Layout Signal Progress

Been working on the H2 Target Signal Project now that the CTC system has proved its stability working with the latest expansion project.  Progress on the signal construction has been added to the CTC Signaling Project Archive page found here (scroll up from bottom of page and find update 03 / 2014).

CTC system now completed

Looking forward to the first Ops of the newly configured layout under CTC.  The signaling system held back progress for numerous weeks.  Quite a hurdle with the discontinuance of the LEDs we had been using, and the reverse in wiring methods used on the ribbon cables from the TC64 vs the SE8C cards....  and some additional labor hours that had not been anticipated for "Murphy".  Got a layout signal head project update right on the heels of this post....

Its getting close to six months again since the last run, but currently running trains to verify all systems for stability so I can send out Crew calls.

So the latest projects were, installing Hampton sky backboards, upper deck fascia install, and some painting.  All the shelving and throttle racks at the Yard Offices are painted black now, as well as all the latest fascia sections.  Fascias have all but one of the repeaters installed including signal icons and track diagrams.  Missing the Egyptian font station names until I get more decal paper to get those printed up (on this weeks to-do list).  Sky backboards were painted dark blue for the higher elevations, and a lighter blue for lower elevations.  Basically the upper deck will be all dark blue (Klamath Falls thru Oakridge), then the middle and lower decks will be the lighter blue (Hampton down thru Portland). 

Here is an overview shot of the latest stage of layout completion:

The porthole on the left is to monitor trains in the helix, and the one to its right will have more Conifer Tree Trickery to obscure the opening, but still allow visual contact with the Home signal at W Hampton (on the opposite side).  Still a few loose ends, but materials for the expansion's curtains have been secured, sky backboards still missing from the staging yard entrances, and still have a short uncompleted section on the backside (adjacent to the helix).... but happy with the progress as of late.

Golden Spike Ceremony

...for the expansion project.  Well, it was only me running a couple trains around to make sure the upper deck was up to specs.  Drastic change from the old layout trackage configuration, which I'm sure all will enjoy.  All mainline track wiring is completed, and Ray's help on block detection and power districts significantly helped reduce build time.

 We've been working on the signaling for Hampton and Gilchrist Jct. which will complete the CTC system additions for the expansion.  Hampton turnouts are operational via the new TC64 I/O controller, and are currently running ribbon cable for the signal outputs.  Signal repeaters will be operational first, as still short a few signals, but we are getting closer on our own H2 signal head project (more later).

The expansion adds a whole new atmosphere to the layout, compared to where previously one could stand in the middle of the room, and operate a train without having to move for much other than a better vantage point of signal indications. That with the installation of the center divider now in place, operators are forced to walk with their train a bit more, giving the overall layout a much stronger walk around feature to it.

The center divider breaks up the layout and makes it seem a lot bigger than before, but it does end abruptly near the end of the peninsula.  I wanted a slim vertical line at the end of the backdrop where it stops, which would have been difficult to mask by using a 2X2 sandwiched by a couple sheets of masonite.  To achieve the desired effect, I chose to use a single sheet of tempered hardboard, with shelf brackets in strategic locations as supports.  To camouflage the brackets, there will be forested hills rising up toward the center of the divider, with careful placement of conifers in front of support brackets.  There will be a tall pine buried in the point of the divider, as well as a set of block signals in the foreground to help distract the viewer's attention.  Debating on the use of similar tree placement where there are abrupt corners, vs bending a sheet of styrene to conceal the 90 degree backdrop angles...

 Above, on far upper left at base of center divider will be the Gilchrist lumber mill, which is the end of the KN shortline.  The SP Gilchrist Jct will be on the right rear side of the backdrop for the KN interchange.  Iphone image makes it difficult to see the shortline subroadbed grade, but it makes about a two inch climb over its near 15' run between the two small yards. 

Some progress on the fascias around Hampton.  Once all the lower deck sections of fascia are in, I will fall back and paint them all black also, followed by the same curtains that are already in place on the existing sections of the layout.  Will have to revisit station name and MP marker location labeling, as well as color coded line diagrams on fascias.  Eventually attention will move from Hampton upward.

No solid plans after we finish up the electrical side, but got plenty to keep me busy.

Oregon Division Timetable Hits the Presses

With the expansion getting closer to being put into full service, I've been plugging away on the Timetable that had been put on hold for so long.  The General Rules had grown to three pages (which was a bit intimidating to newcomers), so I reworked them back to the basics, and consolidated the remaining rules and  instructions into the new Timetable.  Multiple copies will be placed around the layout during ops, as well as having pages available on the blog here.  The TT cover was scanned from an SP original and printed on colored card stock to match the proto design, but have some name changes adjacent to the appropriate division offices to implicate fellow operators.  Pages inside were configured very similar to the original format, but instead reflecting the actual workings of the layout here as needed.  Inside the cover includes the typical pages of Special Instructions (for the Division as well as the Subdivision), a modified Station listing that coincides with the layout, and a copy of the original SP division map.  Additional pages were added to help operators, including signal configuration chart, as well as a layout track chart.  The rear cover is printed on the same colored card stock, but has changes to the oral authorization to make access to this info easier.  Future pages will appear as the layout grows more, like planned scanner and dragger detector information page, etc.  A more revised version of the station listing page might appear soon, in an effort to get that page a bit closer to the original TT configuration. A fun piece of work that adds another dimension to the overall layout during operating sessions.  I have updated the "Insight on Operations" page with the revised General Rules, latest form changes, and also added the Timetable pages there.  Visit this link to view the "Insight on Operations" page. 

Back to working on the RR...     :)

SD9 Sound Unit Stall Issue Resolved

As we were running some test trains over the layout for the first time in months, we noticed that the two SD9s were acting up again.... but finally a new clue arose to help pursue the cause.  They had been overly sensitive to power drop-out, making the decoders reset with the slightest power interruption.  Now these units were resetting when an adjacent power district went into overload mode.  In other words, if a train in a different sub district on the PM42 shorted out, the PM42 would cycle its overload relays, which caused a power drop or sag in the sub district that the SD9s were in.  Unlike any other unit on the layout utilizing the same decoder board, this demonstrated that these decoders were not fixed as previously hoped.  After trying an experiment with super-caps to make a temporary keep-alive circuit (as Ray has been installing in some other HO units), we did some extensive testing and were able to determine that the sound level output on these two units, had a direct relationship to the problem; but no matter what the sound settings, the units would only work reliably as long as they still had an oversize bank of capacitors attached.  After messing around long enough, I finally got to the point where I just cleared out the custom 567 sound project that I had previously installed, then loaded the Digitrax GP38 file back into the decoder instead.  Problem solved!  It appears that it was a corrupt sound file causing the stall issue, or an unknown sound CV setting?  Lot of lost hours in getting these sound units back in reliable running order, but glad to know operators will be able to run the local jobs from now on without issue... even if they don't have the correct sound project for now. 

Final Phase Expansion Project Benchwork

I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed with the size of the layout and all that needs to be done (let alone maintenance), so glad that there is no more space to allow any further expansion at this point...  To me the images below make this project look a little less significant than when one shares the room with it, but it actually consumes nearly 60 sq feet of floor space.

Anyhow, trackwork has been tied into the main layout for the new Hampton section.  The Hampton spur track is lower priority and will follow later since its a hand laid turnout.  I made some progress on getting this section wired, but then decided to push the rest of the way through to complete benchwork for the expansion project.

So I confronted a few issues while selectively compacting everything in an effort to make it all fit on the upper level.  I had intended to eliminate one more loop from the helix in exchange for the upper deck trackage, but that caused issues with the mainline grade being too steep to reliably set out cars for the KN interchange, possible issues with the KN power being able to handle the branchline grade, and squeezed the bridge scene too low at Hampton.  Now I have framing in for the upper level which is basically flat running, and have made it to the point where I am ready to lay cork for the mainline section.  The roadbed for the Klamath Northern interchange, and also part of its branchline have been started; but are low on the priority list at the moment, as this is another project in itself (lots of code 40 turnouts).

Still some wood work ahead when I have to consider all the masonite sections needed for backdrops and fascias.  One of these backdrop sections will act as a scenic divider running down the middle of the upper level, which should change the atmosphere of the whole room, so anxious to get that in.  Most of my fellow modelers paint and install backdrops early on, but I have put off backdrops mostly due to the unknowns of how each scene was going to blend in, and always maintained the idea that I could paint and more importantly, detail the backdrop more easily on a workbench, while leaving room to slide them in later...  The expansion is a bit different, as the backdrops will require more of their own framing, and will have to go in before any scenery; but latest plan has been to configure expansion benchwork where it will allow me to slide them in after initial construction...  Considering just cutting and painting all layout backdrop sections blue temporarily (bare wood is getting old), and keep things so most can be removed later to more closely match scenes... 

Wanna-be artist's rendition of what things are supposed to look like:

 ....and here is where the progress is so far:

I want to get the layout back up and running for ops again.  Its been about 5 months since we have operated, and I am a little eager to try out a number of earlier changes also.  Hampton's siding will be out of service for our next run, as signaling has not been completed yet.  As time allows, the new sections will be cut in with the rest of the CTC.  Ray has already been keeping up with the latest CATS and JMRI panels for when the hardware is implemented, along with pre-wiring edge connectors for the BDL and PM42 cards.  We are diverging from earlier ways and installing a TC64 for the IO's (instead of using the SE8c cards again), but operators will continue to utilize existing signal locations until the cut-over takes place.  If all goes well, we can squeeze in some Ops before the Holidays consume everyone's free time...

Penninsula Expansion Project Update

Sad to say, I am expanding the plywood prairie further before making much progress on the latest scenery project above Oakridge, but that is still moving forward...
Attention has moved to working on the next level of the expansion benchwork for Hampton, which will reside just above the staging yard. One revolution in the helix will be removed (between Natron and the climb to Oakridge), and in exchange trackage is being stretched out into the open on this new level with a reduced gradient.  This will reduce running time in the helix, including the addition of another long siding to improve flow across the layout, as well as adding another helper entrainment location.
Here is a view of the peninsula with the XtrakCad drawings laid out across the staging yard, used to verify benchwork dimensions of the new deck section as basic framework begins:

These drawings were printed out to lay out over the staging yard as I built the benchwork for the next level, then trimmed to fit as I relocated them up on top of the benchwork after completion.  They have helped immensely in being able to envision and move from each phase of benchwork and trackwork construction as I have progressed through this project.
So now with framework underway, the notching concept of each yard throat entering the staging yard can be seen.  This concept was developed by Ray early on when he was configuring the preliminary design work with XtrakCad.  This allows operators to have easy viewing of arriving and departing trains in staging, but is of minimal impact on space needed for the levles above.  A compressed version of the bridge crossing over Lookout Point Reservoir will reside between the helix and just above the K Falls staging entrance.  Klamath Falls staging is seen here, showing the XtrakCad drawings laid out for positioning of track alignment:

This week I completed cutting base roadbed for the track alignment, and am now working on the riser supports to maintain gradient.  Before I can begin construction on the upper deck, the backdrops will need to be added, also using masonite as intended for most other sections of the layout.  The staging perimeter will be wrapped with masonite and extend up to the top of the Hampton deck.  The final phase of this expansion project will be the Klamath Northern interchange on the upper deck.  This deck will reside in the center on top of the peninsula, but will be set back about a foot from the front of the Hampton deck with its own fascia, in an effort to divide each scene.
Latest progress showing an overall view with the Right of Way roadbed below, shows what the staging entrances now look like for Klamath Falls on the left, and Portland on the right.  Since this image was taken, the framing above Portland has been angled further back to reveal a bit more of the staging entrance:

Next up, cork, track, and trains...
Trackplan sketches have now been updated to reflect latest changes.