I think this is the forth or fifth video of me cutting gaps in trackwork. This one should be the last. I have been asked numerous times how I am going to make this layout work, which is not a surprising question with complex trackwork such as this. From the beginning I designed all the track sections to operate, but until this stage in construction, where I can install the track permanently onto the layout, I could not cut the final electrical isolation gaps as it makes the track sections weak and prone to damage if handled. Once glued down they will be fine, but left loose and being transported often, they were prone to damage.
Well this week, they were finally completed. Yay!
The video above shows the cutting of the most complex piece of trackwork, the triple lapped turnout that leads into the engine house.
The gaps were all cut with a jewelers saw as this allows me to cut small precise gaps in tight locations. Had I tried to cut these gaps using a rotary tool I would have certainly nicked, or completely cut the adjacent rails. Also, the heat generated would melt the solder joints. A jewelers saw is the best option for this.
The trackwork cut in this video took about 3 or 4 hours to cut as I worked slowly and methodically.
I'm your host, Tim Warris, a product developer in Port Dover, Ontario. Since March of 2007 I have been documenting the construction of the former CNJ Bronx Terminal in HO scale. For my day job, I design track building tools for Fast Tracks, a small company I own and operate. Fast Tracks makes it fast and easy to hand lay your own trackwork. Stop by our website to learn more!
With the NMRA Train Show rapidly approaching, I am focusing hard on getting this damn thing running. Reaching that goal will take a lot of work over the next weeks. This week, I am spending most of my time working on the layout, and so far I am making pretty good progress.
It took two full days to cut all the rail isolation gaps in all the trackwork. I worked very slowly and carefully being careful not to damage any of the trackwork and also to be certain I didn’t miss any. Missing one would be very not good. Some of the gaps can not be cut after the track is installed as they have to be done using a jewelers saw due to the tight clearances involved. Most of my time was spent studying the individual track pieces and determining where to make the cuts.
After the gaps were cut, they sections were tested with a continuity checker to make sure there were no shorts or missing gaps.
The job wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.Until this stage in construction I could not cut any of the gaps as it makes the track sections weak, and I needed to handle them quite a bit, so I delayed the job until the last possible minute. This meant spending 2 years thinking about it and answering the question, “how you going to wire that thing?”.
Today, I fit all the sections together and soldered them into a single piece. All the missing PC board ties have been added in. It is now, finally, all sitting in place. This was another job I have been thinking about for two years!
It all went together well, fitting very precisely and seems to run smoothly when I push a car or two through it. Until the switch machines are installed, its very difficult to tell how well it will actually run as the switch points don’t yet seat precisely, need the switch machines to hold them tight in place.
I still have another piece of trackwork to make, one final turnout. I will make that one up tomorrow and install it into the rest of the trackwork. Other than the straight yard tracks, its the trackwork construction is pretty much complete.
Will have to make up a “Golden PC Board Tie” and have a little ceremony with some local dignitaries for the last solder. There will be speeches and polite applause.
A local dignitary inspecting some trackwork. He barked in lieu of applause.
I'm your host, Tim Warris, a product developer in Port Dover, Ontario. Since March of 2007 I have been documenting the construction of the former CNJ Bronx Terminal in HO scale. For my day job, I design track building tools for Fast Tracks, a small company I own and operate. Fast Tracks makes it fast and easy to hand lay your own trackwork. Stop by our website to learn more!
I realize asking any “which system is best” DCC question is like asking which religion should I join, so hopefully this won’t break down into a non productive argument.
I am looking for advice from modelers who are familiar with a variety of systems and might have some advice on which system would work best for the type of layout I am building and will be operating.
Over the next several weeks I will be completing the trackwork on my CNJ Bronx Terminal layout and am at the point where I need to make some decisions on control.
Here is a list of what I require, which is a bit unique with this type of layout.
Only one locomotive will ever operate on this layout at one time. Ever.
DCC sound equipped engines will be operated (again, only one at a time)
30 turnouts powered with Tortoise machines
approximately 30 individual and complex routes, some requiring the operation of up to 14 machines
The layout is a single operator layout that will be primarily used at shows. I intend on operating the layout in a prototype manner with some sort of switch list or card system. Typical operation will consist of selecting one of the 30 routes from a hand held throttle and switching that track. All equipment will use Sergent couplers, so manual operation of the couplers will be necessary, therefore reaching into the layout isn’t an issue. All tracks on the layout are accessible from one of 3 sides. I anticipate typical operation will involve walking the perimeter of the layout often to reach cars. There will be no stationary control panel on the layout, all operation is to be done using the hand held throttle.
The DCC system I will require MUST have quick and easy route selection ability. I would rather not have to spend time fiddling with more buttons than necessary to select a route, this should be able to be done quickly and intuitively.
Stationary decoders will be used to operate the 30 Tortoise machines on the layout. I am looking for a system that offers easy set up and configuration of the routes. The stationary decoders should be able to route power to the frogs independently of the switch machines if possible. If I can avoid using the contacts on the Tortoises for this it would make setting up the routes in this complex trackwork much more reliable.
An added bonus would be the ability to use a computer to pre-program the routes and the hand held unit to operate the layout (I don’t want to have a computer attached to the layout for operation).
All this said, any suggestions which system/stationary decoders would offer the most efficient operation and ease of use?
Currently I have an older Digitrax system, but have no issues purchasing any other system for this layout, the priority is reliable operation. So far, my experience with Digitrax has not been simple. Any system that shows me hexadecimal numbers might end up near the bottom of the list….
Contact me via email (tim@warris.com) or in the comments box below.
-T.
Update – May 11
I spent the weekend analyzing the layout and what I will be using it for.
I received a lot of feedback both here and at Model Railroad Hobbyist about this and have come to the conclusion that the best approach might be to use simple toggle switches on two control panels to operate the turnouts instead of using a more technological routing method.
Setting up the 30 or so routes for this complex yard will likely lead to a cumbersome method of operating. I would have to memorize the routes, and in the end I think I would lose some flexibility of operation if limited to pre-set routes. Having individual control of each turnout would add the flexibility required for this type of layout.
My last layout, The Port Kelsey Ry, I used route selection on the control panels, with a diode matrix to set the routes. This worked very well for the type of yards I was operating, and made operation much more intuitive. Although the amount of work required to set this up was staggering!
This is 1/4 of the electrical panel required to make the main yard work (it had a bit of complex track on it too). The far left is the diode matrix portion.
I will make up a couple neat looking control panels, and install them into the rusty fascia of the layout, something similar to this…
I played with lots of different possibilities for turnout control, from a laser pointer activated turnout, to a push button switch stand to a magnetically activated turnout, but decided to go with toggles as I really don’t want the layout to be about how the turnouts are operated. Will keep those projects for something else….
For a DCC system, I will likely stick with my Digitrax, and get a DT-400R throttle. For a sound equipped locomotive, this should work well.
-Tim
About the Author:
I'm your host, Tim Warris, a product developer in Port Dover, Ontario. Since March of 2007 I have been documenting the construction of the former CNJ Bronx Terminal in HO scale. For my day job, I design track building tools for Fast Tracks, a small company I own and operate. Fast Tracks makes it fast and easy to hand lay your own trackwork. Stop by our website to learn more!
