CN Yellowhead Division

[Scottl]

Resistance is futile 

[Scottl]

More track progress.  I'm happy I used cork roadbed for the yard as some spots needed sanding to get rid of irregularities.  The cutouts are for future rail overpasses for the road entrances to Jasper.  These are neat bridges and scenes. 

I might need to clean some track and stage a train for fun.  It has been just over 2 years since I last ran on my old layout.

[Cajonpassfan]

I'm really liking the lower scene...is that a causeway with water on both sides there?
Great progress!
Otto

[Scottl]

Thanks Otto!  Yes, it is a causeway along the Athabasca River at Windy Point.  The back pool is usually a distinctly different color than the river.  Here is a nice shot from the hill above:  https://railpictures.net/photo/518831/

[Cajonpassfan]

Nice! I just love proto-based scenes...
Otto

[Scottl]

Too much good weather to stay inside these past days, but I managed to lay the last of the yard in Jasper, completing the entire layout. I used a combination of a cork sheet and a set of 4"X4" cork coasters for the roadbed in the yard.  The latter were slick: self-adhesive and easily cut and repositioned. 

Lots of wiring to do and I need to start installing the turnout servos.  I cleaned the track as well, so I should get out a train to see how it looks.
 

[Cajonpassfan]

Boy, you move fast! Nice progress!
And what's that thing under the layout?
Otto

[Scottl]

@Cajonpassfan The sound system

[pereirad]

Great progress Scott. I love the Jasper yard and it should be a good staging area for a variety of trains.  I am also modelling a compressed version from Edson to Blue River in N scale. 

[Scottl]

Thanks @pereirad!  It would be great to learn (or see) more about your layout.

[Scottl]

Lots of wiring this week to get all the track feeders connected to the DCC bus.  With that done, I have moved on to the turnout control.  I'm using servos and Arduino controls with a single push button to move the points back and forth.  I finished the wiring test of a small system for the four isolated turnouts at Devona and everything works as it should.  Thanks to @rodsup9000 for sharing his sketch and sharing his experience.



I needed a quick way to center each servo before installing, and then determining the angle values for the limits in situ.  I cobbled together a simple device to do this using another Arduino Uno and parts I had from the learning kit.  It allows me to move the servo incrementally 1 degree in either direction and displays the value so that I can determine the limits for the turnout control sketch.  Kind of fun how easy this Arduino stuff is and adaptable to different needs.



Finally, I took all of my cars out of storage and put together some trains to admire in Jasper.  I also received my new GEVO T4 units from Scale Trains so will test running very soon.

[Scottl]

First successful servo install through 2" foam and 1/2" plywood.  Simple bell crank linkage, brass tube and servo mounted with double sided adhesive pad.  Once these work, I'll attach an arm switch for the frog polarity with more double sided tape.



I used my Arduino servo angle display unit to initially locate the servo in a middle position (70 degrees), and then determine in situ the travel ends for this turnout.  The unit allows me to increment the servo both directions 1 degree at a time and displays the value.  I wrote down the end values on the foam while doing it and will use these in the servo control sketch that will operate the turnouts.  I used some 3M sticky tabs to hold the device components together for portable use while I do the installations, but I will probably make a box for a permanent version.  Likely useful for troubleshooting and replacement installs.  The parts came from my Arduino learning kit so basically the unit was free to make.

[Cajonpassfan]

On my servo installs, I found that the tape attachment ito be less than permanent as it is under constant lateral strain, with each throw.
Unless you have some super product, I'd suggest you supplement the tape attachment with a more permanent fix. I ended up putting gobs of quick setting epoxy on the underside of the deck and sides of the servos. Not very elegant, but so far it's holding.
Great progress, btw.
Otto

[Scottl]

Thanks for the suggestion Otto.  I'm not sure what I am using other than it is super sticky.  I might use gobs of hot glue once I am sure things are working well. 

[Scottl]

No one every accused me of being an electrician, but this is about as tidy as I have ever made my layout wiring.  Twelve turnout servos and control push buttons operated by a Mega using a sensor shield for ease of wiring.  You can see several of the servos in the photo.  It all runs smoothly and everything is modular with plugs for replacing a servo or even the Mega board.  Still lots of output pins for my signaling, should I ever get to that, or to run DCC-EX (another future project).  The other turnouts on the layout will be similar set up but use Uno boards that can run 6 servos and are much cheaper.

Wiring takes a lot of time but very little of it was spent under the layout.  I do appreciate the 50" layout height when it does come to going under to wire things