Second op-session

Yesterday the US-rails-gang tested out switching on my rebuilt yard.
During the last weeks I have laid down new track for the yard and even some temporary track to test out the Glendale area.
I used alligator clips for wiring and had no time for adjustments,
but we could run trains.

I made up a schedule, a schematic trackplan with name of the industries and even a switchlists for the session. This was actually quite fun, but right now I don't have many cars on the layout.















Nicholas working the Glendale Switcher.
You can see his switchlist and the scematic trackplan in front of him













Gunnar and Thomas were the crew of the Yard Switcher, while Jon Tore tries to use one of my "map-pin-turnout-controls". He has just come in town with the Hassayampa Chief and seems to be almost done switching the REA-cars to the expresstrack and the passenger cars to the House Track.

Happy New Year

Another year is history and a new year with new oportunities lies ahead.
I hope your year will be a good one.

Yesterday I got an e-mail from my friend Tormod where he told me that our blog is now listed on the QStation: ATSF Resource page.
I am flatterd. QStation is one of the greatest resources for ATSF,BN and BNSF modelers:
lots of prototype and modeling information.
I really need to update our blog.

Eivind has moved to Trondheim for studies this autumn, and I have not been very well since summer, so I have not managed to update the blog. Sorry for that. But I am happy to say I have done a little on the layout, althoug much less than what I would like to.

I have made a shelf for the Digitrax DCS50 (Zephyr) Commandstation and throttle.
I have also started a rebuilding project for some parts of the yard.
I was not happy with the crossovers in the middle of the main and siding, and also not with the first turnouts in the yard. So I tore up most of the tracks and started over.
I managed to get the main and siding back in operation before christmas, and even laid down the three industry tracks branching from the yardlead.
A friend of mine and his small children visited us and we had some fun running trains and learning him how to switch facing and trailing-point spurs.

Next will be laying the yard and enginetracks and the Glendale Industrial District.
Oh, I forgot to say I do need to do more permanent wiring.
The operational VP says he need some staging tracks.
There are structures and car kits and decoder installations and....
....happy new modeling year!
After all - it is not more than a (great) hobby.
There is more to life than ModelRailroading

A track plan for the upper level

I was asked if I have a plan for the upper level I could post.
I did find a plan, but are not sure if the upper level will look like this if I ever builds an upper level.
Click on the image for a larger plan.

More photos from the op-session

Nicholas is the engineer of the arriving freight.












The engineer and conductor plans the switching moves.













Do the crews of the freight and switcher disagree?














Hey, no comments from the non-operators!

The first operation session

Some weeks ago, when my friends in US-rails met at our house, – we had a short operation session. The layout is far from finished. There are just some functioning tracks in the yard, and the wiring is temporary, but still we could run a simple schedule and do some switching.
Here are some photos from the op-session:
















Tormod and Thomas plans their next move putting together the passenger train.














Looks like Jon Tore, with the Digitrax Zephyr throttle, enjoys being the engineer for the yard switching job.














Before the session started, some of the guys had to test and show their newest engines. I don't own a steam loco myself, but we did hear engines with sound from QSI, Soundtraxx, even their new Tsunami - It sounds terrific! - and a diesel with Digitrax sound.
We also got a demonstration of the LocoBuffer and DecoderPro.

Package from the USA

I won some auctions on an e-bay store some months ago. I do think they had a lot of fun when preparing to send me the package. I just can’t throw this box away.

Some thoughts on DCC and electrical

During the winter we have put down some track in our yard. The wiring is temporary as we wanted to run trains as soon as possible, But now it is time to do the more permanent wiring.
I have tested the shortproofing systembulbs similar to the 1156-bulbs Joe Fugate and others use and find that it works.
You can see a demonstration of his technique here:

We have bought our bulbs at BILTEMA – 12V/25W – part number 35-15325
We run our trains with Digitrax DCC.

Here is a schematic plan of the Phoenix Union Station - Mobest Yard - Glendale industrial District area - if you click on the plan, you can view it a larger verson:


I have postet a question on Joe Fugates forum on how many blocks and bulbs I need.

Sound

Some weeks ago I did my first sound-decoder installation by fitting a Soundtraxx DSD-100LC generic diesel sound decoder in a Life Like Proto 1000 F3B unit.

To make this first installation simpler, I bought an enclosure for the 25mm speaker. There was not enough room over the speaker to use the extension tube.

I made solder pads from bits of PC-card, and even soldered connectors as I want to have jumper wires between the units inn the ABB. This way more wheels will pick up power from the tracks.

Eivind is the proad owner of this set. The chassis comes from LifeLike, but the bodies is Intermountain F7 in Santa Fe’s warbonnet paint scheeme. They looks nice.

Now there is more locos demanding sound. But first we have to lay down more tracks so they have a place to run. As you’ll se in this picture, the B-unit was put in service immediately.

A plan for the lower level

This is the current track-plan for the lower level. (Click on the plan for a bigger image)
Since the middle of the room is needed for the sofa, I can’t build a peninsula yet.
I do not want long hidden tracks, so I have designed a one and a quarter helix/spiral so I can watch the action as the trains climb the 3 % grade to the upper level.
The grade starts in the curve just after the Wickenburg depot.

This view from 3rdPlanIt shows how this could look like.



I do have other options like a short peninsula, but for now, this is it.As mentioned, the benchwork from Phonix through Glendale is built, and I am working (slowly) with tracklaying here.

Dreaming and planning

I must admit that I am an expert dreamer. I am better on dreaming up a layout than actually building one. Of course I have dreams for this new layout too:

A longest possible mainline – point to point but include some continues running.
Long trains
Helper operation
Switching
Operation is the main goal – but this time I also want some basic scenery.

To achive this I plan for a double decked layout.
Starting south (timetable west) with Phoenix Union station, Mobest yard and Glendale combined to one yard and switcing area along two walls.
The section for this area is built, and I have laid some tracks here.

Next comes the crossing of the Hassayampa river and a combined Wickenburg and Scull Valley siding.
From there the main line has to climb a 3 % grade up to the upper level.
I hope one day to have a peninsula running down the middel of the room, like on this plan (which is not the current plan): (Click on the picture for larger images.)
But for now there probably will be a helix or spiral tunnel between the levels. Look for the current track plan in an upcoming post.
This is how the peninsula could look like:

The trains will then enter Prescott before running into the Ash Fork staging yard, representing points north (east by timetable).
I hope one day that I also could have a short branchline representing one of the mining districts outside or maybe Clarkdale.

Here are some more pictures of my dream layout

The picture above shows the Phoenix, Mobest and part of the Glendale with Ash Fork above.
The next picture shows more of Glendale, the Hassayampa river crossing with Prescott above.
The distance between the decks are 35 cm (13 ¾ '').


As you see, I love planning too. This has always been a hobby within the hobby for me.
Sheets of papers with trackplans fill my drawers and shelfs. Last time we moved, I disposed of a sack or two…..
The last years I have used 3rdPlanIt (http://www.trackplanning.com). The pictures and plans above are drawn with help of this excellent software.

All this might not be realistic, but I have started with the Phonix, Mobest and Glendale sections – the yard and industrial district. Then I will work on from there.
May be I one day fullfill my dream.