Caption currently reads "3: The LK&O Railroad uses a 555 processor to control Tortoise machines."

Caption should read "3: The LK&O Railroad uses a latching relay and momentary pushbuttons to control Tortoise machines."

Thanks for the correction, Alan.

We'll wait to see if any more corrections come in today and then we'll issue an updated version of the Feb issue before we do the big "come and get it" email blast tonight.

I am very new t DCC and 64 Yrs. of age.    I have a steam loco into which I've installed a Train Control systems, plug & play decoder.  When I first set it on the tracks it ran in short address 03.   I tried programing the long address and messed up, now it won't respond at all.    Can I reset CV30 without knowing the address of either the long or short address???  

Carman Locke

South Porcupine, On., Canada

What NCE System do you have? Also are you programing on the main or on a programing track?

Carman,

What a lucky break for you! This month's DCC Impulses column is all about addressing, and how to troubleshoot your exact problem.

Check out Bruce's column in the magazine.

Joe,

Was excited to see that the conversation about multiple DPDT switches were included in the issue. I was wondering if there would be any issue with reposting these on free-mo.org since many would find it useful. of course I would link back to MRH to reference the source

Chris

Chris - we use a creative commons copyright, which means you are free to repost anything we publish on the web as long as:

1. It's still free

2. You provide a link back to http://mrhmag.com

So go for it!

I love the idea of the wiring tinning jig.  I have made simple jigs for painting wheels and painting trucks, but I never thought of doing something like that for wires.  Duh!

It is very, very rate to find a tip column, here or elsewhere, that I do not learn from.

That was a good read, and many great replies to the questions about track warrants.
It is one of the few things that scale down exactly as it is a form of train control that allows you to travel between two points, either real or on the layout.

Thomas Gasior

For additional information on controlling stall motor switch machines (eg, Tortoise), including info on using LED position indicators, check out the article "Control turnouts from multiple locations", Model Railroader, September 2010, page 52.

NCE AND DIGTRAX BOTH CAN THROUGH YOUR SWITCHES. AND KNOW WITH NCE YOU DO NOT NEED ANY BUTTONs OR PANELS. 

Watch this video and follow steps and you will have your loco set to long address.

For readers wishing to use the latching relay & pushbutton Tortoise control as seen in the LK&O video I have found a much lower cost supplier of the latching relays - Arrow Electronics. I ordered 82 relays. Arrow shipped within 2 days, were safely packaged in IC tubes, and are the same TE Connectivity part sold elsewhere. The average street price of the relays in quantity is around $2.40 ea. Arrow sells them for $1.76.

Arrow Electronics: http://parts.arrow.com/

Latching Relay at Arrow: http://parts.arrow.com/item/detail/te-connectivity-ltd/3-1393788-6#cnyg