North West Great Northern Layout

[NorthWestGN]

Post a thread here when you hit 25, you’re halfway there. That’s a big space to fill in Z, looking forward to seeing what you’ve done so far.

Brent

[NorthWestGN]

Picked up a Digitrax LNWI so guests can join Operating sessions after downloading the free Withrottle app onto their Apple or Android phones to run trains. Supposed to be an easy setup and it’s a lot less expensive than purchasing and installing loconet plugs and buying multiple wired throttles. It can handle 4 operators out the box, more than enough for my needs

I also picked up a decoder for my Life-Like / Walthers RS2, that will give me three DCC locomotives to go with my old DC Atlas / Kato GP 30, no drop in Decoder available for that one. I’ll have to look into milling my frame but for now can run it on address 00…

Thanks for tuning in!

Brent

[Bendtracker1]

that will give me three DCC locomotives to go with my old DC Atlas / Kato GP 30, no drop in Decoder available for that one. I’ll have to look into milling my frame but for now can run it on address 00...

TCS makes this one that will work in that frame.
Minor cutting and or filing to get installed:   https://www.tcsdcc.com/product-page/cn-gp

They have instructions on their page as well (this one is for the GP7/9 but it's basically the same install): https://drupal.tcsdcc.com/installation/n-scale/1569

[NorthWestGN]

Thanks for the links Allen, I never knew about the TCS boards for these, looks like a much simpler install than the old school alternatives. I follow your build thread on here and am always impressed. Great scenery work and your fleet of detailed and weathered locomotives is inspirational.

I’ll be checking out your website more thoroughly as well, again, nicely done!

[Bendtracker1]

You're welcome and thanks for the kind words.
That reminds I need to update my thread.

[MVW]

Picked up a Digitrax LNWI so guests can join Operating sessions after downloading the free Withrottle app onto their Apple or Android phones to run trains. Supposed to be an easy setup and it’s a lot less expensive than purchasing and installing loconet plugs and buying multiple wired throttles. It can handle 4 operators out the box, more than enough for my needs

Brent

You'll need a strong Wi-Fi signal in your train room to use the LNWI. I had issues with locos suddenly stopping, as if they had hit a dead spot in the tracks. But it wasn't an electrical issue. Been planning to try it again with a booster of some sort, but haven't yet. Other than that show-stopping issue (which may not be an issue for some), the LNWI seems like a great addition.

Jim

[NorthWestGN]

Thanks for the feedback Jim, I’m pretty close to the router so fingers crossed it will work fine. 

Will be hooking it up and testing over the holidays..

Brent

[NorthWestGN]

Happy Holidays everyone!

Installed my Digitrax LNWI and it works great. It creates it's own short range Wifi network which my phone automatically switches to when I power up the power bar for the Zephyr and LNWI. When I power it off or even walk upstairs I'm back on the home Wifi, so easy...

The Withrottle Lite app (the Free Version) remembers my decoder addresses so it's much easier to recall different locomotives, no more key punch errors! Very pleased that I don't have to go to dedicated cabled or even more expensive wireless throttles to have other people over to run trains, they just download the app, select the Digitrax Wifi network and they're running trains in a few minutes...

I also got 2 52' GN GSC Athearn flatcars and an Amazon cheapie Static grass applicator, eager to try that out on one of my scenery test modules..

Also built the main ME 80' girder assembly for the bridge project, currently running trains for fun over the holidays.




Thanks for Tuning In!
Brent

[NorthWestGN]

Slow progress continues after the holiday season, I’ve been running running trains to fine tune the track already laid with the hope of eliminating derailments. I’ve also dropped more feeders and am now comfortably able to have both my phone and iPad controlling different locomotives at the same time..

I’m still planning the track layout for the Fruitvale “flats” industrial area in the centre of the oval. I want to have some challenging switching opportunities but don’t want to overcrowd the whole area , there should be some room left over for a few trees at least. I’m considering extending the long Salmo “Gravel spur” beyond it’s current end point so I can fit in a tipple or hopper between the bridge corner and the inner loop. The drawing shows 2 tracks but I think it fills in that area too much.

I’ve left some real estate available for a road network, a few DPM 2 story brick buildings and a few houses in the centre as well. Let me know what you think…


I’m also adding to the DCC locomotive roster with a Marketplace find, a GN NW2 switcher with low miles that I bargained down to $80.00 Canadian, and with my youngest daughter picking up, no delivery charge. I,m not sure if you guys are all aware of our currently horrible exchange rate but that works out to about $55.25 US, a great deal I think…



That’s all for now, thanks for checking in!
Brent

[np1969]

I have hesitated with a reply, but I will say that my greatest failure with track planning is underestimating the space needed for industries and roads. I never left enough space for either. I think your basic plan is neat, but I wonder whether you have left enough space for the industries and roads you have planned.
As for finding ME bridge flex track, I wish you well. I think in the past 25 years I have been to ALMOST every train shop in the triangle between Blaine, WA, Missoula, MT, and Puyallup, WA. Two decades ago (or so) I found one package of ME bridge flex track at one shop. I bought it, but I don't know if I still have all the pieces. The extreme rarity of any ME track or switches is much of what pushed me to Atlas Code 55 so long ago. Ahh, but that was way back then when western Washington still had train shops.

[Chris333]

our currently horrible exchange rate

Wait till next week 

[NorthWestGN]

Thanks for bringing up that issue np1969, I’ve got those same concerns and am going to try to deal with it with a full size template cut to fit the centre section. The Peco code 55 flex holds its shape for the track layout and I’ve got a few of the structures on hand and can create card stock mockups for the others as well as the road layout.

I want to have something that’s challenging to operate but not as difficult as a “Timesaver” and can hopefully vary the difficulty with the number of cars in and out… will be back in town in a little over a week to keep this thing rollin’ along.

As for the exchange rate, we’ll who knows what’s gonna happen…

Thanks for checking in,
Brent

[NorthWestGN]

Hi Guys,

Finally got some time to get the plywood base in for the Fruitvale yard area and continuing to play around with the track and structure layout as well as track testing, or you know, JFRTM..

[NorthWestGN]

I had some time over a few nights to get the roadbed and track in for the Fruitvale Yard. It differs slightly from the post above, the biggest difference being the orientation of the photograph.

The view in this post is from the normal operating / viewing side. but it would come away from the wall for multiple operator sessions to be seen from both sides. Still working on building and road placements.



For now practicing my switching moves...

Thanks for stopping by!

Brent

[NorthWestGN]

Hi Guys,

It's been a while since I posted here, I've been trying to get more cork roadbed locally to complete the staging area track but have struck out and even on a recent trip back east to Toronto had no luck at the two shops I checked out. Hopefully back in stock here by mid May...

I did check out a Railroad / Model Railroad Museum on our trip back east, a short drive from Niagara Falls is the Medina Railroad Museum in, you guessed it, in Medina New York...


It's housed in what was once the New York Central Railway's original Freight Depot and now contains a huge HO layout and collections of everything from Railroadiana to Cast Iron stoves, Vintage Fire Fighter gear and helmets along with Scale and Toy Trains in almost every scale.

Outside you'll see what I think is an E7 A and B set in original Paint...


And an unexpected treasure was the Original, restored Giant Metal Heinz Pickle sign that graced the large, local Heinz factory...


How cool is that!!

And lastly, while researching my corner of the Railroad world, it turns out the Atco Lumber Mill in Fruitvale BC still runs their own freight train on the original GN / BN trackage south to deliver lumber down to interchange at the US Border. Trains are small, run about weekly and are usually about 8 cars, the limit of their loading dock capacity. I also found a link to a cab ride video over this line. The link will take you to a site that also shows a beautiful photo of the Chop Nosed Torpedo Tube GP9 that is the sole locomotive, and one of the several loading docks or sheds.
Scroll to the bottom for the photo and video link. They run a Christmas Train as well. I see a lot of trees in my modelling future...
https://www.bigdoer.com/48064/other-fun/nelson-and-fort-sheppard-in-under-a-minute/

That's all for now, thanks for checkin' in!
Brent