A Home For Programming

Posted on May 9, 2012 by jbritton

Over the past few weeks, interspersed with other projects, I managed to complete a home for my railroad’s nerve center.

Underneath the future home of Standard Steel in Burnham, Pa., I had an “L” shaped area with no intended use. The tabletop level adjoined the main line near LEWIS tower. There were no prototypical opportunities for layout expansion, and I didn’t want to waste the space on storage. Then it occured to me to create an operations area.

I constructed an “L” shaped countertop at normal desk height. In the corner I placed my American Power Conversion uninterruptable power supply (UPS) and Digitrax PS515 power supply.

Running to the right I placed my DCS100 command station and two DB150 boosters. In front of them, a programming track. On the wall behind I attached a sheet of plywood to which I can mount electronics.

Running down the left side I placed a Windows computer with 20″ flat panel on which I will run the Java Model Railroad Interface (JMRI) which provides a computer link to Digitrax’ LocoNet. JMRI’s Decoder Pro will be used to program decoders. JMRI will later be implemented for main line track detection and signal control.

With paint from Lowe’s matched to Pennsy color drift cards, I painted the walls Buff Building Color and the countertop and structural supports Dark Building Color.

During operating sessions there will be no need to access the computer so the chair will not be in the way of the operator working Standard Steel above.

Status

Hard to contain my excitement, the cover art for the 2012 Product Guide has been released by Broadway Limited Imports…

Timonium Show

Status

Heading out the door to the Great Scale Model Train Show at the Timonium (Md.) Fairgrounds. Shopping list in hand and cash in the pocket!

Middle Division Construction Update

Posted on April 10, 2012 by jbritton

Last evening I completed the wiring to the newly laid track through Mann’s Narrows through KV Junction. I now have about 60 feet of the Milroy Secondary laid, out of a total of about 100 feet. I have track laid from the east end of Burnham, through Yeagertown, Mann’s Narrows, and KV Junction. A nice 12 foot lead is in place for KV staging, and a temporary connection bridges KV Junction to Milroy. (Reedsville, Honey Creek, and Naginey will be added later.)

I placed an InterMountain F7 on the rails and it ran superbly over the new track… with excellent slow speeds and no hiccups with the sound… Awesome!

Next up is the scenery base through Mann’s Narrows. I have some supplies to secure at the Timonium show this coming weekend.

I’m hoping to begin mini-op sessions on the branch in the fall.

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Aside

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