The lure of modern trains

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine brought with him some of his modern rolling stock for an op session. We cleared the layout for our own rolling stock and put our friends on track.


I really was bitten by the bug. It was just like it should be. If just someone would give us the right offer on our transition-area rolling stock........
I did start US modelrailroading in 1996, but happens to model sometime around 1960.
As I woke up from the dream, I went to the ModelRailroader and layouts like Chuck Hitchoocks new Argentine Swithing layout set in 1960. This has almost cured me.
I could perhaps be a bit more flexible with the timeframe, and say the 1960s which would aloud me to use some newer rolling stock.
What if.....

Simpler is better?

If you are wondering, there has not been much done on the layout since last post.
Since my health condition is far from better, I am thinking that I might have to drop the thought of a doubledecked layout.
I will miss longer runs, and I have to run shorter trains. But now the focus will be on swithcing . And yes, I like switching. It is like a strategy game.

Here is one plan, shaped like an inverted G:

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.