Modeling topic
What did a dispatcher's desk look like pre-CTC?
I've seen plenty of CTC panels, and sat in with dispatchers using computer screens. What I haven't seen (as far as I can remember, anyway) is a dispatcher's desk from the train order days. I know the operators would have a telegraph (later a telephone), and I'm guessing the dispatcher would as well, but what else? Was there any sort of route map? Just a dig desk with plenty of cubbyholes and slots/drawers for various bits of paperwork? How did he keep track of which trains had authority on a given piece of track?
Westcott/Blunt TAT IV vs Fiehmann SST/7 transistor throttle brake circuits.
Realistic controls in analog DC was the Big Thing 40+ years ago... before DCC. This started 51 years ago with Linn Westcott's True Action Throttle (TAT) circuits in the February 1962 MR. Dennis Blunt added modeled brake valves and brake action in the Aug. 1968 MR. This issue included a great article about prototype air brake operation. The ultimate expression of realistic operation was Jack Burgess "Quarter-size locomotive cab controls" that included the TAT IV, Blunt brake circuits, and all the bells and whistles... literally.
Richlawn Railroad V2: Room Lighting - a one-handed paper hanger?
This first thing I wanted to do in my new layout / office room is to install good lighting. After a bit of research I decided on using track lighting because of the flexibility in aiming the lights. I received all of my track lighting items a few days ago and was faced with a problem: how to install this by myself? I felt much like a "one-handed paper hanger"!
Mounting Masonite Hardboard
I'm in the process of mounting 1/8" tempered hardboard for my backdrops. I chose the 1/8 masonite because of the ease of flex around a curve. However the thin masonite does not take screws very well, The screw heads pop thru the softer inner core. Is their a different type of screw that can be used? Or should I have gone with the 3/16" masonite?
James
Final Design Complete
I have been looking over the design and trying to envision both operations and signaling. I know that some may think that this is getting ahead of myself, but I thought it was important for keeping the wiring as simple as possible. By going through this exercise, it also showed me that I was over-engineering things from an electrical/occupancy sensing perspective.
LED question
I am looking some help with a LED. I am trying to replace the factory lights with LED's. I have the resistor soldered to the LED. I know that the LED has a pos and neg. The stock bulbs work, but the LED's don't. I was wondering if there is something keeping the LED from working on the factory light board. It is on a proto 2000 SD 9. Any ideas?
Alan
Lighting for a rail yard
I'm attempting to recreate a major rail and locomotive yard and I was trying to fine lighting similar to the lighting I've seen in pictures. Specifically I'm looking at banks of flood lights on a high pole. any help would be appreciated.
DCC equiped engines stalling on frogs
Ok i have three diesels two from atlas and one from intermountain they all have QSI revolution version 7 sound decoders in them, they work fine but for some reason the two atlas engines will stall on the frogs of my atlas code 100 number 6 turnouts but the intermountain and my other engines with different sound decoders in them travel right through the turnouts with no problem. I am running with a NCE power cab and JMRI. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Trolley to Coach
I won a bunch of Bachmann On30 trolleys on eBay, they'll end up as coaches behind a Porter or Forney loco. Removed the mechanism and put in a wee subframe to hold archbar trucks. The wheelsets are not the original On30 size, but H0 replacements:
The car drops about a ¼", looks better imho ...
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