Cab Ride Around the Upper Level of my O-Gauge Train Layout (JDstucks)

Watched the first half Jason...looks good! Tell us about your signal system.

@PRRMiddleDivision posted:

Watched the first half Jason...looks good! Tell us about your signal system.

Thank you Neal. Since Custom Signals is no longer around, I went with K&R custom signals. They're essentially lamps, so I implemented Z stuff relays to eliminate light flicker. I should also add that K&R signals recently added a delay relay to their circuitry which eliminates flicker and the need to use Z stuff relays.

The signals are activated using insulated blocks but I also have ground wires tied into a MTH AIU which allows me to manually change a signal from green to red and vice versa. How a signal is ties to the AIU determines if its default position is red or green.

The other "trick" I'm using is Atlas snap lock relays tied into my switch machines. So when a switch gets thrown into the reverse position, the top signal head goes red and the lower turns green (as long as the block isn't occupied).

The signals are wired to accommodate a specific direction of travel. But Again, I always have the ability to override with the MTH AIU, in case I'm changing directions or to allow for more realistic operations.

While this isn't a fully automated system, I feel like I get a good mix of automation and "dispatch controlled" signals.

- Jason

Wonderful video. You’re such a great service to the hobby! Keep up the good work!

Jason, even though you're a Buckeye and beat my Hoosiers on the gridiron, I know you can't be all bad. lol  Your video and modeling proves that. Fantastic work! See you on the basketball court, have a great weekend.

Awesome, man! The mountain is looking great. Also, I noticed that your roundhouse is coming along, and you gave viewers a little preview of it.

Beautiful......thank you for sharing.

Your initial mountain shapes look great.......how about a tutorial on how they were formed?

Is there a published track plan for your layout which includes elevations?

Magnificent!

Peter

Awesome, it all look great

Great!!!!...it makes me want to rip up my entire layout and start over...great planning, and engineering....mountains look great!!

excellent video. I especially like your short ogr response here about how your signals work and are wired. Id like to also use my mth aiu to override or activate my signals especially when attaching wires to the ballasted track sections is troublesome. We had to remove my upper level while we work on my new trainboard but I am sure my upper level will return soon. Gary

For a minute there, toward the end of the video I thought the OCS had escaped its upper-level loop and snuck down to the lower level behind the camera train while it was making the clockwise circuit of the upper loop. Had to look at it a second time to see its rear end was simply out-of-frame for that particular go-around. But would it have been possible to pull a trick like that, since the autorack train did vacate a lower-level loop to get up there?

---PCJ

@SusieQ posted:

Beautiful......thank you for sharing.

Your initial mountain shapes look great.......how about a tutorial on how they were formed?

Is there a published track plan for your layout which includes elevations?

SusieQ, check out my last layout update. I do a brief overview of how I built the mountains.

Here is the track plan.

Lower hidden level

Middle Level

Upper Level

Jason

Thanks for the info on the mountain construction as well as the track plan overview....

Great layout, I really like the big boxcars too.

I've noticed, Jason, that the oval on the upper level where the OCS train was running in the last video is only connected to the upper level main line with one pair of switches. If you add another pair, you could run a train on or off that loop from either direction. Have you thought about that? Also, you mentioned that you have a live stream coming up. Do you have a date and time for that?

@Dylan the Train Man posted:

I've noticed, Jason, that the oval on the upper level where the OCS train was running in the last video is only connected to the upper level main line with one pair of switches. If you add another pair, you could run a train on or off that loop from either direction. Have you thought about that? Also, you mentioned that you have a live stream coming up. Do you have a date and time for that?

Since its such a small loop, I often just back trains into it depending on the direction I want it to travel.

And I haven't picked a live stream date yet, but I'm getting married this weekend, so after that LOL

- Jason

Live stream from the Wedding! Just hand me your phone this weekend and I will make it happen.

Jason will the bride have a long "TRAIN" to her wedding dress?  Gotta keep this post train related. Best wishes to you both.

Congratulations!! Best Wishes for a Lifetime of Happiness!!

Congrats on the wedding, Jason! Have you picked out a place for your honeymoon?

@Chris1985 posted:

Live stream from the Wedding! Just hand me your phone this weekend and I will make it happen.

Only if the livestream is also a giveaway.

"Up next is JDstucks' wedding band"

- Jason