Trackwork
Hidden Trackage and Multiple Shelves
Hi folks,
I'm still in the drawing/tinkering phase of layout design and wanted to pose a couple of questions (I'll try hard to explain things clearly).
Programming Track Troubleshoot
I have wired my Zepher's Programming slots to a DPDT switch according to the diagram and NADA. Need help troubleshooting. Wiring is as follows:
1. Track is isolated by two (2) insulated joiners.
2. Upper portion of the DPDT (back is a series of 6 screws/lugs) is wired to the main power bus - rt side is positive and left side is negative.
3 middle portion is wired to the isolated track (2 drops) right is positive and left is negative.
LAYING TRACK
Getting ready to build my layout. Would like comments pros/cons on the following.
I plan to:
Lay code 100 flex with Peco 100 turnouts (power routing)
MANUAL TURNOUT CONTROLS
Ok,
I'll say this upfront. This is another one of those data mining threads!!
Need some ideas on deciding what type of controls I want to use for my manual turnouts. Scale is HO (not sure if that matters at all), but the idea is to maintain as pure and realistic a scene as possible, but still get the feel of bending steel and operating a switch vice pushing a button, etc. I am hoping to get some of your real world applications on your layouts, and PICTURES would be most helpful!
Selector Plate instead of a Yard Ladder
Well here it goes! I'm going to try and explain how I used a "Selector Plate" instead of using switches in my staging yard. I found this technique works well to save money, time and space. Lets face it....turnouts are expensive! One benefit is that all staging tracks are of the same length and you can space the tracks any way you want.
On the East End of my layout I have a 5 track staging yard.
Progress!!
The Greater Nickel Plate Lives! Trackwork is completed. Wiring and testing will be started next week with the Golden Spike ceremony still scheduled for the end of the month. After that, ballast, painting, uncoupling ramps, scenery and small details will take place over the next year or two. My railroad is coming together after being in boxes and crates for nearly 30 years! Woo! Woo!
Here are a few photos to share:
Shinohara 3-Way
Any advice on wiring and prepping a code 70 Shinohara 3-way switch for DCC use? A wiring diagram/instructions would be particularly appreciated.
Detailing Lampson Yard
The continuing yard detailing project.
Yard ladder. I added fine ballast to represent walking ballast, as well as weeds:
The tracks themselves, get a rust wash along the rail and a grease wash down the middle, along with weeds and spilled lading. The orange ties represent the clearance points for each track.
What's on your workbench?
I'm busy with turnout building.
For my new Pueblo & Salt Lake RR I need quite a few turnouts, more than 50 for the finished layout. My dual gauge staging yard is a loop, therefore I need a transition track.
Here's a code 70 #6 turnout with adjacent transition track.
turnout frogs
i have walther, and tilig turnouts on my layout,( the tiligs where bought yrs ago when i was told that they were the answer for dcc). they both have problems with wheels dropping into the gap on the frog.,even thought the frogs have a" base " in them. i have been reading joe's articles about fast tracts and his hand built turnouts. i have also read many other articles about hand laying turnouts and to the best of my memory all of the others discuss "filling" the frog to create a base for the flange to roll on as it goes thought the frog.
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