Thursday I was supposed to get a visit from the plumbers to do some major work. They had to beg off, so instead I tackled the wiring on the layout (which I was going to do regardless, since I wasn't going to irritate the professionals).
After eight hours of continuous labor, I was able to get blocks 1 through 4 and 6 through 11 wired from the track to what will become the control panel connector. In a real sense that means the main part of the standard gauge is done; all that is left is the mountain loop (block 12), the dual gauge section (blocks 5 and 14), and the coal washing plant yard (block 15).
The mountain loop is one continuous run with one siding (block 13). I will have to wire about three drops for the continuous section, but the drop for the siding is done. Two dual gauge turnouts have to be built and installed along with the rest of the dual gauge track before the coal plant standard gauge yard can be laid and wired.
The common rail has continuity all the way around the standard gauge section, and the common rail for the coal plant yard will be wired into this continuous section. The common rail for the dual gauge section, however, will be wired through a switch so that it, along with the dual gauge approach block can be switched between standard and narrow gauge.
I haven't even begun to attempt the yard design. It occupies a blank section on my layout map labeled "Here Be Dragons" beyond the two turnouts that will lead to it. Whatever it ends up being, it will occupy a 28 inch by 8 foot section of bench work that has already been built. The narrow gauge portion at least has a solid plan, but it will have to wait until I complete the rest of the standard gauge section. Time will tell which of these sections (yard or narrow gauge) will be built first.
One day I will take a picture of my doodles so that you can see what blocks are where and how they connect, but today is not that day.
No comments:
Post a Comment