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nhguy
Fireman
USA
3689 Posts |
 Posted - 08/11/2011 : 2:20:34 PM
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That sounds like a great session. My experience with CTC machines, and I have operated one, (and it was a small local panel) is that you have to remember that it was an electro-mechanical device. It has mechanical relays, some of them in large banks, that set the signals and switches with each press of the send command button. In some cases this took 30 seconds to a minute to go through all the relays and reset the ones that needed it in the CTC section the board controlled. The signal time loop you are talking about may seem long but if you add in the sounds of it, it will make more sense. I do not know if the sound was added yet to Ralph's CTC machine or not.
One of the CTC boards on a layout I have operated on actually uses the relay banks that come with the CTC board and is neat to watch when the command button is pressed. All those relays clanking back and forth is a site to see and hear. It is housed in it's own room off of the garage with the layout down stairs. The small panel I operated as a tower operator uses recorded sounds. All the clicks and clunks of the 'machine' doing it's thing is quite a sensory delight. It really adds to the fun of operations IMO.
Bill
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Bill Shanaman
Superintendent, New Haven RR in the 1948 to 1952 era
PMRA President 2013-14, OpSIG Member
NCE User Since 1999
Sugar City, Colorado |
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MarkF
Engineer
USA
9327 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2011 : 12:48:52 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by LVRALPH
I have not posted anything here, since I think those that attended could better describe what happened.
I will post the pics under an op session thread as they really have nothing to do with the signalling system. But from what I saw, I was happy. Very happy.
Ok, so where are the pics? [:-irked] |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
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LVRALPH
Fireman
5431 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2011 : 06:03:36 AM
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Today, I promise.
line.com/forum/data/LVRALPH/201181414505_IMG_9560-1.jpg |
Edited by - LVRALPH on 08/14/2011 3:02:11 PM |
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plavallee
New Hire
Canada
8 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2011 : 10:46:37 PM
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Mark, are we going to see an update on your northern division soon?
patrick
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Some say"blind obedience".
I say "malicious compliance". |
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LVRALPH
Fireman
5431 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2011 : 08:37:51 AM
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I am taking a break from the signal sytem until mid to late Sept. I want to work on something else to give my mind a break, plus I have some model RR projects that need the nice weather of Sept/Oct to complete. When the weather turns colder, I can get back to this. Plus Bill needs some R&R.
The scenery bug bit me after the last session. I have not even restaged the RR. I was totally embaressed by the isle between Rockport and Hetchel. Nothing has been done here for years.
Here is the way it looked during the op session.
So I became father nature. Here is where it stands today. I'm running out of gas as I don't like doing scenery, but it looks much better.
I added a little detail at Penn Haven Interlocking.
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Edited by - LVRALPH on 08/29/2011 08:41:51 AM |
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MarkF
Engineer
USA
9327 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2011 : 11:29:22 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by plavallee
Mark, are we going to see an update on your northern division soon?
patrick
Soon Patrick, soon! Summertime has kept me out of the basement for the past couple of months so nothing to really report, but I'm feeling the juices flowing again! |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
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MarkF
Engineer
USA
9327 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2011 : 11:31:34 AM
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| Ralph, you don't like doing scenery??? Well, I'm glad to see your at it and it looks great! And for what it's worth, don't bother restaging. From what Steamnut said, we could just have another session and finish out the schedule! [:-eyebrows] |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
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MarkF
Engineer
USA
9327 Posts |
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LVRALPH
Fireman
5431 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2011 : 05:26:54 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by MarkF
Almost a month and no update? Isn't the next session coming up soon???
Mark, you caught me. But then, when I am sitting on my porch, I do not hear noises coming from the PRR Northern Division's basement. And it's not the wine.
On a serious note, I have not yet restaged the RR from the last session. I'm waiting for Hueber. He has worked up a spreadsheet as to where to place the trains in staging. He is sick, and not allowed anywhere near me.
I am also working on fixing some issues from the last session. I need to do another session before tax season. The first two weekends in Oct are busy, but I should free up soon. I need to build the last DIN 32 and get with Bill to switch over to the big program.
I'm not sure if we can do that now, or I have to wait until I build the board. I think I can do it now, and just change the program a little every time I add a new board, but that is Bill's call.
It looks like I might have some time this weekend, so maybe I can get back to this. Thanks for the prod. See you tonight! |
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LVRALPH
Fireman
5431 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2011 : 05:33:57 AM
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Wow, it's been a while. Oct has been a bad month for me with only small blocks of time to model. I need to get copies of Ver 205 and 206 of the program to Bill so he can check some things out. My next goal if Bill approves is to get the "big" main program loaded and working.
I really need to sit my butt down and build that last DIN 32 input card so I can hook more inputs up on the CTC machine. A request to Santa for a prebuilt SMINI card from EI has been made. That will help get this project moving. Stand by folks, this thread is about to get busy next month.
I finally finished restaging the RR and need to fix some stuff and get the paperwork redone, so the boys can come over and play. |
Edited by - LVRALPH on 10/20/2011 05:37:26 AM |
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jbvb
Fireman
USA
1910 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2011 : 07:34:19 AM
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| I'm still rooting for you... |
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LVRALPH
Fireman
5431 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2011 : 08:21:15 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by jbvb
I'm still rooting for you...
James, thanks. Better than the alternative. |
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LVRALPH
Fireman
5431 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2011 : 05:59:24 AM
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Well a crazy Oct has passed. Nov will be just as busy, but i can see some blocks of time available to move this forward. Hope to report back soon with some progress.
Went to my dad's over the weekend to visit. Here is what we got halfway through the storm.
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Edited by - LVRALPH on 11/01/2011 06:00:07 AM |
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BandONut
New Hire
USA
9 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2011 : 9:16:29 PM
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| This excuse is starting to wear thin. It is now Nov 5. Is your day job interfering with your true calling? |
Chip Stevens |
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LVRALPH
Fireman
5431 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2011 : 05:43:59 AM
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Not realy Chip. I have had a bunch of things to do on the weekends. Now my wife wants the dining room paonted and the living room straightened out before Thanksgiving.
I thought I had all of today to work on this, but insteat we will be de junking under the layout and filling it with new junk from the living room. My plans were to get ver 301 of the program running and maybe install some new stuff.
We will see. |
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Signaling my model railroad
