Hidden Pass Junction RR < >

Mike,

I videotaped the DZ1000 (with bottom plate off)

With 14v: Sometimes it works OK, other times it just goes part way BUT the switch points advance fully. The gear and pinion still lock them in place somewhat, so I guess it should be OK.

With 18v: I had one that buzzed! It went back and forth several times before it settled.

Adjustment: You are correct; there really isn't adjustment to be made. BUT, the limit switch (LS) does have a little play, and I was able to stop the 'buzzing' or continuous actuation under 18v by rotating the LS fully in one direction and then tightening the screws.

Bounce: It definitely bounces halfway back in one direction. It advances fully, then bounces back half way. You can see this plainly when playing it back one frame at a time (0.033 seconds/frame).

The three turnouts I tried seemed to work better at 14v, but now I have to go back to the other eight and try them out.


Steve C:
Glad you liked the trestle, and let us know how you do with yours. It actually is easier than it looks; just some patience and be careful where you stick your fingers and brush with your elbows when close to complete


Alex

Alex,
Today was the first that I saw your postings. I am awestruck, Your benchwork, backdrop painting and popups are among the best ever offered here. I am amazed at the attention to detail on your trestle; just reading the process that you went through to ensure accuracy was inspiring. Having the space to build, the skills to accomplish what you are doing, AND the support of your Wife; you are truly blessed.

I can't wait wait for the next posting.

Oh, and thanks to you and Dom for the track gauge and wiring technique!

quote:

Alex, fantastic benchwork by a master craftsman. This benchwork would be a great article in the OGR magazine.

I can easily spot half a dozen very neat how-to articles for the magazine in this one thread alone, any time Alex is in the mood (or has the time) to do them. I'm easy to get hold of, and definitely will be following the progress of what is shaping up to be one dynamite layout.

Alex,

As a fellow Missourian, I gotta compliment you on the layout. Really coming along nicely, and done right. You must have the patience of a saint, or at least an aeronautical engineer!

Allan,
I will be emailing you shortly to review this further .

Rob,
Thank you, but a EE will have to do . Actually, I enjoy doing this type of work, and never look at what I have yet to do, but at what I have already done.

UPDATE
Since finishing the big trestle a few weeks ago, I have been building grades, building the upper level frame, laying and wiring track. All of the upper level track is in place, though not yet ‘screwed’ down. A lot of it is wired and tested, and only five blocks remain to be wired. So far everything runs great (I use DCS).

After the upper level is complete, as far as track and wiring goes, I will start on the “L” train. It will be a loop about 35 feet long and six to seven inches above the upper level. The single track girder bridge shown below, on top of short pieces of 2x4’s and next to the double-track Pratt Truss bridge, will be part of the “L” train. I made this bridge from scratch for my previous layout, and will have to shorten it by about 14 inches, but it will work fine.

Here are a few pictures I took just a few moments ago to share with you. Not great, and I will have better, more detailed pictures soon, but these will be OK for the time being to show some progress. I took all the pictures, except for the last two, while standing on a 17-inch high platform. I will have several such platforms for people to watch the trains. Hope you enjoy them!

East side frame underway.



West Side - grades.




Tracks connecting the East and West sides.



East Side (main side: has lower, upper and "L" levels)









This next picture taken while standing on the floor.



This is another picture taken from ‘ground level’. It is of the track sections that connect the East and West sides, and it is behind the stairwell. This is where I want to install cameras to monitor the turnouts.



And thanks for looking

Alex

Congratulations, Alex !!

It's always great to see your progress!!!

Leandro ...

Great job!

Peter

speechless

Have some more pictures to share with you. Some would precede the last pictures I posted chronologically, but I did not post them because I thought they may not be of interest. But maybe they would be . . .

Laying out the second graded track





Some construction details of the East side, where the lower, upper and “L” levels will be. (The West side has lower level and graded tracks.)













Clearances with the MTH Premier Big Boy on Ø99 inner curve. The SF passenger train is on the outer Ø108 curve. So far I have had no interference problems, even when running the Big Boy and the Coal Turbine No. 80 side-by-side, whether either is on the inner or outer curves. The Ø108 and Ø99 are spaced 4-1/2" apart throughout, as are the Ø99 and Ø90 used in a few places.





Newly completed and painted Pratt Truss Bridge. The ‘higher’ bridge is for the “L” train.







And one overall of the East side.



Thank you for looking!

Alex

Alex, just amazing! and its trains are also beautiful, my son was mad at bigboy he loves this train!

Excellent work, please continue posting!

Leandro ...

Alex,
All I can say is 'AWLSOME'. I hope I can do one tenth as good with my next layout, if my house wasn't for sale I'd start tearing down my layout now. I am new to this hobby and have my first layout since I was very young, made a lot of mistakes, hope I have enough years left to do better.

How often do you connect to the track, what is the spacing between connections? Your wireing diagrahm shows spread out connections.

I hope when your layout is at least near completion you will accept visitors.

Keep up the 'GREAT' work and thanks for sharing.

Mike Orite

Mike,

Coincidentally, I just happened to briefly describe my track connection in a thread in the DCS forum. Here is what I said:
“Presently, I have the entire track in place and wired; that is, except for the “L” train, which will be a separate, isolated 30-ft loop. (See below). The turnouts are not wired yet for control, and neither are the relays and switches to turn the track districts and blocks on and off.

Each of the dual mainline tracks (275 feet per) is divided into 10 districts, and are fed by one of the eight channels (two TIU’s) so no two adjacent districts are fed by the same channel. The 24 sidings and spurs are also distributed among the eight channels, such that each channel terminal block has no more than six tracks connected to it.

The wires from the terminal blocks to the tracks range from eight to 16 feet long, 16 AWG. The eight wires from the TIU output channels to the terminal blocks are 12 to 20 feet long, 14 AWG. And the four wires from the two Z4000’s to the TIU’s are 40 and 100 feet long, 12 AWG. I still have the magic light bulbs at each TIU output channel, and now have Deats Filters at the end of each spur. I am in the process of adding more filters.”

There have been comments made, all of which are fine, and some of our friends do not believe that it is necessary to have so many track blocks and feeds. They may well be right, but it will not hurt to do it as I have done it. Also, this approach is recommended by Rick Melvin in the DCS video, as well as by Barry Broskowitz in his DCS book, on page 60.

I have made a few modifications to the layout, and this is the track plan now. I will probably add a turntable (CSX AL will be hearing from me soon) and roundhouse at Villa de Rocas.

UPPER & "L" TRAIN LEVELS




I am making the support for the ”L” Train out of plastic molding from Home Depot, and will use Railking Elevated Trestle Sets. The long empty span on the left of the picture is for a bridge over Lake Chiemsee, which already is up on the layout.




And thank you for your comments!

Alex

Alex GREAT WORK.

quote:

I have made a few modifications to the layout, and this is the track plan now. I will probably add a turntable (CSX AL will be hearing from me soon) and roundhouse at Villa de Rocas.

Alex,

Looking forward to working with you.

All the track is done (except for a couple of minor changes where the turntable will be) and I am ready for scenery and switch-track and accessory wiring. Once the scenery is in place, a lot of the lower level track will not be seen from the main viewing area. It will always be seen from the back of the layout.

Anyway, I decided to take some pictures of the overall as it now stands to share with you.

This is one of the viewing platforms. It is 16” high, 60” wide and 24” deep. There is a step up to it. Other platforms, in the aisles, will be a little lower.



Finally unpacked a few more of the locomotives.



The rest of the pictures I took while standing on the floor or from a viewing platform.





















The "L" train track 'loop' is 32-ft long.





The longest straight stretch, along the back - about 36-ft.







This is where I will have the turntable and 3-stall roundhouse, so the layout will change somewhat.























I hope that wasn’t too boring.

Thanks for looking!

Alex

It looks great Alex. Turntable will look nice in that spot. I have been stalled on my layout doing summer stuff but should get back to it soon.

Impressive!
Alex where did you get the elevated structure from the one the subway is riding on?
George

Thanks, Don!

George,
The support beams for the “L” train track is made of 1/4” x 3/4" simulated-wood plastic molding, as shown in my post of 05 August, above.

The silver piers are Railking, and the taller supports are made of 1x4’s on top of 2x4’s with an intermediate 1x4 piece. I then added some 1/4" square pieces on the sides of the 2x4’s. There is no prototype for this – I just made something easy to make and hope that it looks somewhat real.











When I first made the “L” train structure, I measured the double-stack cars and containers I had, and I had enough clearance. But then I bought other cars and containers, and oops! I had a problem. This required the additional 1/4" piece at the bottom of every pier and support. This results in a clearance of about 6” above the rails of the track under the “L” train.



Interference before the additional 1/4" base.


Hope this helps.

Alex

quote:

Originally posted by Paulinskill:
Alex,

I think your walls came out fine. If worried about it maybe you could add some haziness to simulate distance. Don't know how to go about it though.

Dullcoat

Alex,

Your layout is looking fantastic, great job!

Cesar

Alex,

Fantastic work and such precision in a short time. OGR should do a special issue of just your layout.

Thanks for sharing with us.

DPC,
As luck would have it, most of what I painted (the buildings) will not be readily seen; the real structures that I plan to have on the second level will block the view from the main viewing area. From the side aisles you would be able to see more of the backdrop, but the attention would be towards the layout. This having been said, I may still try the dull coat since I am not done painting yet.

Cesar, Mike – Thank you!

I think the whole layout will take on a new perspective with the scenery, and I can hardly wait.

But then will come the buildings, and working accessories, and more wiring, and trees, and cars, and people - - - and computer control . . .

What a wonderful hobby we have!

Alex

Well done!

Peter

Thanks, Peter!

Now I am trying to decide how to change the layout to accommodate a Millhouse River Studio 34” turntable (TT henceforth) that should arrive soon. Originally, this area of the layout, Villa de Rocas, was for the Lionel Rotary coal unloader, which after almost two years of delays they have decided not to make available.

The layout on the left shows the existing Ø72” elongated loop where the coal train would have gone through the rotary dumper, and the switch-tracks very close to how they are; just slightly modified.

The layout on the right is removing the existing Ø72” elongated loop, all exiting switch-tracks, and starting with a clean slate.

The roundhouses (RH henceforth) shown are not accurate as I do not have any yet. The spacing between the tracks out of the TT is about 8° in both layouts.

On the left, the RH is 30” deep, 24” across the front, corner-to-corner; and 50” across the back, also C-C. The distance (tracks) from the TT to the RH is about 8”.

On the right, the RH is 32” deep, 28” across the front and 54” across the back. The distance from the TT to the RH is about 16”.

I do not have to have a six-stall RH, and a total of 10 tracks served by the TT would be enough. Removing the TT will provide the access hatch for maintenance.

(Oh, the blue and dark-green tracks on the perimeter are the main tracks, Ø108” and Ø99”, graded 2%.)



It would be easier for me to do the layout on the left, as it requires fewer changes, but I really I would appreciate your opinions .

Thx!

Alex

Alex , Do you RRt File on this? You asked about the placement. 6" = 24 ft

PAtrick,
Attached is the "TT and RH" options RR-Track file.

Thx

Alex

K Ill check it out, Are you fixed on the run around inside the cut? I think its a good idea if you can manuever some cabooses or work flats around

Alex,

both are nice, my only comment would be that with the second one, you could fit a 2 stall engine house on the layout for diesels.

Here some additional ideas if you can make them work. I liked that run around idea.

Rich
,
Very good idea for sure, but I already have a Diesel Facility 'across the aisle', at Etieca Valley, which I hope it would be sufficient

(Lower Level track portion)



Patrick:

I really like those additions! Let's see what I can work out.



Alex

Alex....the invitation is still good if you want to come on down to take a look at the layout. I have incorporated much of what you are trying to do on your layout and it may be helpful for you to see it in person. Our rooms are very similar in size so if I can be of any help, just let me know. Your progress is coming along nicely!!

Alan

Alex,

You'll be happier with a straight track leading to the TT like in the left hand drawing in your 9/5 post and in Patrick's suggested modification. Large locomotives and a curved lead-in track like in the right hand drawing in your 9/5 post can be problematic. Long wheelbase and articulated locomotives will try to push the bridge in a clockwise direction possibly causing it to move out of alignment.

Alan,
I have not forgotten! I’ll be in touch soon. Thx!

Bob,
I appreciate the advantage of a straight lead track to the TT. Here is what I have come up with, using Patrick’s overall sensible recommendations. Keeping the loop around the TT and RH really opens up a lot of possibilities, including a rotary coal tipple in the future. More immediately, however, I have a number of operating accessories that I can certainly fit around the track paralleling the longer straight portion of the loop. (The accessories shown are not the actual ones I will use there.)



Also, even though I have double reversing loops for each main, this small loop around the TT and RH (even after I increased its smaller curves from Ø72" to Ø81") is a lot faster to use to turn around a shorter train, say 15 cars or so.

Thanks!

Alex

It would have required too much cutting and reinforcing to place the turntable where I had planned, so I changed its location.



This is what it looks like, and it serves as a hatch as well.





You can read about it here Turntable Installation

Thanks for looking!

Alex

Alex...I am at home right now for a lunch break and just saw this. You have done a really great job fitting the turntable into the space you have created!
I see that you may not be able to have a roundhouse like you wanted but the engine houses lined up are certainly protypical and as you saw on my layout I used this approach for additional service area for the locomotives. Keep up the great work!!

Alan

Alan,

You are right - instead of 'shoe-horning' a roundhouse, the double train shed, and perhaps another single, work fine. I will add an extension to one side of the double shed for the Big Boy.

Here is where I am. The covered rectangular hole adjacent to the TT still is a hatch, about 13" x 25", and I may add a couple of 'whisker' tracks (correct name for tracks around the TT?) or perhaps just a building or small tower on top of this hatch - it lifts straight up in this case.

I like having the big TT hole for major work, but the smaller hatch will come in handy for minor adjustments.





(I'm also working on a small modification to the roof of the shed; Judy did not like it flat!)

Thanks for you comments!

Alex

Thank you for the nice pictures. I am doing another layout and it gives me some good ideas.

Dale H

Thanks, Dale - I appreciate that.

I have spent the last few days doing scenery - - and - - fixing smoke units!
Hope to have some pictures to post in a few days.

Alex

Such impressive work and great craftsmanship. I really am impressed with the use of space...really a great looking layout.

Alex
Great Layout. Maybe I missed it somewhere in this thread but how big is the layout. Scenery work is lots of fun so enjoy!!!!
Steve