Test Track

Currently I do not have a layout and have instead been using a mixture of track to make a simple oval as my test track. Which was assembled on the dining room table, and thus a temporary set-up that was problematic to assemble (and disassemble).

So instead I will use some Kato Unitrack to form an oval, the main benefit for me is that Unitrack is designed for repeated assembly (and disassembly).

As shown in the diagram above I can have it on my computer table. If needed I can also have it on the dining room table but that requires reducing the quantity of straight sections used.

I have just ordered the required track to make the loop.

Layout Plan - idea change - Part Two

Yes there is a part two. The previous diagrams was getting the idea out of my head. Now that I have looked at it, there are a few changes I want to make. 

There are too many maintenance buildings, there are currently four buildings  that are, coach/carriage shed, steam locomotive maintenance, diesel locomotive maintenance, and HST/DMU maintenance buildings. Instead I should be able to make do with one or two buildings, one building with between 2, 3, or 4 rail access should be fine. One rail access section could be lengthened to support three car DMUs. As for the HST, it can be uncoupled and the parts (coach or power car) requiring maintenance can be shunted into the facility.

There are two separate facilities to handle steam and diesel locomotives, which are separated by the main line. Instead both facilities should be merge, allowing for the sharing of facilities and yard track. The turntable can be used for both diesel and steam locomotives, also providing them access to locomotive storage tracks. This has the impact of removing some complexity by the removal of paths into and out of the previous plans steam facility. Which allowed for the reshuffling of points and slips positions which will allow the layout to be shortened.

Currently there are two stabling areas, instead they will be merged, and the location will be where the coach stabling tracks are. The approach tracks will need to be adjusted to ensure full length HST (rake of seven coaches) will fit in the HST stabling section. The HST and DMU stabling will be as close as possible to the diesel refuelling area, and furtherest from the station platforms.

The bay platforms (platforms 1 and 2) will stay as they have little impact on the positioning of points and slips, plus I like the idea a bay platform.

There will no longer be a head shunt, instead any of the three tracks the connect to the station can be used. But the default track to use is the third line - which is bidirectional and terminates by linking back into the two line mainline. This track is an alternative path to the station in case there is an issue with the approach track. 

Building up and breaking down a rake of coaches can be done within the yard.

Version 5.08 of the Terminus

Layout Plan - idea change

The last idea was really good, but I just had a different idea that may be better. The issue with the last layout is there is only one station area that can be seen and lots of hidden staging. What is needed is a second station and maybe some yard facilities. To do this I would take my branch station idea and make it an upper layer which will then be sitting on some hidden staging yard tracks, and sitting behind the main station and yard facilities (which will be on the ground level).

I do plan to take this layout to exhibitions, thus it is important that an audience can be entertained, thus the need for at least two stations. Plus it can be used to show the turnaround of passenger trains, as well as the break down and reassembly of goods trains.

I'll update this post once I have completed my layout plan in AnyRail.

Taking longer than I thought, and of course it is the allowances for the HST that is the problem - I use 1.42 metres for the station platform and I need to use that for the servicing sheds and stabling as well. I'll have the stabling and shed parallel to each other otherwise even more space is wasted. And then there is the required point work to direct locomotives, trains, and coaches to their required locations, which also requires space. So far I have a length of 4.00 metres for the layout, with my luck I will need to go to 5 metres.

I have the coach stabling parallel to the platforms to reduce wasted space.

The bottom half of the diagram below is the area I am currently working on.

Draft Plan

Updated version of the plan for the terminus and depot.

Version 4.11 of the plan

Current length is 4.25 metres, the platforms need to fit a regular sized HST with a rake of 7 coaches and two power cars. 7 * 165 mm + 2 * 125 mm = 1155 + 250 mm = 1405 mm = 1.41 metres. The plus side of this is that the station can handle a rake of 7 coaches, and allow the locomotive to escape via the run around track. Otherwise if the locomotive is trapped then a a rake of 9 coaches can fit, and an alternative locomotive will need to be used to move the train.

HST Book Sets

Just received an email from Ehattons mentioning that the Dapol HST (Class 43) Book Sets in the Blue & Grey livery, and the Intercity Executive livery are available. But no mention of the Intercity Swallow livery which I have on pre-order.

Layout Plan - Update

I decided to adjust the plan to make the layout independent when required, but with the option to connect to other layouts. Also The under level can be used to add time to a rail journeys. Unfortunately this addition meant that the width and length had to be increased to a total of 780 mm x 3100 mm.

Ground level

Under level

A double track spiral will be used to connect both levels. The plan is nearly there, I just need to make adjustments, the current under level version was to get track out without thought.

Advantages:

• Lower level can be used as test track, as it has the loop implemented.
• Layout can operate on it's own
• Layout can operate with other layouts
• Storage cassette loading/unloading of locomotives and rolling stock
• Full size HST (rake of seven coaches and the two power cars) will fit on the stations main platform. (Based on estimated lengths).
• Only one double slip used on ground level, due to space restrictions. (might be able to remove it)

Disadvantages:

• Complexity - needs to be gone over to adjust track work
• Spiral - will my locomotives be able to handle it under load.
• Increased layout board size - 
• width increased by 430 mm
• length increased by 600 mm
• Electrical complexity
• Wye
• Reversing loops
• Building the storage cassettes 
• Cost of points and double slips.

Part Way to an N gauge HST

I am part way to an n gauge HST in the Intercity Swallow livery. That is I have purchased three Dapol coaches that are TF, TRSB, and TS.

TF, TRSB, and TS

To complete it I am now waiting on Dapol to release the TGS, a renumbered TS and the HST bookset. The bookset is composed of two DMB, a TF, and a TS.

The fun part with the HST is that formations could be changed, I plan to mainly use the formation DMB-TGS-TS-TS-TS-TRSB-TF-TF-DMB. But I do plan to be able to mix it up a bit by having some extra coaches such as:

• 1 extra TRSB
• 2 extra TS
• 1 extra TF

Which can be stabled at my planned major station layout module of my heritage line. Which will be a long way off, as initially I plan to build a small branch line terminating station layout module.

List of codes and their descriptions.

When I first  saw the HST in a Hornby catalogue in the late 80's, I knew I had to get one. It has been approximately 25 years since, and I plan to have one.

Wikipedia links about the HST:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_252 <-- Prototype
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Classes_253,_254_and_255
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_43_(HST)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Mark_3#HST_vehicles <-- Coaching Stock
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InterCity_125
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_corporate_liveries
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InterCity_(British_Rail)

Formations
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/38178-hst-formations/
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/18939-hst-formation/
http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=2452.0
http://ftp.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic.php?f=143&t=71376&p=855859

Misc links:
http://www.tauntontrains.co.uk/HST.htm

DCC Control Station

A big thank you to Malhar Deshmukh for his comment which helped remind me that I was going to work on the Arduino as a command station.

Unfortunately before now, I was sidetracked by other things such as my layout planning (and it's multiple revisions and restarts), as well as my growing collection of locomotives and coaches.

My original plan was to use an Arduino Uno as a simple dcc control station that can control a few dcc locomotives and devices. In order to do this I will need to make use of:

• an Arduino Uno (or Arduino compatible)
• an LCD (I2C interface)
• a few buttons and LEDs
• a key pad
• the software CmdArduino (created by D.E. Goodman-Wilson)
• a dcc booster (as I am too lazy to build a h-bridge)

As for test equipment, I will be using:

• Bitscope Micro (Oscilloscope & Analyser) plus its probe adapter module
• MynaBay DCC Monitor Project.

The code for this will be hosted on GitHub and is a fork of the CmdArduino repository which is also hosted on GitHub. The fork of CmdArduino I have made is located at:  https://github.com/dtcole/CmdrArduino

Initial Plan

1. Setup the code to have the potentiometer set the speed in one direction and instead use two buttons to control the direction.
2. Attach I2C LCD and insert support code to run it. 
• Modify CmdStation.ino to display loco information (address, speed, and direction).
3. Attach keypad, and modify CmdStation.ino to support it, 
• insert test code to verify keys pressed match what the arduino sees.
4. Create a menu that allows:
• the user to add and remove a locomotive (DCC Address, and name). 
• select a locomotive by name for direct control.  
• the # button to return to the main menu.
• the * button to return to the currently selected locomotives information 

I will create a new post once I have the above mentioned working.