Random Bits of Work, and Necessary Compromises

It has been a while since the last post, but for other reasons than one might think. It's not like I haven't made any progress since then, quite the contrary. The main reason is that my work mode has changed a bit compared to the past, and that most of the progress made is quite invisible.

The previous post described the last time I undertook a 'big' work item. Since then, I've taken to doing smaller bits of work more frequently. With my previous layout, I usually had to make sure I'd get a chunk of 2-3 hours of work in, because I didn't know when next I'd have 2-3 hours to put into it. With this one, and my overall life structure, it is quite easy for me to spend half an hour doing one small thing, because I'm simply able to do it way more often.

So here's what happened since last time. After reinstalling the track with droppers, I installed the bus wires for both DCC and 5V DC. The latter is needed for the servos which control the points, as well as signals and some other accessories. I then tested trains running over all the tracks, and ended up having to make a few modifications, but nothing drastic. Servos were calibrated quickly, and I didn't wait too long to hook up the individsual track sections to their respective occupancy detectors so I could start playing with block detection and automation.

This is something I've been wanting to do for a long time - install detectors so I can use software to automatically run trains, control points and signals and so on. I often say that one day I want a setup where I can hit a button, then put up my feet and let my trains do their thing. This topic certainly warrants a separate post, but let's just say I've learned a lot in the past few weeks, and while it's not a one-button operation yet, I can let trains run automatically and be confident that they'll stop where needed and won't crash into each other.

However, there have been some compromises I've had to made. The biggest one is that most of my Australian material will, sadly, not be able to run on this layout. The reason is that I used sectional track with small-radius points, which are a bit too tight for most of my Australian trains, especially in the sidings where there are two points in sequence. The locomotives themselves can usually handle those, but when combined with rolling stock I can reliably expect derailments. This could have been avoided by using flex track and different points with a wider radius, but it would have been overkill for this small layout. However, it is a great lesson to learn for any future endeavours.

Going forward, the work I can do depends on what it will cost. There are a few things I'd like to get done, but where they incur extra expenses, they may have to wait. I will likely start experimenting with static grass soon - I have the required gear and material ready to go, just waiting to be taken out of the box. Ballasting track is a different story, as I have to buy both tools and materials for that. The same goes for Project Pendolino - I want to install Next18 sockets and decoders, and rewire the electrics, but that comes at a cost and therefore has to wait a bit longer.

THe signal tower has had lighting installed.
The brewery has lights too - check out the shadows created by the windows
Two passenger coaches I acquired at a recent train show
All rolling stock neatly stored below the layout.

I will also build a bit of a cityscape - I'm currently trying different arrangements of a subset of my buildings, as well as streets and footpaths, which - for now - I am simply printing out on paper. So there will be things to write about. In the meantime, enjoy this brief clip of my cleaning train doing its first trip across the layout.