Layout Cab ride

Layout Cab ride from North Staging around the layout to South staging



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Layout Shakedown

First layout Shakedown session

This week I invited the guys over to come and have a look at the progress of the build and to give the layout a run..

Overall the layout ran well. We had a few throttle issues where the throttle would pick up a different loco number randomly and render the loco that was being operated uncontrollable. This was unusual as it had not happened on the previous layout with all the same control systems and the same number of DCC components on the Loconet. Once the number of throttles (all DT400 or DT402D's) was reduced, as at one point I think we had 6 all running, then the issue seemed to go away. Odd...

Anyway, here are a few pictures of the session.
It is rather cozy in the railroad room with 7 of us. It will be a bit different when there is more switching happening and not just run through trains with no dispatcher.

John seemed to like to disappear into the staging / helix area. 

Here is a time lapse Video

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Looking Nice

Fascia install

The D&H carpentry crew have been hard at work and have installed the fascia on the lower and upper sections of the layout.
The upper sections have been roughed in for now in terms of the height of the fascia as the scenery in the locations is not yet decided.

Here are a few pictures of the finished product.

Now the fascia is installed, it is time to make turnout control panels for the turnouts. At present they are all connected to DCC turnout drivers so they can all be switched from the throttle.

Once the turnout controls are installed, then a few hutches will be created to be used by the operators to store card cards etc while switching trains in the towns.

Fairhaven Wiring Complete

D&H Electrical hard at work.

Today marked a major milestone in the build of the D&H Champlain Division (version 4.0).

The D&H electrician attended the town of Fairhaven and completed the install of the track feeders and turnout machines.

Before long the first train arrived in Fairhaven to drop of cars to the Glass Factory that is the major industry in town.

Here are a few pictures to mark the occasion.

Once the works in Fairhaven had been completed the maintenance team set about checking all automatic turnout machines to ensure that they work reliably.

After a few hours of work in adjusting turnout machines, changing throw rod's to thinner rods, all turnouts are now throwing reliably.

Now to add extra cork in the town of Whitehall between the yard tracks and print industry labels for each town industry.

Once completed then it will be time to invite the road crews over to have a layout shakedown.

Stay tuned..

Fairhaven Trackwork

Track Gangs have been busy in Fairhaven

Last week I completed the Fairhaven track work for the Glass complex. Below are a few pictures of the completed works including the diamond crossing.

Next week I plan on completing the wiring and turnout management for the town.

Willsboro wiring and turnout control

D&H Electrical Dept been busy

Today 9 turnouts and 13 feeder wires were added to Willsboro. This completes the wiring to enable cars to be switched at the Paper Mill complex at Willsboro.

Once the deck was cleared the first train came into town to drop off a few box cars.

Here are a few pictures to mark the occasion.

Stay tuned for the next update that will see the electrical work completed in Fairhaven.

Track Gangs hard at it

Willsboro track work complete

I finally managed to get out into the shed again this weekend. The first task was to pre-weather the turnout and diamond cross over that I had made. Once the pre-weathering was completed and paint was let to dry, it was onto one of the most enjoyable parts of building a railroad, the track work.

After a few hours of planning and modifications to the track layout, the town is now built.

Willsboro is a paper mill town and the primary reason for the railroad in this area is paper. The town boats a 2 track pulp wood unloading area, 2 tracks for tack cars for plant, 2 tracks for finished product such as cardboard boxes, then another track for news print rolls. As the paper mill is large it also has its own power station. As such, a power station needs loads of coal, so 2 tracks for coal. Then on the other side of the main line is storage tracks to store box cars for the paper mill.

See the following pics.

Track power and turnout machines are yet to be installed. That's a job for next weekend.

Stay tuned for the next update.

Diamond build

Hand Laid Diamond

As the town of Fairhaven has a large glass manufacturing facility, the town needs a diamond cross over to enable additional locations to set our cars. As I'm using hand laid FastTracks #6 turnouts, none of the Atlas code 55 diamonds match the geometry of the FastTracks #6's. Therefore I needed to make my own. I had built a diamond 12 months ago using the paper template and used the slotted rail technique . This worked fairly well until I dropped the diamond into my lap and bent it and effectively destroyed 4 hours of work. This time I used the normal method to build the diamond by bending the 2 outside rails and building from there. Attached are the pictures of the diamond and it turned out nicely. The paper template has extra check rails draw on it, however, I dont think they are needed so did not install them. I used an Atlas Code55 diamond as a guide.

Here are the pictures of the completed product.

I have also added the wooden ties to the last set of 18 turnouts that I built. Here are a few examples.

Now to weather them and get back to track laying.

Milestone 100

The end of the turnout build

Today marked the completion of the turnout build.
Today I made turnout 100, 101 and 102. (This include the 37 hand laid turnouts on my last layout).

Now to cut the frog gaps, install the wood ties, pre weather and then install.

The layout will have 87 turnouts on it. 65 of those 87 are hand laid. Only the staging has Atlas Code 55 #5s installed.

I have 1 diamond to make then the track laying can start.

Stay tuned for the install.

More Turnouts

Soldering Iron in hand.

Today was a productive day at the work bench where 6 more turnouts were built for Willsboro.

Only 12 more to go..

Turn out time

It's been a while.

Time to get on and make the last 18 turnouts.
Work bench is ready

Now let's get started.. (stop procrastinating).

Port Henry Track Work Complete

Track gang arrives in Pt Henry

Over the last week or so I managed to get back into the shed to complete some more track work. This time Port Henry was the focus.

Port Henry now boasts 7 industrial spurs and will be a busy town to switch once operating sessions come to the D&H.

All track work, track power and turnout machines have been installed in Port Henry.

The keen eye will notice the addition of a few buildings in town. These are not the final buildings for the locations. These are being used to get a feel for what the town may look like.

Port Henry will have the following industries:

• Small rural Coal dealership
• Pt Henry doors - 2 spurs
• Lay-z-boy chairs
• General foods crop
• Scrap glass loading 
• Scrap steel merchant

Now to make another 9 turnouts for Willsboro. Then the track gang can progress to Willsboro to start work.

Stay tuned.