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Dutchman
Administrator
Premium Member
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 Posted - 12/17/2012 : 5:59:40 PM
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Organized and neat. Now I'm embarrassed.
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| Bruce |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 33527 |
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Orionvp17
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 12/17/2012 : 6:34:23 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Dutchman
Organized and neat. Now I'm embarrassed.
As am I.
Nicely done, Chuck!
Pete
in Michigan
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Country: USA
| Posts: 7585 |
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MarkF
Engineer
Premium Member
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Posted - 12/17/2012 : 11:33:28 PM
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Well done Chuck. Nice and neat wiring! That will pay off down the road.
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| Mark |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 13756 |
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wvrr
Fireman
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Posted - 12/22/2012 : 6:10:11 PM
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Last electrical module. I am planning on putting in a return loop so I need a circuit for auto reversing. I originally placed an order with Tony's for a Digitrax AR-1. But, they came back and suggested buying the OnGuard OG-AR. The AR-1 uses relays while the OG-AR is a Solid State circuit. They also said that you could have issues with the AR-1 when using sound units. Plus, the OG-AR is a circuit breaker AND an auto reverse unit. So, I bought it.
When I received it, you have the option to solder LEDs to the board. I bought green and red 3mm LEDs. The green one is for showing that the track power is on. The red will show if the loop is in normal mode (dark), short (constant on), or in reverse status (blinking).
So, even though I don't have the loop set up, I did test the circuit breaking ability. I unplugged one of the other sub-districts from the PM4-2 and plugged it into the OG-AR. Then, I shorted the zone using the OG-AR while running a loco in another sub-district. The loco ran and the LED on the OG-AR was a solid red. Then, I shorted the other sub-district and ran a loco in the sub-district using the OG-AR. The loco kept running. So, everything ran successfully.
The next step is to run the bus wire out to where the loop will be.
Chuck
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nhguy
Fireman
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Posted - 12/24/2012 : 1:55:12 PM
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Hi Chuck,
Very nice tidying up progress. I guess my question is why the electrical switch on the on-Guard AR? Power Supply?
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Bill Shanaman
New Haven RR
Hartford Division
in Colorado. |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 4763 |
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wvrr
Fireman
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Posted - 12/25/2012 : 6:16:28 PM
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Hi Bill,
Before I installed the PM4-2, I had switches to kill power to sections of the layout. I liked that ability for when I am troubleshooting or working on the layout, so I decided to keep that ability.
Chuck
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Edited by - wvrr on 12/25/2012 6:16:53 PM |
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wvrr
Fireman
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Posted - 12/25/2012 : 6:22:36 PM
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OK, here is an update! Now that the electrical components are installed, it is time to build the return loop. Originally, the layout was supposed to have a classification yard along the wall on th left that you see in the photos. But, now that I work from home, I have my office in the basement where the trains are, and the filing cabinet occupies the space where the yard should go. The object of the yard was to bring in trains, break them down, and send new trains out onto the layout. Without the yard, I have to swap ends of the train in Wilkes-Barre, which is extremely frustrating for me. So, a couple years ago, I realized I could build a loop that reverses the direction of the train. The radius is tighter than I like, but it will be functional. This weekend, I picked up some lumber and built the benchwork for the loop.
Here is the "before":
And, the "after".
The next step is to start on the roadbed followed by track...and finally wiring! I might make my New Year's resolution, yet!
Chuck
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wvrr
Fireman
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Posted - 01/18/2013 : 3:18:47 PM
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Well, I cam very close to keeping last year's New Year's resolution. I finished the loop! And, a "gold" spike was struck to signify finishing the main line. Actually, all the track planned for the layout is now installed.
Anyway, when I get the fascia up later this year, I am planning to place historical markers along it to highlight significant features of the layout. Since my layout is based in Pennsylvania, I copied their format of markers. A lot of States have similar markers near historic sites in the State. To see Pennsylvania's, here is the website:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennsylvania_historical_marker_program/2539
Here is my marker, which will be printed as a photo and installed in a clear plastic frame along the fascia:
And, here is the train I ran. The Boxcab, followed by Walthers Piker and Oscar, followed by the observation car by Kato. All are Wyoming Valley equipment. The Kato car is named "Susquehanna" for the river that runs through the real Wyoming valley.
Here it is departing West Coalton.
Another angle:
Crossing the Hill Bridge in between West Coalton and The Heights.
Arriving in Wilkes-Barre.
Arriving at the scene for the gold spike.
A close up of the LP's doing the deed. The spike is actually brass, bent to the shape of a spike and sharpened on one end.
And, a posed photo Marcia took of me. The spike is something that was in my grandparents collection of "stuff" that was given to me, since I liked trains.
Marcia and I then celebrated with a glass of bourbon.
Chuck
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TRAINS1941
Engineer
Premium Member
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Posted - 01/18/2013 : 4:09:56 PM
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Chuck a very special symbol of the Rail line being completed.
Hopefully one of these times this year when I'm in Wayne I can walk across the bridge and we can finally meet.
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Jerry
"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." A. Lincoln |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 13393 |
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wvrr
Fireman
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Posted - 01/18/2013 : 4:14:28 PM
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Jerry,
I'll stick a throttle in one of your hands and a switchlist in the other....
I am literally the second house on the right after you cross that bridge. Maybe we can get Bruce out of the mountains, too!
Chuck
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Dutchman
Administrator
Premium Member
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Posted - 01/18/2013 : 4:15:04 PM
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Congratulations on finishing the main line, Chuck. I love the marker sign that you produced, and enjoyed the photos.
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| Bruce |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 33527 |
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George D
Moderator
Premium Member
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Posted - 01/18/2013 : 4:28:55 PM
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Congratulations on the Golden Spike, Chuck. I like that sign that commemorates the event.
George
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| Fly Army |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 16948 |
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Ensign
Engineer
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Posted - 01/18/2013 : 5:06:34 PM
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Way to go Chuck!
Real nice to see your dream layout coming true!
Greg Shinnie
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Country: Canada
| Posts: 9163 |
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Rick
Administrator
Premium Member
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Posted - 01/18/2013 : 5:12:14 PM
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Nice job Chuck.
Must be a good feeling to get that done.
I must admit though, your consist and spike brought a smile to my face. 
When Jerry comes over I want a picture of him with the throttle in one hand and the switch list in the other. 
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Country: USA
| Posts: 24529 |
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nhguy
Fireman
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Posted - 01/18/2013 : 5:39:21 PM
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Congrats Chuck!!
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Bill Shanaman
New Haven RR
Hartford Division
in Colorado. |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 4763 |
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