Helix Set and Staging Framing Moving Forward

Exciting to see the momentum build.  The helix got legs and set in its final location.  Legs were made of 2x3's, and included carriage bolts to allow adjustability.  I just have a dickens of a time keeping 2x2s and 1x2s from splitting, no matter how careful I am!

Tracks come out of bottom at 35" above the floor which is the staging yard elevation.  Trains will leave the helix the second from the last loop - 47".  The tracks, of course, still need to be redirected at that elevation and will do so as the adjoining benchwork is completed.  The last turn, just set on the helix for now, will take trains over to a switching area a bit higher up.  And thinking about adding a turn-back loop on the inside.  Plenty of room inside.  Still noodling on that.

Turned out nice.




Also started framing out the benchwork for the staging along the west wall.  Stuff is moving forward!




More later.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Configuring Push-buttons for Turnout Control in LCC (with BONUS section on Adapting JMRI for Feedback)

Image
So ALL the efforts, costs, brain damage and such to get LCC integrated into the layout is paying off in this one new step.  Let me explain. With LCC, each node is essentially its very own stand-alone microprocessor, capable of processing commands INDEPENDENTLY of a central PC or other server.  It just is connected to at the CAN bus, either looking for commands to respond (consumer) to or to issue them (producer).  SO... this addresses one of the goals of integrating LCC into my layout.  Sometimes I like to come down into the layout room and just run trains.  I don't have others with me, and for me, its a great way to unwind.  When I do that, I don't want to have to futz with turning on a PC and getting it going.  Ya, I know, some say it is not that big of a deal.  But if I am only going to be there for 5 or 15 minutes, seems like a hassle to mess with that.  I just want to through the power switch on, have the layout come to life, and run some trains.  Other times, I enjoy ho
Read more

Let’s Configure a Node – The Beauty of LCC (With a bonus section on connecting LCC to PanelPro)

Image
Recall one of the drivers for trying out LCC was to avoid writing detailed code.   Yes, I ~can~ write code.   But it is not my interest or hobby.   As such, anything that can help me translate what is in my head to implementation on a chip somewhere with as little brain damage as possible is quite welcome in my book.   Additionally I did not want the brains of the layout to live in a PC.   There are days when I just want to come down to the basement, flip on the power switch, and run trains.   And… if I am going to go through the trouble of having signals, I want them to come up and operating properly immediately.   Yea, I know I can set up a PC to boot up, execute the right programs and get running on its own.   Sorta.   It’s just one more piece of equipment and step I just don’t care to deal with.        Anyway…. So a big part of my hesitation of leaping into LCC was the angst associated with programming one of these nodes.   I do not have any model rail friends nearb
Read more

LCC and Wiring Continues

Image
Slower than desired, but better to do it right now than try to fiddle it in later.... In my last staging yard, I never did install feeders.  Instead I just counted on the continuity of the turnouts to carry power to each of the 16 staging tracks.  Bad idea.  ~Most~ stayed powered up over the 10 or so years it operated.  ~Some~ randomly dropped out... necessitating fishing and soldering wires onto tracks with 7" spacing between decks.  Not uber-fun at all. SO... with GNW Phase 3, I promised myself ALL track would have feeders every 6' (one feeder per 2 sticks of flex), plus additional feeders in any other complex areas such as yard throats.  This would also allow me to have every other stick of flex not have to be soldered at the track jointers, allowing for expansion and contraction of the benchwork.  BUT... this comes at a cost.  Instead of 16 single ended tracks, I elected to have a 9-track staging yard, each track capable of holding 3 trains.  (WHY I ever went to 9 tr
Read more