DCC has arrived!!!! Track is glued down and feeders are all hooked up. However I do seem to get one dead spot at the lowest speed. There are feeders on both sides of the turnouts. Do I need to just wire a set of feeders on that small piece between the turnouts? I was just gonna manually throw all the switches with my hand. I didnt plan on using any switch machines. Also, I seem to get the occasionally hop from my rolling stock when everything moves left over this turnout. Any solutions? Im using code 55 and all #7 switches. The white caulk I used really makes the layout look disgusting lol. However, before I move on to scenery I wanna get the wiring buttoned up and make sure everything operates smoothly.
I would add the feeders, or maybe try soldering the joints to eliminate the dead spot. Do you get the HOP directly over the turnout or just before? Might be the angle but the upper track joiner in the photo looks a little high to me.
I havent done anything to the layout except running operating sessions. While fun, it kinda feels like I built a time waster. When I switch all 3 industrys in one session the loco does a lot running around by itself. Or maybe I just need to think about my switch moves more lol. So, my though is if I add a staging area to one side it will give more room to clear cars making operation simpler and more prototypical. Or maybe i just start over and build a simple inglnook ahaha. Something like this. I also found a cool article on operations for Lakeville's Progressive rail if anyone is intrested. https://arlyncolby.blogspot.com/2014/07/
Layouts looking good! Try running you finger or thumbnail along the rail over that turnout, it looks like it could be that the upper point rail is a little high where it meets the stock rail, you can run a small file over that corner, tapering it more or even angling the top corner if that's where you feel the bump. As for the dead spot it could be the joiners, how many feeders do you have into the layout now? I've only got two feeders into my folded 3 x 6 loop and I find that any dead spots are my power routing Peco Insulfrog turnouts, a little alcohol cleanup on the point rails where they meet the stock rails solves the problem. These turnouts have the over centering springs in them, if your turnouts don't snap and hold open or closed and stay tight in either position you might want to try Caboose Industries manual ground throws to keep the rails tight together to route power. You can try pressing the point rail against the stock rails on both ends with an engine on the connecting track and see if that solves the problem. Feeders on the connecting track would work too but I'm not sure if that will cause any shorts or problems if only one turnout out of the pair is thrown... wiring is not my thing... As for the track plan and operations you could always add more track / staging, it looks like you have room on the left, extend the layout and model some more industries and sidings with some plausible connections to the industries on your current plan. Then you could operate transfers between the two yards switching cars between the related industries with a scenic break in between, like a river or highway crossing. You could also alter your current plan to include more sidings , team tracks, or sidings/industries that are setup to handle multiple car types so that you have to pull out the covered hoppers to get the empty boxcar in etc. It's easy for me to spend your time and money! Keep on posting! Brent
I hope everyone had a great holiday season. Its been awhile. However, I am back and have started construction on the first structure for the layout. I was just wondering how close is too close lol.
