beavercreek
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There is a bit of a change happening on the Beaver Creek Railroad.
The power and control for the layout has been, for 6 years, three discreet sections using Aristocraft Train Engineer DC.
But last year I began the task of having the option of both DC and DCC operation, first, on the mainline only. The DC option is kept as most of my locos are not chipped yet.
The shuttle and the quarry line stayed as only DC.
This 'new' control system proved successful and so....this year attention has now turned to the shuttle line.
The problem with a shuttle is that the loco seems to be at the wrong end, half the time. I know that 'push me pull you' operation is prototypical in some situations but I felt that it would be good, on my line, to have a steam loco with three passenger cars operating as it should.... pulling from the front.
The point to point shuttle is becoming a 'dumbbell' line with two reverse loos, one at either end. It will also have the option of running as a DC shuttle for a logging shay (the loops in this case will be broken with a switched gap after the shuttle diode). The shay would be prototypical, in this case, to be a 'push me pull you'.
So the old R1 face to face crossover switch set at Beaver Creek station had to be lifted at one end of the shuttle. These points were never used but I had obviously had the thought in my little brain way back when I first built the railroad that I may one day have a loop there! They would now be replaced with a handsome set of R5 points to make the entry and exit of the loop nice and smooth.
At the other end of the shuttle Arrowhead everything has been lifted on order to construct a loop in a very confined space...an R5 point will be used but unfortunately I will have to use R1 curves to fit the space.
Work started continued over the bank holiday. The 'ganger' and his lads went full steam at the two tasks.
On the mainline replacing the R5 switch with a plain curve
First take out the R5 switch
Make sure the ballast is level and then start to lay new rail. The passing loop will also be cut back a little
Once the switch is out then the new curve rail has to be laid
With the new curve in place, attention was turned to the old R1 crossover pair. These were lifted.
The gang set to work laying ties and setting rail
Pictures of the completed work and also the changes at Arrowhead to follow......
The power and control for the layout has been, for 6 years, three discreet sections using Aristocraft Train Engineer DC.
But last year I began the task of having the option of both DC and DCC operation, first, on the mainline only. The DC option is kept as most of my locos are not chipped yet.
The shuttle and the quarry line stayed as only DC.
This 'new' control system proved successful and so....this year attention has now turned to the shuttle line.
The problem with a shuttle is that the loco seems to be at the wrong end, half the time. I know that 'push me pull you' operation is prototypical in some situations but I felt that it would be good, on my line, to have a steam loco with three passenger cars operating as it should.... pulling from the front.
The point to point shuttle is becoming a 'dumbbell' line with two reverse loos, one at either end. It will also have the option of running as a DC shuttle for a logging shay (the loops in this case will be broken with a switched gap after the shuttle diode). The shay would be prototypical, in this case, to be a 'push me pull you'.
So the old R1 face to face crossover switch set at Beaver Creek station had to be lifted at one end of the shuttle. These points were never used but I had obviously had the thought in my little brain way back when I first built the railroad that I may one day have a loop there! They would now be replaced with a handsome set of R5 points to make the entry and exit of the loop nice and smooth.
At the other end of the shuttle Arrowhead everything has been lifted on order to construct a loop in a very confined space...an R5 point will be used but unfortunately I will have to use R1 curves to fit the space.
Work started continued over the bank holiday. The 'ganger' and his lads went full steam at the two tasks.
On the mainline replacing the R5 switch with a plain curve
First take out the R5 switch
Make sure the ballast is level and then start to lay new rail. The passing loop will also be cut back a little
Once the switch is out then the new curve rail has to be laid
With the new curve in place, attention was turned to the old R1 crossover pair. These were lifted.
The gang set to work laying ties and setting rail
Pictures of the completed work and also the changes at Arrowhead to follow......
, etc.? You also did a nice job on the railroad track layout.
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