September 1, 2020 Long Overdue Progress Report
To rule out all suspicion of idling my time away, here's a summary of what's been done since my last e-mail update on April 3rd. If you want to continue to receive update info, please sign up as a member with your e-mail address there, and you will automatically get blog notices. I promise I won't go crazy. Check out some of the other pages for additional documents. Let me know if there's something specific you'd like me to focus on for future blogs....
Track Work
April 9: all main track is installed; “Golden Tie” ceremony would happen if anyone could visit
Lower level staging loops and junctions are complete
All yard, engine facility, and passenger station tracks and turnouts are repaired
All industrial tracks are repaired and regraded for level
Kink removal and “debugging” ongoing with long equipment and 6-axle locomotives
Cleaning with dragger and CMX solvent pad cleaning car is ongoing
Wiring
All main track circuits are wired to BDL-16 detectors and PM42 power managers
All turnout control/indication interfaces (enough for 48 switches) configured and installed
All 51 controlled turnouts have Tortoise machines installed and interfaced to Loconet
Lower level staging loop wiring to and configuration of BXPA1 reverse units is complete
Zephyr installed as yard booster power district/throttle
DB150 installed as upper level booster and back-up command station
JMRI computer control panel is fully configured and functional with big-screen display capability
Upper and lower level industrial tracks on independent power districts
All rail joints have been “bonded” to assure electrical conductivity
Additional 110 VAC receptacle installed on peninsula for radio wall-warts
Engine facility wired for independent track power control to a miniature panel on fascia
Record-keeping and drawings are current; master block diagram still a work-in-progress
Lighting
All upper level lighting valence and warm-white LED strips installed with 2-150 Watt magnetic dimmable transformers
Dimmer control of layout lighting
Equipment
NJT Comet Cab car equipped with decoder-controlled headlight and markers
NJT Comet coaches equipped with 10K resistors for detection
Other
Fascia installation is 2/3 complete
Trains are successfully running throughout the layout!
Local zone maps are updated
Web ste launched!