Some of you may have seen my last blog post with a relatively simple single track double deck layout plan. Now its time for me to make a choice.

DC or DCC control or a combination - it may seem like an od decision for some but and an easy one at that but for me after 10 -15 years in the electronics i like simple things and the old flick a switch and turn a knob.

As part of my ongoing preparation for my layout I have been experimenting with the livery for my rolling stock and Locomotives. I had planned to get the decals made from my own graphics file. As with a lot of first tries at good ideas there were a few gotchas. I thought I would share.

the design I settled on was magenta lettering on royal blue. 

Having finished with the routing software, I found that single line staging at both ends, although it seemed to be OK, wasn't going to work. I decided to make both staging to be double track. This involved the following:

1. Purchasing 2 new switches

2. Purchasing 2 extra switch motors

3. Taking down the old track

Hya,

after a long time, I finally decided to connect all the turnout motors to the DCC via Arduino (thanks to Geoff Bunza).

It took me nearly two years to convince myself to start this endeavour, as I hate anything to do with electricity. This kept me from doing anything on the model for nearly two years - the other long interruption was due to doing all the connections to turnouts and track several years ago (I am more a scenery person).

I had two immediate reactions to Scott Thornton’s message "Inspiration fosters a plan - using a conductor in operation”. The first was… Wow! That’s cool. The second was… Why didn’t I think of that? Since good writers borrow but great writers steal outright, I was inspired to develop my own version for the Grimes Line.

I thought I would share the upper deck track plan for my NP Yacolt branch.

https://yacoltbranch.blogspot.com.au/

I plan to model the Northern Pacific Yacolt Branch in the 1930's incorporating the last half of the line from Homan to Yacolt. The upper deck of my layout will feature the end of the line Yacolt and its interchange with Murphy Lumber company.

New power on the Allagash below!

Testing out the operations on my upper level before the big OPSIG meet here in Minnesota, MinnRail. I made a quick movie about the operations to one of my mines to show the visitors before they arrive. I know the layout is messy and I didn't use my usual light source. I just wanted to create a quick view of what a mine turn does.

Thank you for watching and any feedback.

All Scales: This review is HO.

Okay, so... you folks have heard me talk about magnetic lighting in the past (for lighting a Bobber Caboose) but now there's a new product out by "MRRHQ" called the "MagLED". It's actually a whole system of magnetic lighting for cars that consists of the "MagLED Master Control Board" ($12.99) "MagLED Accessory Harness" ($2.99) and the "MagLED Extension Board" ($4.99)