N scale Falls Road Secondary 'Retro Modeling Childhood memories'

[learmoia]

[learmoia]

Update 13

Update 14

[learmoia]

Text update for those who don't like to watch videos:

90%+ of benchwork is done.. (Just need to make the loop around the furnace room).
Roughly 40% of track is rough laid..
Roughly 10% of track is final laid with basic feeder wiring done.
DCC Booster and Radio module is basically installed.

Still to do.. Apart from getting numbers above to 100%...
Install and wire the DCC Command station (second power district of the layout.)
Install bus wire.
Install Loconet cable and ground between boosters.

More soon...

[lock4244]

There was a real Penn Central vibe at the beginning 

My layout will also feature 86' autoparts boxes prominently... I do miss them greatly trackside.

[learmoia]

There was a real Penn Central vibe at the beginning 

My layout will also feature 86' autoparts boxes prominently... I do miss them greatly trackside.

@lock4244 Hopefully you can come up and operate when the time comes!.

Update videos I forgot to post.. (15, 16, and 17)

[lock4244]

@lock4244 Hopefully you can come up and operate when the time comes!.

@learmoia  Would love to and reciprocate the offer on mine... a longer way off, still building benchwork.

[learmoia]

Quick update...
Black=Track Fixed and Wired.
Cyan=Wired (not fixed)
Red = Roughed in track
Purple: Bench work
Yellow: Road
Green: Buildings
Gray: Planned in future..

Lockport Yard: Done
Lockport Yard Industries: Roughed in.. waiting for building templates.
Harrison Radiator Facility: Roughed in..
Harrison Radiator Storage Yard: Half Done, Half Almost Done..
UFO Site (S Curve in the big room).. Roughed in..
Haunted Town.. Main Line Curve Roughed in..
Printed Building templates for Lockport Industries (2'x4') and Harrison Radiator Facility (2'x6').

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[learmoia]

Over the last couple of weeks, I've been busy finalizing a few areas of track..

Thanks to @C855B 's donation of some blue bus wire, I have been installing bus wire to the finished portions of the layout.

One unique element I'm building into the layout is Twisted Pair Bus wiring..
https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/205474045-Twisted-Pair-Bus-Wiring

The way I'm doing it is:
1: Cut a length of Bus Wire for a liner length of layout (+2') for space for bus-bus connections..
2: Measure (on the layout) distance from 1 end to approx feeder locations.
3: I'm using 16ga stranded for pig tails, that are soldered to the bus at those distances.
4: Cover the solder joints with electrical tape. (individually.. don't wrap them together)
5: Take the length bus (with pig tails soldered) and mount one end to some bench work.
--- Put the other end in a drill chuck..
6: Spin.. until wire is twisted..
.. for long lengths of bus you might have to flip it and spin from the opposite end for an even twist.
7: Install the bus.. you can easily pass the twisted bus with tails through a 1/2"+ hole in cross members 
---I'm attaching hooks to the benchwork and just hanging the bus on hooks.
8: I'm connecting lengths of Bus with those WAGO clips.. 
9: Then attach feeders to the pig tails.. (either with wire nuts or WAGO clips)
9a: Since I'm doing Unitrack, I'm plugging feeders into the Kato 3 plug connectors, then wiring those into the pig tail.

More soon..

Next step is Loconet cable (using Digitrax)..
for the long lengths, I'm debating if I should use Cat5 cable (twisted pair) vs Traditional 6 wire telephone cable..

I noticed NCE is now doing Cat5 Network Bus interface.. I assume due to component availability, with a bi-product of improved signal transmission (or vise versa)

[learmoia]

We have breached the closet..
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TO THE FURNACE ROOM!

[learmoia]

We've made it through Utility Alley...
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Next stop Cabinet Curve

[learmoia]

This morning I installed the baseboard around the furnace, as well as cut/glued the baseboard to go through Cabinet Curve.

Then I got called into work..

Tomorrow hopefully I can complete the baseboard loop around the furnace and install some track.

~Ian

Edit.. Adding Videos 18 and 19

[learmoia]

JFRTM
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A Cool thing about Kato Track... that was a yard I built this morning

Still need to wire it and pin it down but good enough to store cars for an ops session.
I might extend it another 2-3 feet.....  The smaller tracks only fit 5-6 of my 86' boxcars.... 

[lock4244]

JFRTM
(Attachment Link)

I remember Somerset coal trains passing BV Tower on the WLR back in the day... good times!

[learmoia]

On the community tab of my new youtube page, there is a poll to decide which train makes a full trip around the layout first..
https://www.youtube.com/@INMRLive/community
Feel free to vote.

[lock4244]

Though I voted for the Somerset coal, I'd have chosen the autoparts train over all others.