Winter 2022 layout construction update

We got our coldest weather a bit early this year with it getting into the 30's since Thanksgiving.  So I've been running the little heater and spending quite a bit of time in the train room and getting a lot done at the eastern end of the layout.

As mentioned in the previous post, the completion of the east end return loop means that the entire main line is now done.  This first photo shows the return loop with the pair of stub end staging tracks in the middle.  This area is directly above the Weso section of the layout and is at 68 inches from the floor.  This happens to be my height and I can easily reach this with a short step stool.  Trains that come into those stub end staging tracks will need to have there engines and caboose swapped by hand.

This next photo shows the entry into this area which is at the top of the helix.  The arrangement of the turnouts allows for a train to enter or leave the staging tracks from either helix track.  In practice they will mostly enter from the eastbound WP/UP line and depart from the westbound SP line.  I had a box of used Peco turnouts that had been given to me years ago and selected 4 that appeared to be in the best condition.  So far they are working well but all of these are just track nailed down so future repair or replacement is possible if any problems occur.

The short wall that is visible behind the Tortoise motors is to allow mounting of circuits and connections related to this area.  In this next photo some of this is visible including the Digitrax DS64 that controls the turnout motors.  Wiring is still in progress at this point.  The circuit board shown connected to the DS64 outputs is a test board I made up to assist with programming.  The Yellow LED's indicate a closed turnout position and the red ones indicate a thrown position. 

For now at least this group of turnouts will be controlled by this control panel which is currently mounted on a scrap of hard board which is attached to the helix.  Eventually the fascia will be extended from the left and this panel will be mounted to that.

Again this winter I am posting in the Trainboard.com annual winter layout party thread.  There have not been any train shows again this year for me to exhibit my Ntrak modules or AsiaNrail modules.  Two events are scheduled next year in April and June but until then I'll just keep working on this layout.

Main line completed

With the completion of the upper east end return loop and it's pair of spur staging tracks, all of the track on this layout has now been completed.  It has taken just over 8 years to reach this milestone.  The photo below shows the location on the return loop where the last spike was installed.  This does not mean the layout is finished.  There are still structures to build for Carlin, scenery to finish and improve on in various places, and quite a few other features I want to add.  A layout is never really finished.

 

East End Helix and Return Loop

Over the past couple of months I have been building the helix that will carry the eastern end of the layout up to a return loop above Weso.   This helix is stacked upon the almost identical lower helix and uses the same 5/16 all-thread rods.   Being identical, the details of it's construction can be seen in this series of posts from when the lower helix was built.   This new upper helix is now complete and has been connected to the return loop section of bench work that was already above Weso.  I ended up lowering that section about 1-3/4 inches to line up with the top turn of the helix.

There is not room on the return loop section for a double ended staging yard but I did want to have some sort of staging there so I came up with a couple of ideas as a compromise.  First, there is enough room to have stub end staging for the typical train length run on this layout.  Using 4 turnouts a train will be able to enter or leave either one of two staging tracks.  I am currently working on a control panel for this and the graphic below shows this.

The hex shaped object with the red center represents a push button to route a train around the loop.  The pair of hex shaped objects with gray centers below that represent momentary ON-OFF-ON toggle switches that will route a train into or out of each siding.  A dead section at the end of each siding will stop the train.   The locos will have to be manually moved to the other end of the train.  All of the green indicator LED's show the routes.

The second idea I am going to try is to have up to two trains using the loop as serial staging.  That is what the red LED's and the toggle switch on the far right are for.  This will be covered in detail in future posts.

Finishing the upper return loop bench work.

The upper return loop bench work has now been finished and installed in it's place on the layout above the Wesso section.  The 3 lighting panels from the last post are installed and the effects of the lighting can be seen in this photo.  Still need to put up a lighting valance.

Here is another view taken from inside the helix.  The LED panels can be seen lined up along the outer edge of the upper loop section.  I am happy with the level of lighting on the Wesso section except that is seems a shade darker in the back of the far corner where the dry creek is. I may need to add a couple more LED modules above that area.

Because the area below the return loop is part of the scene it needed to stay open without supports so I put the supports on top.  The frame of the bench work is also attached to the wall studs.  This makes this section really sturdy.

The cork has been laid but not the track.  It will be some time before the layout is far enough along for trains to run over this section and because it is so sturdy I plan to use this section as a storage shelf for the time being.

This photo shows two of the Anderson Power Pole connectors that will connect lighting panels shown in the last post to the 12 volt DC bus.

In the top of this photo there was a small irregular area where I just mounted a permanent panel with 2 LED panels that are wired directly to the 12 volt DC bus.

East end return loop bench work

The east end of the layout is to have a return loop that will be above the Wesso section.  The Wesso section has been completed for some time but I do not want to install it until I have built and installed the end loop section that will be above it and also some of the back drops that will be behind the Wesso section.

So while I have been working on the Gloconda section in the train room I have also started bench work for the end loop out in the driveway as the weather has been nice lately.  In this photo the path of the end loop and a possible passing siding has been mocked up with Kato Unitrack.

Here is another view of this section with the bottom up.  The frame of this section is only 2 - 1/2 inches thick and will have removable panels on the bottom that will have LED light panels attached to them. This view shows one panel on and one off.

The panels will be secured all along the back by sliding a tab that runs along the back edge of the panel under a strip that is permanently attached along the bottom of the back edge of the section.  A pair of screws near the front edge of the panel will then hold the panel in place.

The end loop section of the layout will be supported by attachment to the walls and also by at least one bracket from above.  Near the center of this photo can be seen an extra support and mounting hole for one of those brackets.

There are several support frames within the end loop section.  Holes were made in these to run wiring for the track and notches were made so that the LED light wiring that will be on the panel will not be pinched when the panel is installed.





This east end return loop will be connected to another helix that will carry the tracks down to the Carlin section.  With so much track length being within the helix I am considering using some sort of serial staging for the east end of the layout.