A little more progress

Cut a new crossover into the Loft layout; now trains can revert back to the correct main, or access any platform from either main:

Next weekend I hope to power all platform and access tracks, and maybe add some control switches.

Valentine's Week Report - For the Love of Trains

Ever had one of those days? Time I had. Motivation too. Even managed to pick up some flex track and turnouts to make a little progress.


But I forgot to get RAIL JOINERS!


I managed to scrape together enough decent ones to get my arrival departure track in, wired, and running. You can see the new addition in this view:

The four station tracks are on the right, and the A/D track is on the left. I managed to hold off putting this in until I had the turnouts I needed to fit as well, so I don't have to cut them in later. Well, all but one. My rail-joiner shortage meant I couldn't fit the one at the far end that leads to the East-end through tracks:

It's not all that good a picture, but you can see where I'm going from this end. The track (far right) is only pinned in place, as is the ladder, to test the concept. I may move it in slightly to shorten the tracks, or maybe not. Need to play with the capacity and balance between yard tracks and drill tracks.


I also added a cross-over from the A/D track to one of the passenger tracks, to be used as a locomotive access track:

 It gives more flexibility in the design, and moving it farther out from Armstrong's original sketch means a local train can run it power around without having to go to the far end of the yard.


And here's another blurry view of the whole project, from the East:

And a pose shot of a few of my "players":

From left to right:


Santa Fe El Capitan with F7 power
A C&NW Streamliner commuter train, with an E6
A C&NW station switcher, in the switcher pocket
and lastly, a Santa Fe Super Chief, extended with two REA Express cars, and an extra sleeper, powered by a PA-1, PB-1, PA-1 trio.


Until next time!

Locomotive Servicing and Yard start

Over the past few weeks I've managed to solder some wires, fix some "spots", and run some trains, including my newest, Kato's Metra Bi-level commuter train:

I also ran the Santa Fe heavyweight train, though in some odd colors at the minute, just to do it:

But it's not always smiles. Sadly the day was marred by a disastrous crash at the beginning of a platform later that day:

So on to the start of the day's activities!

I placed the only remaining section of flex track after the crossover for an idea of how it was going. Then I decided to use some scraps to fashion the first (primary) switching lead (or drill track) for a place to park locomotives at the minute. I did eventually did extend it almost to the saw handle in this picture.

A closer view of the lead and the caboose of a passing train...

From the Yard Throat

The locomotive servicing area is on the left, marked by the pins (which are holding the cork until it dries).

Locomotive Servicing Area

The cork for the second switching lead, and tracks for the locomotive servicing area. The pinned track (from left to right): 1. secondary drill track, 2. access track, 3. inbound locomotive and service track,  4. former ash-pit refuse and service track, now used for storage, 5. outbound locomotives, 6. locomotive storage. 

The Rest of the Progress

I don't want to spend too much time on the station until the yard is nearly finished; lots to do yet...

Overall View of the Work

I stopeed when I ran out of pins; I'll get the most complex areas (most turnouts) done first, then it's only a matter of laying the yard tracks...

Still Progressing

All has not been quite, though the progress is sometimes only slightly forward.


Over the last few weeks I have focused on adding additional power blocks to allow the running of multiple trains, or at least run trains on both loops, independently. Sometimes I do think it would have been easier to do this from the onset, rather than quickly run temporary wiring to run trains, but the whole point IS to have fun, isn't it.


At present, I'm focusing on getting the main line and passenger station area fully and properly wired before moving on to the freight yard construction. This will also involve the addition of a few more turnouts, to complete some badly needed crossovers, but not necessarily motorizing them yet.


All control blocks will allow the choice of DC or DCC power, though I have not considered a facility for multiple DC controllers. One option lies with CMRI's Train Brain, but that will be some ways off if at all.


More to follow during the Christmas break!

Trackwork and Running - Who needs a Big Boy?

As part of the work needed to allow running on both main tracks, and all station tracks, insulated gaps are needed to break up the long main line into smaller blocks. I know I should have done this during construction, but wasn't aware of the impact of the Peco Electrofrog turnouts on the conduction of electricity, nor appreciated how much simpler it would have been to use them, instead of cutting and filling gaps.


Live and learn...


But did some any way, and spent some time running a train or two. Everyone I know has, wants, or would like a Big Boy and/or a Challenger. Why? It's only one locomotive, and it's used by one rail road on one specific piece of the line. And it's that least favorite rail road (lol). Look at what five GP7s can do, and IMHO, with more style. This one is submitted for your entertainment:

Until next time....

Preparation...

No real excitiement this time; spent a few hours soldering some track joints, and adding feeder wires to a majority of the second loop and station (platform and service) tracks in preparation for running the second track. I need to gap several places near the turnouts to avoid shorts (one disadvantage in the superior Peco Electrofrog models. Once I get the track-work sorted out, I might start on the station, or the freight yard, and at LEAST get the arrival/departure track in so I can park another train while I operate...

Until next time!

Troublesome Track No More!

I found a very cool portable light which throws out 120 watts of bright light; perfect for working on troublesome track, so I attacked a troublesome turnout; it wouldn't let me run one direction with most stuff, and derailed a number of locomotives going the other direction:

The turnout on the left hand side (above) was replaced with a Peco long radius turnout:

Next project is to get the jog out of the tracks on the left-hand side of the above photo so I can get the wiring done, and run both mains. But at the minute I can run both directions at good speed through the one loop...


Also, these were taken under the new light with the iPhone:

I'll bring the camera and try it under the light next time, and get some videos as well..



The next day I took the plunge and re-laid the other offending turnout at the end of the passenger station to remove the kinks in the track. The previous:

The new:

A wider-angel view of the work showing the new smoother lines. I tracked a string of Micro-Trains Pullmans and Athearn Maxi-Stacks through to confirm the smoothness:

Hopefully next time I can get some wiring done and run trains on both lines next time...