Well, I've got Throttle #4 tied in and working, except I'm trying to figure out how to reverse the polarity between the reversing switch and the track. My normal trick of reversing the feeders ain't gonna work. That can come at a later time, right now the throttle is doing everything else it's supposed to. Did come across that transformer circuit breaker problem, so I switched those out. I might run over to Radio Shack a little later and see what I can find to replace them.
I delivered a couple loads of John Deere heavy equipment to the CB&Q (the "Q") at KUD, and everything was flawless. I have a couple of remote sockets to install, then I'll be able to move the throttle to wherever I'm working. Also on the agenda is installing the Dispatcher panel at Mt. Zion. boB Nicholson _____________________________________ --- In [email protected], Bob Werre <bob@...> wrote: > > Well spoken Bill and boB, > At first I had never thought beyond DC for my own layout, till my good > friend Rusty Paulus had open house after a trainshow. (Rusty's layout > appeared in several venues including the 50 Years of S in MR, it's own > feature in MR and a few early SHS ads.) > > Anyway during this open house, we had three trains running on a single > stall garage sized layout with three loops plus a branch-line. Rotary > switches controlled the blocks. Rusty was the only guy who could > half-way keep things running in real time, but it wasn't long before he > was a tired, frazzled, and one confused dispatcher. The difficulty in > actually having multiple operators sharing trackage with only short > distances was the culprit. There had to be a better way. In the real > world even the mighty UP puts excess trains in the hole until there is a > slot available--modelers get bored and want to run trains! > > When I operate on several local layouts, we've had as many as 10 guys of > various skill levels generally making things work without ever having to > control blocks--we get verbal clearance or watch our signals. A switch > list or car card plus the names of industries and towns is enough to > figure out in one 2-3 hour session. I think perhaps that command > control might actually add a few years of life or at least, maybe keep > from pulling out the last bit of hair you have--assuming your wiring was > done correctly in the first place! > > BTW, I plan on operating on a local live steam park sized layout this > weekend--that should be a hoot for a first timer like me! Walking a > real train will be different but there aren't any duck unders either not > to mention no electrical current of any kind. > > Bob Werre > PhotoTraxx > > > > Hi boB -- > > > > Unfortunately, everyone is eventually a dying breed. I still use DC, > > though the layout is being wired to accommodate DCC and I have an NCE > > unit > > on hand. DC has some real advantages: not so picky about shorts â" a good > > thing when debugging track and rolling stock; everything usually comes > > from > > the factory DC useable, not DC âreadyâ; the current batch of RRM steam > > locos > > (well, the last 20 years!) all run really well without having to play > > with > > any programming or lighting; there is no additional expense in the > > initial > > setup of a locomotive; and so on. DCC has its own obvious advantages: run > > the trains, not the track (this IS a biggie); independent multiple loco > > operation on the same track; if you have sound, each loco has its own > > voice > > and it doesnât get lost if more than one loco is on the same track, so > > double heading a diesel and a steamer you get both sound effects; > > constant > > lighting; and so on. > > > > So, do what makes you happy! > > > > Have fun! > > Bill > > --------------------------- > > ... > > I believe DC operators like you and me are a dying breed, but still don't > > see a need to change my whole control system at this stage of the > > game. ... > > boB Nicholson > > > > > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
