We have been using the picture frame idea for a number of years now, it works fine you need to make a Pine frame and have no need for hinges just screw the frame to the supports easily removed if needed they come in all sizes we have used them all from small to large in fact the next few weeks we will be installing a new panel at Bay Ridge the photo shows the original panel moved across while the new panel is installed that way the railroad can still operate. I was going to do a thread on how we make the frame and the panel but Ed got in first our panels are very plain looking compared to Ed's which is how we like them. Thanks Roo.

Ed, great looking layout. We have a question.

In April we installed about 25 touch toggles to use DCS and Tortoise switch machines. Everything worked like a dream. Easy install and no problems.

Today I installed Legacy so that we can run MTH, Lionel, etc. I simply hooked the Legacy system up with one wire to an outside rail.

Immediately about a third of the Touch Toggles became inoperative. I tried an earth ground and the problem remained.

Do you use DCS, Legacy, or what? Does anyone have experience with Touch Toggles and DCS and Legacy? Is a filter or something needed?

When Legacy was turned off’ everything operated perfectly.

Thanks

Bill Webb

This is a great topic.

@Bill Webb posted:

Ed, great looking layout. We have a question.

In April we installed about 25 touch toggles to use DCS and Tortoise switch machines. Everything worked like a dream. Easy install and no problems.

Today I installed Legacy so that we can run MTH, Lionel, etc. I simply hooked the Legacy system up with one wire to an outside rail.

Immediately about a third of the Touch Toggles became inoperative. I tried an earth ground and the problem remained.

Do you use DCS, Legacy, or what? Does anyone have experience with Touch Toggles and DCS and Legacy? Is a filter or something needed?

When Legacy was turned off’ everything operated perfectly.

Thanks

Bill Webb

Bill, did you ever find a solution to the Legacy interference with the Touch Toggle switches?

Dang Ed!

That second large control panel is probably one of the greatest looking panels I have ever seen.

I have a question please:   How did you create the white stripes on the green board to represent the tracks?  Did you use a white stick-on tape or glue-on product of some sort?

Thx,

Mannyrock

Manny  - the tracks were laid out on the board using striping tape with an adhesive back.  The lettering was done with dry transfers.  Old school but it works.

SteveH,

Bill Webb's answer to your question comes from another thread on the same topic.  See below:

Bill Webb

Old Hokie 70"

Hope this helps everybody.

Chuck

I'm guessing that the 455khz Legacy track signal is close to whatever the LED Touch Toggles use and it's stepping on the switch controls and causing the issues.

@PRR1950 posted:

Bill Webb's answer to your question comes from another thread on the same topic.  See below:Hope this helps everybody.

Chuck

Chuck, thank you for posting Bill Webb's reply from the other topic.

Very nice layout Ed. What color did you paint your fascia? Do you have a paint number,or any other information?Your photos  and knowledge are very useful and helpful.

I wanted the facia to blend with the scenery color near it.  I don't recall the paint color I used but it was a custom mix.  If you want to go a similar route you could cement ground foam grass to a card and take it to a paint store for a color match.

Thanks Ed.I will have to try that.Do you have any photos of your layout,as far as the progress that you are making.Everything you have shown so far is very impressive.

Thanks for the interest in the layout.  The photographer who did an article on my prior layout 22 years ago is working a full coverage sequel.  

Keystoned Ed, beautiful work on the layout and the control panel! bd

i have been using touch toggles and have always had to put up with occasional failures  of the devices.  They look great and only two or three (usually the same ones) sometimes do not work.  I have spent hours on the phone with Kevin Hunter and tried some of his fixes.  I have gotten to where I turn  off the Legacy signal, throw the switch, and turn the signal back on.  Works for me.  Phil