New Layout: The CSX Dixie Line

Thanks- telling someone the "real thing" reminded them of your layout is just about the ultimate compliment. I really want to get up to that area to railfan (and play disc golf). Last summer I almost followed the CSX LCL Sub from Cincy to Louisville but came back down to GA from PA through WV/VA/NC/SC instead. Jamie

 

I've yet to check out the CSX CC Subdivision(Cincy-Corbin Sub),though I'd like to. I do wonder if the Juice trains still come through there. If you check out the LCL,you've gotta check out La Grange,KY. It's not very far from Louisville. Always interesting to see the trains running down the street in the middle of town. I don't know about the CC Subdivision,but the LCL and Main Line subdivisions are mostly auto traffic,especially the Main Line Sub. We get quite a few Q200-something trains through here,it's picked up a bit over the past year. My goal this year is to check out the remaining CSX subdivisions in Kentucky,I'm not quite sure exactly how many there are,but I can name a few.(Henderson,Main Line,LCL,CC,Big Sandy).I've yet to make it over to the eastern part of the state.

 

If you have watched any of my layout videos, you will know the automotive traffic on the LCL is just fine with me There are no more pure juice trains on the CC any longer, but you get Q141/142 which usually has about 6-12 Tropicana cars at the head end and sigle stacks/trailers the rest of the train. I call these the "juice box trains" and plan on running them on my layout. They usually have some eclectic power on them for some reason; a couple of years ago I caught a Dash 8 in the CSX "greay ghost" colors, one of only three remaining at that time. Jamie

 

Thanks for the info on the CC Sub,I've only caught one train over there the entire time I've been doing railroad pictures,and that was three years ago.

Those gray Dash 8's are still around,I caught one back at the beginning of February on Q275 heading south.

CSX Q275-01

 

I don't know if you'll find these useful or not, since they're horrible quick snaps taken in the rain by my wife with a P&S camera while I was driving and they aren't even in the region you're modeling, but...

I just posted these two pics of the overpass bridges in Winchester, KY (where I saw #93)

The first (Western) bridge is the singletrack (branch?) line from Lexington by way of Avon.



The second (Eastern) bridge is the doubletrack main line from Cincinnati via Paris.



I believe #93 was sitting on the second bridge, which is why I had zero time to get my camera up and take a pic.

 

Hey everyone,
So I had to take another break from this yet again (sorry) while I finished up undergrad. Now that that's just about over, I'll have more time (and money! ) to start planning and designing a layout. I'm going to look through everyone's suggestions again.

Thanks again!

 

It has been a while since my last update, but as you are about to see I have been busily working on (and mostly under) the layout. It is nice for a change not to have enough time to post updates because you are too busy working on the layout instead of the other way around.

With the basic terrain in place on the Emerson, GA scene, I decided it was a pretty good time to go ahead and get the block detection and signaling installed as part of the first phase of the CTC system. The photo tour that follows this post shows the CTC system in action for the very first time.

Jamie

 

Arriving at South End Emerson, we find a green signal indicating the CSX "AC" dispatcher in Atlanta has cleared an approaching northbound train:

 

Shortly afterwards, we hear the growling sound of diesel engines and a southbound train appears, rounding the curve on the siding as it emerges from the cut just across I-75. CSX A706 (the "Cartersville Turn") crawls across the overpass and stops short of the ground signal protecting the south end of the siding:



The ground signal is displaying a "Stop" aspect. Since the signals at South End Emerson are absolute signals, a train may not proceed beyond a red signal:

 

A few minutes later, the northbound we have been anticipating comes in to view from the south. This train is CSX G201, an empty unit grain train returning a long string of covered hoppers to the Midwest:



G201 knocks down the signal at South End Emerson as it rolls towards a meet with A706:

 

After the grain train clears the switch, the dispatcher clears the local to pull out of the siding and onto the mainline towards Atlanta. "CSX A706 has a medium clear at South End Emerson. Out.":



As the local enters the interlocking limits, the ground signal automatically drops to red:

 

With both trains well on the way to their destinations, all becomes quiet as the red signals stand guard at South End Emerson. One thing you can count on--it won't stay quiet for long:

 

If I missed it, I'm sorry. What kind of system is your signals run off of??

Scott

 

First class! This sequence would make a really nice video, especially with some dubbed sound.

-Gary

 

I have a Digitrax DCC system, including a BDL168 for block detection and an SE8C for signal/turnout control. The mast signals are Tomar and the ground (dwarf) signals are NJ International. The whole CTC system is run using JMRI running on a PC connected to the Digitrax Loconet via a LocoBuffer USB.

You're reading my mind! Actually, I had planned on doing exactly as you suggested, but then it occurred to me that these signals would stand out even more in video if could work in some nighttime running. I have some strings of blue LED rope lights ready to be installed to produce nighttime lighting effects. Stay tuned!

Jamie

 

A few more pics, this time showing the DCC hardware that makes the CTC system work.

Digitrax BDL168 used for block detection. I never would have been able to solder wires to a 44-pin edge connector before getting prime advice from other TrainBoard members:



Wider view of the BDL168 with the DCS100 command station/booster monted below. There will eventually be a Digitrax PM42 added to the mix for power management once the layout grows large enough:



Here is the Digitrax SE8C board that is used for signaling and turnout control. The rainbow ribbon cable plugged in to the front of the board and running off the top edge of the photo controls up to four signal heads. In fact, all of the signals shown in the previous posts are run off of this single ribbon cable. The board has eight total plugs for ribbon cables that will drive up to 32 total signal heads:



A wide view showing where these DCC compoents are mounted in relation to the rest of the layout. If you look closely at the top right of the photo, you can just barely see the top head of the northbound signal mast at South End Emerson:



Jamie

 

Jamie, That's looking great so far!

I too, can't wait to see some video.

Craig

 

Fabulous image Jamie. I can see the scenery and weathering in place but something has been niggling me... the ballast!

To my eyes the ballast colour and size is right and the spread is realistic, which makes the scene look the part, though there appears not quite enough shoulder. Maybe it's just different to what I see here. Not a criticism, merely an observation.

Regardless, outstanding!