Adding on a narrow module with 7 tracks so we can better stage cars. Since it attaches to the outer track, we sometimes use DC for some shows. This will be a pain to wire, all the tracks with toggle switches for reversing and off plus which power pack. If I wire for DCC only, nothing but parallel feeders (gotta love DCC !). Since we now have added dozens of DCC locos over the past few months, DC days are getting short.
Looking good! I wish i had known about yard`s when i designed my layout too.. :-( I have to park the trains on my shelf when i run more than 4 :-(. I like the weathering on the train roof`s!
Jeff, I like the design of your yard. I just wished I have your space for such a yard. Right now my yards are at capacity, and I have beginning boxing some of my cars. I also like the weatherring of the engines. Dont you hate it when the wash racks can't clean the middle of the engine. Maybe you need to hire a z acale crew to hand wash them.
Jeff, Great job! Yards are essential. When I designed my modules, I added a little yard. I though it more of a place to display trains. Since we have added more moduels, the yard has increased is used by members to stage trains, and park trains during our public operating sessions. It is trully fully funtional and not just for show. We couldn't live without it! On my list of articles to write for Ztrack is one on yards. I think more yard space should be planned when designing a layout. Just one siding gives you options! Rob
Very cool. Please - please let us know how you wire this up. I want my first Z layout to have an intermodal yard and your tips will really help out. Keep the pics and info coming.
Update on the yard. It's now 11pm and all the track is now laid. Feeder wires in place, need to turn it over tomorrow and wire it. Since it will be running on DCC, there is one circuit for the turnouts and then all of the yard tracks are on another. There are seperate circuits too for the shorter escape tracks (left middle of pictures) and also the small 2 track service area (upper left) as locos will be commonly placed on the tracks. All Marklin 'cuase its quick and cheap. If this works, I might rebuild it with MTL flex and Peter Wrights' US style turnouts but that requires Tortoise controls. The track is flush with the module as I want to have low profile ballast, concrete and paving between the pairs of tracks. Magnets are after each turnout. No crazy details on this module anytime soon. It was just a away for us to better stage trains until we create an inline yard module.
The May 2007 RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN, Page 67 has an interresting 3 page article of using the mechanisim of a Bic Ball Point Pen to Click open/close as a turnout control. I've only read it casually but __IF__ it works it is a sure fire way of reducing costs.
Looks like a complex solution to a simple problem. Or is it the other way around? Very innovative. Nothing like thinking out of the box, er, pen. And did you see that yard pix in the latest MR? Unbelievable number of crossovers.
Ah, the old ball point pen trick eh? Maxwell Smart wasn't the only guy that knew how to get the best mileage out of a Bic.
Jeff; Magiver would be very proud of the Bic pen idea....... Post pictures of this when your done, i think is an idea worthy of exploring... Tony B... Wasatch z club:shade:
BAZ Boys BAZ Boys Watcha Gonna Do Watcha Gonna Do When Dey Come For You Z Bend is filmed before a live studio audience. No couplers were hurt in the making of this module...
Latest update on the new BAZ BoyZ Engine yard. Track all down. Installed two HTM products Inspection pits (http://www.ztrack.com/htm/htm.html), one outside the Engine house as an ash pit for the steamers and one inside for under loco work. The Engine house pit is lighted using 0402 LEDs. 0.040" cardboard stock is used between the ties to minimize ballast and prepare for some paved and concrete surfaces. 4 bays in the Engine house with an addtional .040" plastic stock to fill between the rails as a concrete surface. Robert Ray (in our BAZ BoyZ group) is cutting the Engine house walls. We'll build an open roof structure to show off all our skills. Full lighting from overhead beam and girders will be put in along with all the appropriate details. Using Detail Associates N scale items for many of the shop tools as they scale well enough for a heavy industry.
...and the oscar goes to... BAZ boys engine yard module :teeth: looks so cool, awesome!:thumbs_up: daniel
