Operations Weekend

I saw that The Great Southern train was in Brisbane and due to leave at 10:15am on Monday on its way to Adelaide.  So I went down to the local park for a potential photo opportunity.  The issue was that the train was many hours late into Brisbane so the departure was likely to be late as well.  I stayed for about an hour after scheduled departure time, and it turned out it went past about 15 minutes after I left.  I can hear my travelling train buddies laughing out loud, after our last few road trips to conventions and exhibitions.  I’m just in a rut guys!  I will get my power back.

The Interstate line next to a local park.  But no train.

The week started off with more preparation for the Operations Session for Saturday this weekend (yesterday).  Finally, I drilled the holes for and then cut the various jumper wires for track bus connections in Sunnybank on the layout.  On Tuesday I finally soldered them up.  I have yet to apply power and see if the section runs, but that is next week's job. 

I had a bit of a cleanup in the shed.  I put a lot of stuff away that I had out to take to various working bees on the Division Freemo Modules.  I cleaned the dispatcher’s desk so he can use it.  I tested each plug in point for the headsets and they all worked.  I ran a cleaning train from Grafton Yard to Cassino, and then branched off and ran to Murwillumbah.  I ran through each track in each of the crossing loops.  I then ran back to Cassino and then took the main line through to Acacia Ridge, and then to Dutton Park.  From here the train went to Fisherman Islands and ran down tracks 3 and 4 before derailing in track 4 as the narrow gauge point was set for a crossover and that was not good, as I was going straight ahead.  We then back tracked to Dutton Park, and then ran through Park Road and ran up and down the first 4 tracks in South Brisbane Interstate Station and Yard.

I also turned on the shed wifi, and then turned on my Wifitrax WFD-30 wifi device which then works via the shed wifi.  This gives me up to 8 wifi devices in the shed.  I then logged my Procab-W (the one with a wifitrax WFN-32 wifi card in it) onto the wifi.  Because I have a password on my wifi router for the great unwashed when operating on wifi, I had to enter that into the Procab-W.  But I cheated, by pressing the WPS button on the router and it auto logs on and is given the password.  So that was made ready for the Operations Session.

I had a couple of issues when running the cleaning train on the layout.  The push button in Clapham Yard South Panel that controls entry into the dual gauge track in the yard, was not working.  I will have to get behind the panel and see if a solder connection has broken off.  A major issue was the fact that when my train was running across Fawcett’s creek Bridge at Kyogle, it derailed over the bridge.  This bridge is all scratch built, and the track was hand laid.  Upon closer inspection one rail had come loose over a considerable distance, no doubt due to the various hot days we have had lately and the track was only originally secured by Aquadhere.  It must have just popped.  So after the train cleaning train running had been completed and I turn track power off, I got out some track gauges, and placed them over the code 60 rails across the scratch built bridge and used super glue to try and secure the rails to the wooden sleepers.  Time will tell if this was successful.  But it held up through the Ops Session.

I had also been spending considerable time, adding wiring to the Future exhibition layout control panel.  I had added hundreds of wires to the various LEDs on the display board.

I tested a few things and some worked, some others didn’t.  Then eventually my Arduino Mega went up in smoke.  I ordered two more, but at a dearer price than the first one.  I discovered a few things.  While I await delivery of a new Arduino Mega, I have swapped in am Arduino Uno.  The issue is that my signalling program is too big for the Uno, so I had to comment out about 2 thirds of the code and variables associated with the Down track, Branch line and the Dual gauge while I do some debugging.

It appears that I need to add some external power supply to the Arduino, as well as all of the 16 port Port Expanders.  I also need to add some pullup resistors to the Port Expander I2C wiring.  So this has caused a redesign of the wiring layout inside the Control Panel.  So while this is being done, I will test some of the changes bit by bit.  I tried a few things and I am having issues with more than one device on the I2C bus from reporting its address.

I went to the shed on Friday morning during Lunch at the Cricket and gave all the locos in the remainder of the timetable a test run up and down their current siding location to ensure that they are all running.  I was also investigating what I might do to the troublesome point at Dutton Park and how I can get it throwing.  I have another Peco Right hand medium point, I also have a large radius Y point to replace it with.  I also have totally different point with no internal over centre spring in the switch from Micro Engineering (I think).  I picked up about a dozen of these at a buy and sell some time back.  I might try and make my own version of the Peco over centre spring and install that on the micro engineering point.

On Saturday morning as I was preparing to set up everything for the Ops session, like the BBQ, the urn and tea/coffee in the shed, etc., I saw I had some messages when two attendees had issues and could not appear as crew.  So that left us with just 6 drivers, North Coast Control and myself.  Kyle took control of North Coast Control and I think he did a pretty good job for his first time.  Barry was back after a long absence and he did a good job running trains.  Arthur was able to run 6 trains by himself during the session out of the about 25 that ran.  It should be realised that some of these trains can take well over 30 minutes to run from South Brisbane Interstate to Grafton Yard.  The other drivers were Geoff, Geoff, Bill and Greg. 

Kyle on North Coast Control.

Grafton Loops starting to fill up with trains.

The Gold Coast Motorail at Murwillumbah waiting for line clear to head to Lismore.

Just ahead of the GC Motorail, is the paybus, going flat out to get clear of the Motorail.

The Gold Coast Motorail eventually gets to Lismore Station.

There will be a couple of fix ups that need to occur following the session with a couple of wires coming off some track sections, and some additional signage will appear on some fascias.  One additional train that ran towards the end of the session was the XPT from Grafton to Cassino on a trial run.  This train is not in the Ops Session timetable, so it was an extra.  I guess those XPT critics - Marty, Glen, Clinton and PK will just have to see the various photographic proof and take the verbal acknowledgments from those present that this movement did occur.  I did have one slight issue with one XPT power car not wanting to run.  So I cancelled the consist, reset its address and re-added the consist and we were away.  basically the session ran pretty well.  Lots of question from the crew "How to I do this?".  "Where do I do this?", "I need some help here".  We completed the timetable, found a couple of locos that were not in the correct place and today I worked out that one train that was sitting in the Yard at Cassino, was mid route at the end of the previous session, but its timetable card was put in the completed list, not still running list last session.  So I finished it off today. 

The XPT is mid-section heading towards Cassino on a test run.

At Cassino, the XPT has arrived, and thus caused mayhem with the roads available.  Arthur has to take the back platform road as he is heading to the Branch.  he has just set the points at the far end of Cassino to allow a train coming through on the loop to exit back to the mainline on its journey south.

Just seconds later the mixed train is heading south through the loop.

"You can't take that track, I'm going to take that track!"  Geoff and Bill almost come to blows working out who gets the mainline.

These two got tangled up, between their throttles and headset cords.

Greg is running his steel train through the Border Loop main.  he happens to be overlength for this crossing loop.

This was going to be fun.  Two overlength trains arriving at Border Loop at the same time.  I think this is called a Geoff-off.  This is easily accomplished by using the two runoff roads on the loop.  

Today I have started work on a few suggested improvements and added some text to the fascia at Acacia Ridge Yard and Clapham Yard.  I also have some more text to add to the fascia under Fisherman Islands.  Yesterday afternoon at the end of the session, it appeared that I had an issue with a short in Power District 1 (Grafton Yard to Cassino) as it looked like I had low voltage in that area.  However when I turned the layout on this morning, I saw no remnants of this.  I also had an issue with a Bachmann tamper yesterday.  So I reset it today and it will not run.  All the lights work.  Just thinking now, it may be in a consist.  It runs well on DC, just not DCC.  I'll check it out tomorrow.

I have also updated my Operations Manual with some more thoughts and updated my Pre and Post Operations Checklists.  All in all a good day.  I will just go through everything this week, and ensure that the timetable is ready for the next iteration.

More Control Panel Progress

Again this week I have failed to get down to the shed, until just a few hours ago.  My time this week has mostly been taken up sitting in front of the idiot box watching the cricket.  When not doing that, I have been sitting on the computer churning out code on my Arduino to continue the signalling logic I am writing for my future exhibition Layout.  So the Signalman’s control panel for this layout is progressing.  I have the point control switches logic that are on the control panel and talking to the Arduino, working correctly when the switches are changed on the panel.  As I have this input being successfully read by the Arduino, I also included code that if someone tries to change a set of points on the mainline, and the various signals around that set of points are not set to stop first, then the points will not change, thus preventing a catastrophe on the layout.

I have wired up all the common returns from the control panel track detector indicator LEDs.  I have then written the code that when an infra-red (IR) detector senses a train over it, it reports this to the Arduino.  It also then illuminates the LEDs on the track control panel, showing where the trains currently are.  As the trains move past the IR detectors, the indicator LEDs extinguish.  These LEDs are white.  I currently have 5 temporary IR detectors connected back to the Arduino and this allows me to simulate a train running on the UP track though the monitored area and this is currently working well. 

I have started wiring the signals on the control panel, which will replicate the signals on the layout.  I started with the Up Line, to bring these back to the Arduino output boards that provide me with another 16 output addresses on each board.  I have configured five track signalling boards (of course not all out addresses are being used on these boards.  The boards are - one for the Up line, another for the Down Line, one for the Branch line, and two for the Dual gauge, (one for the DG UP and one DG DOWN).  I have another two boards configured for the White track LEDs for tracking the trains.

So everything looked like it was working.  I then moved the test Arduino off my workbench and installed it in the Control panel.  The amount of wires that I have set up in there is enormous.  Hopefully I will be able to trace issues back to the source if required in the future.

Early next week, I will fire up the Arduino in the control panel from a new power supply, and also have it connected back to my serial output (monitor) to enable me to trace how everything seems to be working in a full simulation of the UP logic for the layout.  The last item to complete is to install the various control panel switches and their outputs back to the Arduino.  These switches on the control panel allow the signalman to set and hold signals at stop so points in advance of the signal can be changed, and various shunt moves across the mainlines can be undertaken by train crews. 

This rabbit hole adventure has also taken another turn.  I think I will soon be installing a small 20 character per line by 4 lines LCD display on the control panel to give some form of feedback to the Signalman if he tries to do something when it does not fit with my logic.  I will enhance the Arduino code to display a message and these messages will probably scroll off the 4 line LCD display as more future messages occur.  I should get my LCD display from evilbay delivered just after Christmas.

So once I have the Up logic all tested, I will move to the Down track logic, followed by the Branchline track logic.  That will leave the two directions of Dual Gauge logic on the single line to be completed.

However, over the next few days I need to turn my attention to my upcoming Ops Session next weekend.  I will complete my layout notices, timetable notices, and then clean the track, remove various cobwebs in the shed, and clean some junk I have layout around following various building activities.  I will also test all the layout lighting strings, ensure the wifi is working inside the shed to keep Marty happy, and ensure that the fridge is well stocked.  I also need to wash the outdoor furniture again and clean out the pergola and the BBQ for next Saturday’s BBQ lunch.  The most important task is to remind the boss to buy some snags and afternoon tea goodies.

Today I had an antenna man come out and check out my various rooftop antennas.  It used to annoy me immensely that when a bird perched on my house antenna, I would get a really bad picture on the TVs inside the house.  So that has now been fixed.  My TV in the shed stopped working completely, and it became obvious to me why when the antenna man mentioned that the antenna was not facing the correct way.  So over time, various birds, and high velocity winds (and maybe the cyclone from earlier in the year) must have caused various trees to move the antenna away from pointing towards the TV stations on Mt Cootha.  However, when channel 7 moved from normal definition to HD a few months back, that channel stopped working altogether.  So I either need a new antenna in my shed, or a TV that handles HD.  More expense!  At least all the channels that are not HD are now working in the shed.

Late this afternoon, I started work on drilling holes in the baseboard at Sunnybank to allow me to install wire jumpers around all my points for the DCC track signal.

Hopefully next week I will have some photos of the Operations Session activities.  I might even have some photos of my working future exhibition layout control panel. 

Signal Control Panel Takes Shape

Well I still have not got down to the shed to work on the Sunnybank wiring,  I finally got my Arduino working with some additional output boards via the I2C protocol.  I found a Youtube video that had some sample code.  This video's version of the sample code had an extra parameter on the creation of the i2C board object.  Other versions of sample code did not have this.  So I added it and my board started working.  I have LEDs flashing controlled by a secondary board.  I have had a few more of my online purchases show up, but I’m still waiting for another.  It has been about 3 weeks since I purchased some DPDT switches, but I believe it may not have gotten shipped from China.  However, the seller reached out to me on Saturday. 

I have been working on my signalman’s panel.  I had installed all the track markings with coloured electrical tape.  I changed the colour of the tracks, Blue is narrow gauge, Black is standard gauge and Red is dual gauge.  I have also started installing all the LEDs into the signalman’s board, to replicate the signals from the layout.  I have purchased all the various red, yellow and green LEDs.  However, I was short quite a few white LEDs as the local Jaycar did not have any left.  So on my way to the Train Club yesterday for our Christmas Luncheon, I detoured to a local Jaycar on Gympie Rd.  They had my missing white LEDs.

When I got to the Club, I showed off my control panel.  It had quite a few inquisitive people hanging around the panel, understanding what it will be able to do.  I think I am creating interest for the layout.

I got a text out of the blue on Saturday arvo from an ex-workmate who lives in the next suburb.  He had a sting of cat5 ports that was in excess of his requirements, so I said I’d take it for my control panel interface to the various signals on the future layout.  He brought it around on Saturday evening, so I took him into the shed for a viewing.  I plan on using cat 5 cables from the control panel to each signal on the new layout.  The control panel will break out the wires in the cable to the various ports in the control panel for signalling and infrared detectors, etc.  I was quite surprised by the number of spider webs that have sprung up inside the shed in the last few weeks.  I can feel that they will all be getting a bad headache tomorrow when I give them a blast of spray.

Sunday morning I started installing the switches for the point indicator lights on the control panel.  These are 3PDT switches.  Two of the poles are wired in a crossover fashion, so switching the switch, reverses the polarity of the circuit and thus my Red/Green bi-colour LEDs will switch and the point indicators will toggle, showing which way the track is aligned.  These were all installed and connected to a power supply.  I added a resistor to reduce the voltage going through the LEDs.  They do exactly as I planned when I change the various switches on the control panel.

The Control panel with LEDs installed

This view of the panel has the mainline point indicators lit.  Toggling the switch causes the indicator lights to switch their colours.

I then installed the white LEDs into the track diagram, which will register the location of the trains as they go past a signal.  When they are detected, the white LED will light, and the red signal will light. 

It looks like that tomorrow’s activity will include installing the first few signals into the baseboard for the UP trackage into the control panel and I will use temporary IR detectors to simulate the movement of UP trains on the layout, and give the Arduino signalling code a good test.

Helping Bob and the Division

This week I was very slack and forgot to keep track of my various modelling activities.  On Monday I got an SOS call from Barnacle Bob and installing LED lights into his 1900 Class QR Railmotor.  We had previously worked on a process to build a chassis made from styrene to install his 12mm bogies into.  Bob had drilled out the various headlight and marker light holes in the railmotor shell and needed some help to wire up the LEDs.  We made arrangements to catch up on Friday at his place to check it out.  On Friday I explained parallel and series and we worked together install the two 0402 white LED headlights in series, the two 0402 white markers in series and the two 0402 red LED markers in series but in the reverse configuration to the white markers so only one came on when power was applied.  So these three pairs were wired in parallel.  We then built up the other end’s lights in the same manner and then joined both ends up.  So when the headlights and markers came on at one end, the red markers came on at the other end and the opposite happened when we reversed the polarity to the lighting infrastructure.  I think Bob was happy by the end of the work session.  These still had not been connected to the power pickups by worked off a 9V battery,

Earlier in the week a few of the Tuesday Nighters group were online on Tuesday night and had a good time.  One activity I did do in the shed was find all the items and tools I needed to take to the working bee on Saturday.  The cricket on TV sort of distracted me from a lot of other activities.  That is finished now, so I might have time for more modelling activities next week.

On Saturday I met up with a few other Div 1 workers and we continued to work on the modules for the Div 1 Freemo layout.  So we did some plastering, added scatter, some greenery, and then some fencing.  We also made our own split post fencing from kebab skewers and other 2.5mm pieces of dowel from a $2 shop that we cut up and them split them into individual fence posts.  These were then stained.  I think everyone there was working on the install of these fence posts.  Basically the comments being generated were about people learning new skills in the scenicing of the modules, so this was a great positive outcome.  Late on Saturday night, we again gate crashed the British Regions Brew and Natter.  Gordy forbade us from talking about the cricket.  Well I complied with this edict until I left the chat and posted a comment in the chat.  Hehehehe!

Another week has gone past, and I did not get to go to the shed to work on the Sunnybank Extension and the various track wiring in this area.  Perhaps this coming week.  I did however spend some time trying to get a piece of electronics that I picked up at Bob’s (a different Bob) on the previous Sunday, to work.  I could not get it to talk through its I2C protocol to light LEDs.  So I will have to wait until some more are delivered by mail (hopefully) this week.  The general consensus was that It might have been damaged or had a problem which was why it was lying about at Bob's.  I also have some other pieces of electronics also turning up this week.  These are needed for the new exhibition layout control panel and the layout.

More Layout Planning

Whilst I had plans of wiring up the Sunnybank section of the layout this week, I have not got down to the shed to do anything on that project this last week.  With the various storms and rain events early in the week, I just never got to the shed.  So this has now been pushed back as a task to be completed this coming week.

Tuesday we had a great turn out at Glen’s place for our Tuesday Nighter’s get together.  We watched his favourite 81 class locos circulating around the layout, as well as an 8 car electric.  We then adjourned to Glen’s front veranda and sat in the cool night air and watched the mandatory storm coming from the west get closer and closer.  We all hit the road as it came closer and I got home just before the storm hit.  However while I was there I was talking to Bob about Arduinos and adding additional addressable ports for my signalling.  He had a device that added 16 ports to an Arduino.  So I asked Bob to send me some sample code that allows us to access those extra ports.  I looked at using this instead of using 3 Arduino Megas for my signalling with the three Arduinos all locked together for inputs from the control panel and the layout.  When the sample code came through I did not understand everything in it.  Maybe I need to go back to introduction to programming, or my throw my newly finished IT graduate son at it.  He might get it more than me.  However with a few texts back and forth with Bob, we arranged to meet up at his place on Sunday and now I have a whole new understanding of how this will work.  Bob loaned me one of these extension boards and I will spend some time next week trying to get it to work with my Arduino Mega.  If I can get one or two LEDs working, that will be it, and I will order 5 more boards, and replace the one that Bob loaned me, and continue connecting up 3 of these devices to my Arduino Mega.  This will also work out a cheaper solution.

While the boss was out on Wednesday I unrolled the paper track plan for my future exhibition layout.  It went down the hall and I worked on throwing lengths of flex track, and various points that I already had in my kit bag onto the paper schematic to see how it looked.  I adjusted the locations of some of the trackage by an inch or two here and there, in order to make it look like it was flowing and everything fitted in.  I have worked out where the baseboard joints should be.  At this stage I have 3 x 2.4m modules and 1 x 1.2m module for the front of the layout.  I will be designing the next module or two that fits in behind the front modules or Tuesday or Wednesday this week when the boss is out and I won’t get in trouble for having stuff scattered all over the floor, creating a tripping hazard.  This next module is where all the sidings will be incorporated on the layout.

The northern end of the layout, with the dual gauge point and one of the two Tillig narrow gauge/standard gauge crossovers in place.  The green tweezers at the bottom of the photo is the baseboard join.

The next section looking south, with the sidings on the left and the branch on the right.

Going farther south.

This shot is where the sidings have a run around and the two main lines UP and DOWN have no track laid down for them as yet.

On Thursday I reserved an amount of 12mm track for today’s Buy and Sell.  I also arranged for a 12mm turntable for PK at the same time.  I went to the rooftop drinks on Friday and then to Shephen’s retirement drinks.  I think we will be convincing him to join our rooftop group next year.

Saturday was another full on train day.  I had to drop some fence posts off at Geoff’s work before he went home, and then went to an Operating Session at Anthony’s place.  This was a great time, as usual.  His staff machines really blow me away.  The layout runs well.  paperwork is excellent and the attendees are fun too, even if they go down the wrong tracks hey Iain?  However, some of the shunting required really tests your grey matter.

A nice fuel unloading facility.

A new stock race in place.

The train in track 2 was my first train of the day.  The motive power has already been removed and is heading to Loco.

My next train is leaving from the dock.

The combined staging on the layout.

My train awaits this train getting to the main station and clearing the section.

These magnificent staff machines now control access to the various sections of track on the layout.

Staging looking the other way.

The second last train of the day.

Garry has the last train of the day.

Today I went to the Buy and Sell and picked up 25 sets of 12mm points, and 8 sets of 16.5mm points.  I also scored 84 insulated joiners and a dozen lengths of 12mm flex track.  The cupboard continues to be stocked for the day when I hit the go button on the layout.

Sunnybank Progress Resumes

I think it was Monday this week that I went to the local hobby shop.  I picked up two Tillig crossovers (standard to narrow gauge) as I thought if I don’t buy them now they will be dearer when I do get around to buying them.  I was also looking at picking up some narrow gauge cross overs that I need for my storage yard out the back of the layout.  There were none in the shop on the racks.  But while walking around the shop, on top of a cabinet I found two 12mm crossovers.  No doubt someone was going to buy them and then saw some TT gauge track and bought them instead and left the Peco 12mm crossings on the cabinet.  So I bought them as well.  So my boarding of items for the future exhibition layout has begun. 

On Tuesday evening we all got online with the Tuesday Nighters and I showed off some historical photos from my future layout location.  I think I had everyone’s interest.  It was amazing that some photos showed that there were three standard gauge locos in the sidings, and there were plenty of narrow gauge locos on both Up and Down tracks, running wrong road and also in the sidings and on the branch as well.  I think this layout is going to turn heads.  Well, isn’t every layout owner hoping to do that with their exhibition layout?  I just need approval from the financial controller.  I might have to sell my left one in order to gain approval.

On late Wednesday morning I drove to PK’s and picked up his dual gauge Fast Track jigs.  I also picked up four lengths of code 75 rail.  Upon return home after 1:00pm and then having some lunch, I got stuck into building a set of dual gauge points.  By the late afternoon, I had completed the first dual gauge set of points for the standard gauge tracks to branch from the dual gauge to the sidings.  Initial testing has everything working well.  I plan on visiting PK again to return the jigs, but also use his silver solder on my point’s actuation bar, so it is currently unsoldered on this dual gauge point.  On Wednesday evening I cut up the PC board sleepers and some lengths of rail, so that on Thursday morning I could build another set of points, well actually it was a splitter piece of track where the two gauges, standard and narrow, will merge for a siding under a gantry crane.  This also turned out pretty good.  Initial testing has it working well.  It has no moving point blades.

My intention is to actually have a travelling crane on the future exhibition layout location that will move up and down the siding.  I was thinking that I need to build myself some 12mm catch points, one for the siding, and one for the branch line, given that these are not commercially available.  So I built these either side of dinner.  I then half built two 16.5mm (HO) catch points, but I ran out of code 75 rail.  I had a scout around the shed as I thought I had a length somewhere.   I found some small off cut lengths of Peco 12mm track, that I used to finish the build of the 16.5mm catch points.  One of the pieces of rail that I found, was weathered rail.  Boy, did that cause me some issues with soldering it to my PC board sleepers.  So I removed the weathered rail and replaced it with another length of unweathered code 75 rail.  I was quite happy again with how these four pieces of track turned out.  The collection of track for the new layouts continues to accrue.

The dual gauge point to go into the dual gauge with a standard gauge exit into the sidings.

In the sidings, the narrow and standard gauge lines come together under a couple of gantry cranes.

The various catch points, the two narrow gauge ones on the left and the two standard gauge ones on the right.

Eventually I will need to schedule another trip over to the other side of the world to get about four more lengths of code 75 rail from PK.  These will be put aside for the rails needed for the travelling crane or should I say travelling cranes, to run on as there are actually two on that track in the prototype’s yard.

I did some stocktaking of track components and worked out what types and how many I need of the various sets of points in 16.5mm and 12mm gauges.  I hope to get my first drawdown from the boss and go looking for points and narrow gauge track at next Sunday’s Buy and Sell in Brisbane.

Today really early, my son’s mates all rocked up at 6:35am, before they took off on a road trip to Canberra and then Melbourne and back over the next week.  But it was revealed to them by another of my son’s mates that I had a Shed in the back yard full of trains and they all want to view the layout before they hit the road.  They were enlightened and slightly overawed, I think.  But they needed to not spend too much time there as they needed to hit the road in their convoy travelling south in order to get to Canberra tonight. 

Just before lunch today I finally bit the bullet and continued on working on the supports for the trackwork from Rocklea Siding to Sunnybank Station.  I installed about 5 supports and joined all the 12mm track up.  So things are progressing.  I will be looking at installing power to this section of track in the coming week and I hope to have trains operating under their own power before next weekend.

The extension of the narrow gauge line from Rocklea Sidings heading to the left to go around large semi-circle before coming into Sunnybank Station in the foreground where the unpainted QR wagon is.

The line to Sunnybank but a bit further to the left.  The large semi-circle starts under the shelf.

A view from the doorway, showing the Sunnybank mainline heading back towards Rocklea Sidings.  below is Acacia Ridge Yard.

Thinking About Signalling

Monday was the day that started to go down a bit of a rabbit hole.  I started thinking about the signalling system for my future exhibition layout.  I will have working signals that run either automatically as a train runs around the layout or with the help of a signalman who can set up cross track moves etc., into the sidings, or onto the branch.  I have drawn up a track schematic.  I started with the code for one of the tracks – the UP Line.  But overnight I had a think.  On Tuesday I changed my whole logic process and by the afternoon I had a working model running on my Arduino for the UP and DOWN tracks. 

On Wednesday I added the signals coming out of the siding and started on the tracks for the dual gauge branch line.  Also on Wednesday a new Arduino Mega arrived in the post after I purchased it on last Sunday night.  I think I will have one of these controlling each of the tracks, UP, DOWN and Dual Gauge, with the same code running in each Arduino just so I can control all the signals and the various inputs from the track sensors, detecting trains and points and also from the switches on the signalman’s control panel.  I will work to develop this over the next few months.  I will also use CAT5 cables to go from the signalman’s panel to each of the signals.  Each signal location will have at least 2 aspects, mostly 3, as well as an infrared track detector to detect passing trains.  Some shunting moves and branch line moves will also have call on signals, or junction indicators.  So this will be really cool if I can get it to work, and it will also mimic all signals on the signalman’s panel.  So the public can sit behind him and watch it all unfold, or even if the layout is automatic mode, the signals on this panel will also change as trains move through the various tracks.  I am also thinking if I need a communications mechanism from the signalman to the train drivers.  Do we just call out, use walkie talkies, use a headset system like I do at home, or use Zello on the mobile phone.  I will discuss this with my future crew.  The layout may still be two years off building, but it will have quite a lot of features that rarely exist on layouts on the exhibition layout scene.

I continued work on the Dual Gauge track signal code on Thursday and this is complete except for the signalling into the Sidings across all the narrow gauge tracks.  That is quite complex, but not too difficult.  I just need to find time and this will most likely be early next week.  My next task is to build a small mock-up of the signalman’s panel and have the track detectors simulated by hand and see the control panel show the signal aspects.  I need to buy a few red, yellow and green LEDs to replicate the signal aspects on my signalman’s panel for this to happen.  I also need to do a couple of tests.

On Tuesday we went to Cliff’s place for our Tuesday Nighter’s meeting and ran into Ian Phermister from Coffs Harbour way, who happened to be up on the Gold Coast with his family having a holiday.  It was good catching up.  At this meeting I also spoke to Brendan, our solderer extraordinaire, who gave me confidence to work on my PROCAB-R radio board upgrade.  I had an old POWERCAB throttle which I was to install a radio board into – removed from a CAB04.  But the POWERCAB did not have a 9-pin JST plug on its motherboard.  So I had to solder the 9 wires from a connection to the 9 little tabs on the motherboard.  Well this initially worked, but I needed some battery terminals to be installed into the POWERCAB case to make it all come together.  I picked up some terminals from Marcus when in Sydney at the Rosehill Exhibition, and also picked up a 9-pin JST socket to go into a future PROCAB throttle if I ever get another one.  But as I was installing the battery components, the wires ripped off from my soldering on the motherboard.  Brendan told me to clean that up and install the 9 pin JST socket.  Well I gave it a go on Wednesday, and to my amazement, after testing the POWERCAB, after removing my soldering, and after soldering in the JST-socket, and after installing the batteries in the compartment, it all worked, as both a normal POWERCAB, or as a radio PROCAB-R.  I amazed myself.

Also on Wednesday I decided to actually code up the various configurations in the chip for my 2000 class railmotor passenger car.  I set up the headlight to dim on F4.  Also moved the rear headlight which was connected to the rear red marker lights to be on F3 instead of F0R.  I also set up the front white marker lights F1, and front red marker lights and the rear marker lights F3 to all be dimmed on F8.  I gave it a test and was very happy, although the front headlights are way too bright.

I had a phone call from Barnacle Bob during the week and went over to his place on Thursday to assist with building a chassis for his 3D printed 1900 Class QR Railmotor.  He has some Halling bogies to use.  Bob was worried with his brass baseplate shorting out his Halling bogies as the railmotor travels along the track.  I brought along some 2mm styrene and showed him one possible method of building a baseplate that fits inside the railmotor shell and the bogies are attached to the baseplate with some bogie clips made from styrene.  So in under an hour we had the baseplate built, the bogies attached, and the railmotor running up and down a short piece of track powered by a 9V battery placed across the rails.  So that was version 1 of the baseplate.  All it needs is a couple of pieces of lead above the power bogie.  I’m sure Bob will refine this initial baseplate and bogie clips for the bogie mechanism and build his version 2.  It will be very nice indeed once the model is painted up and running on Mosquito Creek.

Friday’s job was to complete 2000 Class luggage compartment railcar with the installation of all its lights.  The headlight and front white and red marker lights were pretty simple, but I cannot get the rear marker lights to light.  I must have a dry solder joint somewhere or I installed one of the red marker light LEDs back to front.  I will revisit on Monday next week.  The plan was to take the two railmotor models to the Show and Tell section at our NMRA meeting on Saturday of which I did.

Mostly Railmotor Related

On Monday afternoon, I went to my local DULUX paint place and spoke to Geoff about spray cans of Silver paint for my Far North Models QR 2000 Class railmotors.  I picked up a can of recommended paint.  When I got home, I sprayed the railmotor shells with some testers white primer.  That was to seal the shells before I hit them with the silver paint.  I gave them two coats on the outside and them focused another coat on the inside of the shells just to be sure.  I let it dry overnight.

Baggage car version sprayed undercoat.

The other side.

The driver's side again.

The other side.

The passenger version head on.

The non driver's side.

The driver's side of the passenger version.

The paint I used to paint the railmotors Silver.

PK also emailed advising that our shared delivery of the CCH prairie wagons from CGL had arrived.  I told PK that I will collect mine on Friday when we go for a trip around the QR Brisbane network for $0.50.

So on Tuesday I hit both the shells with the silver paint.  I let them dry and had a bit of a viewing a couple of hours later.  I thought I might have been a bit light with the silver paint along the bottom of the shells, so I gave them both another light spray in that area and then put them to bed overnight to dry.

On Wednesday morning the job was to install all the LEDs required for the QR 2000 Class passenger car railcar.  That went along quite easily until at one point when testing an LED, when I applied a 9V battery to an LED (instead of my 2 x AA – 3V battery) and it went POP.  Bugger.  I was then one LED short for the guard's luggage railcar.  But PK came to the rescue as he lent me one, while I placed an order for another 30 white 0402 LEDs.  So once all the LEDs were installed, the wires connected to the decoder and the railmotor assembled, the railmotor was placed on the track and the lights were tested.  They worked great.  Maybe some are slightly a bit bright, but I can fix that later. 

Thursday was the day to install the LEDs into the Guards Baggage railcar.  Well all but one light to a marker light.  I took my 3 railmotors to the Club on Saturday to show off.  I showed them on the club layout, but just ran them on the Powercab test track.  The common comment was that the marker lights were too bright.  I will try replacing the 4.7K ohm resistor with an 8.2K resistor to reduce the light intensity on Monday or Tuesday this week.  While at the Club, Guy showed off his almost completed 3D print of a 2000 Class railmotor.  He also advised that the 2050 class railmotor was ready to print.  So early next year we will get his version.  There are a few of us lined up to get them and put them on the track.  They come with two different types of bogie mounts.  One for my Halling 12mm bogies from Austria, and another for some locally made bogies.  I still like my version from Austria, but they are not cheap, but postage is better when you make a bulk order.  I think I will need to place an order for another 12 pairs of power bogies and 12 pairs of dummy bogies before Christmas, so we are all ready for the new year when these railmotors are released.

The baggage car version of the 2000 Class railmotor above its power chassis.  The LED lights will be installed on Monday or Tuesday this week.

The now available 3 car set.

I met up with PK on Friday, picked up my CCH wagons and the LED.  We also arrange to meet Arthur and Kevin at Roma Street Station and we caught a train to Doomben followed by a walk to a nearby Bowls Club.  Coffee and Caramel Slice for $7.50 was great.  We jumped back on the train and we went to Bowen Hills.  There we were sent into platform 3 – instead of platform 1, no doubt due to a points failure.  But our Ferny Grove train was sitting on platform 2.  As we had to ascended the stairs walk across the walkway and back down to the other platform.  As we were doing this, the train whistled out.  Bugger.  We had to wait for another 15 minutes!  I think Sparkles planned that.  We had lunch at the Ferny Grove Tavern and got free coffee and cake with the meal.  Boy were we full!  Back to the station, caught the train to Bowen Hills where PK alighted and the south siders continued to Sunnybank, where Authur left, I left at Altandi and Kevin got off at Kuraby.  All this for a total of $1.00 travel cost.  My bus was just 7 minutes away and I was still full at dinner time.  A great day.

Our train is due soon at Roma Street platform 6.

Our train departing Doomben as we enter the Bowls Club

Our Complimentary cake and coffee after lunch

On Sunday we had the Club Buy and Sell and I walked away with over $120 in sales.  I may have purchased some items and also paid $20 for my usual table location.  The weather held off, but buyers seemed to be down a bit.  But there were plenty of bargains available.

Other activity next week, is the track from Rocklea Sidings to Sunnybank will get supports underneath it.  I might even have trains running before next Sunday.

Focus Now Switches to my QR 2000 Class Railmotors

So this week was supposed to be a slow week to recover from the last 4 days in Sydney at the Great Train Show at Rosehill.  Monday started with me getting out my WNI-32 module from WifiTrax and installing that in an NCE Procab.  So when assembled, the Procab becomes a wifi enabled device and it will work on any wifi connection.  The process to enrol onto a wifi network can be a bit laborious if there is a password set, unless the owner allows the WPS button to be pressed and it will happily join.

Tuesday's job was to get out my Far North Hobbies 2000 class railmotor set that was obtained down in Sydney at the second hand stall.  I made two baseplates to affix the wheels to.  They seem to run quite well.  I took one model over to Bob’s place on Tuesday night for our fortnightly get together, as he has a set of these railcars running on his layout.  We placed my railmotor next to his 2000 class set and my car was sitting about 1mm too high compared to his.  I thought it still needed to be lowered by at least another 1-2mm.  So on Wednesday I remade the chassis base plate and I think they were lowered by a couple of millimeters.  The railmotor was sent to the DC test track and the railmotor was just skidding on top of the rails.  So it needed a bit of weight added above the bogie.

On Thursday I added a slice of lead above the motor bogie and it ran smoothly with no more slipping.  The next task was to fit a decoder and wire up the second bogie to the decoder, bring the motor bogie pickup wires to the decoder and then run wires to the motor.  I then took it back to the DC test track and it ran very smoothly.  So the switch was set and it was put on the DCC test track.  It was given a long DCC address of 2004 as it is a passenger car version of the railmotor and I was very happy with its running on the layout.

However, upon checking this model against the QR plan, the model is too long, too high, too wide and just looks obese.  I was hoping that this two-car set was going to absolve my need from buying two 2-car sets of 2000 class railmotors from Guy at the Club, when he finally releases his models.  I have been patiently waiting for about 12 months, but I think progress is being made on his models.  I think I will need to still buy two 2-car sets off of Guy just so that my scratch built intermediate 2050 class car will be the same size as the end cars.  Guy’s cars are perfectly re-created in scale, unlike the Far North Models sets that are at least 5% too big in all dimensions. 

Late on Thursday I started cleaning off the flash from the bogie sideframes from the Far North Models kit.  I also started measuring the base frame for the second railmotor (the one with the luggage compartment). 

On Friday I cut up the base frame and spliced in the bogie support frames.  I then added a stiffening beam to the base frame.  I also got out the lead weight again and added that to the chassis frame, followed by the installation of holes for the wires to come up from the bogies up to the decoder.  I took the second railmotor to the shed and gave it a test run.  I was again pretty pleased with how it ran on DC. 

Saturday morning’s job was to install the decoder in the second railmotor and wire the bogies into the decoder.  Once that was done, I then tested the baggage car version of the QR 2000 class railmotor on the test track on DC again, and then switched to DCC mode.  I gave it an address of 2005 and gave it a run on the test track on DCC.  Very Happy indeed! 

Saturday evening I joined the British NMRA Region’s Brew and Natter online gathering.  There were 4 Queenslanders online there along with about 20 from the UK and Europe.  That was an enjoyable 2 hours of photos showing of layouts tours and discussion.

On Sunday morning I then put the two railmotors back to back, consisted them, and ran them around Acacia Ridge Yard, before I realised that I had equipment in the way towards Clapham Yard.  I still had not supported the trackage from Sunnybank to Rocklea Siding.  I'll get back to that next week.  So I relocated the railmotors to South Brisbane in a siding, then I realised that the sidings were not powered.  So I wired up the two sidings at South Brisbane with some wire jumpers.  But I did run the railmotors from the platform at South Brisbane to Park Road, until I found another dead piece of track.  I think I need to fix up a rail joiner.  Another job for this week.  So I ran the train back to South Brisbane Station where the set now rests.  I then replaced the KD on one railmotor as the jaws are not working.  I also need sound now to be added to the railmotors, but no one had a sound file and I can’t afford sound decoders for these railcars! 

The section from Sunnybank Station back towards Rocklea Siding.  A guard rail has been added outside the track.

Look from above Sunnybank Station back towards the shed door.

Underneath the Sunnybank raised section is Acacia Ridge Yard.

The entry into South Brisbane Station, where the jumpers were installed.

A shot back towards the stop blocks at South Brisbane.

The Baggage Car version of the railmotor sitting in one of the sidings at South Brisbane.  Its twin is inside the house ready to get the start of headlights and marker lights.

I also need to install the lights inside the railmotor shells with connections back to the decoders.  I have pulled out 2 white LEDs for the headlights in one railcar, and 2 red LEDs for the front marker lights.  That is next weeks job.  I will also call in to Geoff and check out the paint options for these railmotors early this week as well.  I will hopefully have them painted before next Saturday which is Club meeting day.