Wifi!

Yesterday I visited Joel and we installed lighting over the new section of RR.  When we were complete, I asked him about my staging yard panel and how it feels when he/guests are operating it.  The discussion lead to scrapping the panel for a touch screen panel, mainly due to the fact that I am not excited about doing more wiring...for anything!

Ultimately I'd love to have a touch screen to work at least the staging yard, but honestly, a touch screen would be ideal in several locations on the RR.  Doing some research I ran across a few youtube videos by Arthur Houston that were very helpful.  And finally I found a project that I didn't have to do anything to complete!  The only thing I had to do was download the WiThrottle app to my phone and my iPad and to my utter amazement, everything worked fine!  I already had wifi in the house for my computers.  The layout was already connected to a PC and Loconet.  I was already in business!  This was, to me, like getting the DCC to work for the very first time in 1994.  Awesome!  Here are a few photos.  And when you come over, if you have WiThrottle on your phone, you can run trains with that.

This is where you set the address of the loco(s) you want to run.

This is the whole JMRI panel on the phone.  I can get this on the iPad too so the dispatcher can simply sit in another room or outside the house if he/she wanted to.  Awesome!  I need to make another panel solely for the staging area and that will load up too.

Here is the throttle section.  All functions for each sound loco are there, just scroll down.

In the end, this is an amazing addition to the layout.  We'll be testing this on Sept. 21st.  I'll be researching touch screen monitors now.

Interested in attending on the 21st for a test session, let me know at CPRXmodelRR@gmail.com.

Frank Kenny

First Test Complete!

Joel Morse, Dave Sheehan, Wayne Lawson and I tested the updated system yesterday and it tested well!

In my last few posts I discussed how the layout runs great with just me playin' around.  But when the guys would come over, all Hell would break loose.  Of course, no one believed me that it works fine when they aren't there.

In working with Brendan Fraiser and Duncan Cabassi from Australia via email, Brendan suggested there was not enough power in the UP5's.  Long story short (you can read about it in my previous post), I ran a buss, one for each room, and connected all the UP5's to that buss.  Now there was more power in the system to run all the throttles needed to run the layout and now everything seems to run fine.

In yesterdays testing, it appears I may have a bad UP5, which I will test and replace if necessary.  Other than that the throttles and trains ran great.

One other issue reared it's ugly head AGAIN.  That is the slot max issue.  This is a random thing and there is no reason for it.  This time was unusual because as I fired up the computer to review the issue in JMRI, all I had to do was open the slot window, and the issue resolved itself.  Wierd!  See you soon slot max!  I'm gonna getcha!

Unrelated to any of this, I noticed another issue.  That is that there appears to be power coming IN from the track in a certain section, 1v, enough to light the power on LED on the DCS100.  Lots of testing later did not produce a source.  Still working on that.  Not sure if it is actually causing a problem or not.

It's been very hot the past couple weeks, even near the coast where I live.  As a result, I had two sections of track where the feeder wire came loose.  It's nice to have an easy fix once in a while!  Actually, can I get those more often instead of the ones that are just a bear to figure out and solve?

It was so fun to run trains yesterday with the guys and I ran some after they left, mainly to reposition trains back to their last location in JMRI.  There is hope!

Thank you to Brendan Fraiser, Duncan Cabassi, Joel Morse, David Sheehan, Wayne Lawson and Phil Klein for all your patience and help.  Without you guys I would have a nice clean garage with two lovely cars in it!

Frank Kenny

UPDATED AUG. 30...UP5 Power Up Starts!...And Continues!...Argh...and FINALLY DONE!

It's been a long haul with the DCC system.  From returning parts to Digitrax numerous times to buying duplicate components just because one is in the shop, etc.  I've had numerous DCC knowledgeable people here to figure out and solve the issues to no avail.  It's been a long haul!

In meeting a new friend from Australia, Duncan Cabassi, I've met other model railroaders over the internet, all super guys.  One, Brendan Dennis, knows much about DCC and Digitrax.  He has suggested that perhaps power in the Loconet was low, which when tested it is, 6.5 & 7.9.

The UP5 manual gives a few options for installing them.  They are, power to the UP5 is optional, or use the +Common connection, or apply power to the DC jack.  Way back when I installed the UP5's, I used the +Common connection.

Brendan suggests this is the problem.  With 14 UP5's on the layout, this is simply robbing Loconet of the power needed to operate properly.  It makes sense!

So, today, August 17 my project is to string 2 busses, one in the Traffic Center room and one in the main layout room.  All 14 UP5's will be connected to this buss by the end of the day.  I'm not quitting until it's done!  Then I'll test the Loconet power and report back to y'all.

Wish me luck!!!

Frank Kenny

August 18 - Well, in typical fashion, this project went about as fast as a snail missing one foot!  (pun intended)  I was only able to get the staging room 90% complete, still issues with voltage to the UR91 and it seems one UP5 isn't working properly.  The wiring is in however.  I started at 8am and finally stopped at 9:30pm.

In the main room I was only able to get 5 of 12 installed, one of the 5 still has voltage issues.

The biggest thank you in the world goes to Brendan Dennis for his assistance from Australia!  We had at least 50 emails back and forth trying to resolve the various unexpected issues that cropped up.

Unfortunately I only have a couple hours to work on this today.  It was supposed to be done yesterday to stay on the ops schedule and next weekend I'm unavailable so I'll have to carve out some time to finish this project during the week...not a very good option

Back at it today.  Again wish me luck!

Frank Kenny 

A little update... here is what the connection looks like...more details later.

This photo shows a section of wire getting ready to solder to the plug.

The above photo shows how I solder it.  It's important to make sure the red and black (or whatever color you use) wires are always soldered to the same pins on the each plug.

I wrap a piece of electrical tape around the longer pin and solder connection to make sure when the cap is put on that the two pins don't touch each other, causing a short.  On some of them I wrap both pins, just to make sure nothing touches.

AUGUST 30

Those that know me well know that I LOVE electronics and can't wait to get to the next electronic project.  NOT!  I despise anything to do with electricity.

Fortunately two awesome guys from Australia were willing to help keep me from jumping the bridge!  A BIG THANKS TO BRENDAN DENNIS AND DUNCAN CABASSI for their help.  This was a long project, that seriously should have been a quick one, looking back.  Without their help I would have been parking my cars in the garage (ex train room) by now.  Thanks guys!

Long story and 3 power supplies later, it's done!  I'm getting 15 & 11v in the main room and 13 & 10v in the traffic center.  All good there.

NEXT PROJECT...Why doesn't the damn duplex work???

Finally Moved the Printer!

My old printer was been sitting on my Ops desk forever.  When it died and I purchased a new one, that new one had a different footprint.  It was a little smaller, however, the paper tray protruded out over the desk.  I swore I was going to build a shelf for it.  Well, that was about 9 months ago!

In my very productive weekend this weekend, I finally got around to building that shelf.  In the first photo, the spot where the printer was is the open space to the left of the new location for the printer.  You can see how far the paper tray protruded out, making half the desk unusable.  Now the printer sits over the arrival tracks to staging and is closer to the isle where one would need to grab a manifest.  Perfect!

The open space is where the printer used to be.  The protrusion of the paper tray, left only about 6" of usable desk space.

The new printer shelf allows trains to arrive into Roseville and Stockton staging.

Work & Bad Order Cards

I've been cleaning up and organizing the RR and the RR rooms.  It occurred to me that you might be interested in the cards that I use to keep track of work problems on the RR and issues with rolling stock.  While I have only used these for my own use, I plan to place them around the layout for operator use.

I use Work and Bad Order Cards.  There are three types.
1. MOW Work Order Form - This is for issues with track, electrical, turnouts, signals, etc.
2. Locomotive Bad Order Form - This is obviously for issues with locomotives
3. Rolling Stock Bad Order Form - This is for all other rolling stock issues

I made these out of 8x11.5 yellow card stock, thick, but not too thick it will hang-up in the printer.  I print them sideways and can get three to a page from top to bottom. They are yellow so they stand out from other documents.  I have a hanger that I hang them on at the workbench.

Here are a couple photos.  The first shows the front and back of one Form.  The second photo shows the front of the other two forms, the back of all  three are the same and I use the back for notes, dates, etc.  I either hang on to the card in case the issue is not resolved, or if something happens again in the near future.  Or, I can just throw it away.  You can file them too if you want.  I'm working on getting as paperless as I can, so I'll probably figure out someway to file these in my Evernote files.

Here are the photos.  Have fun!
Frank Kenny

Front and back of the MOW Form

Front of the Locomotive and Rolling Stock Forms   

Updates to the Traffic Center Routing Panel & a Link

The last couple of times we've run trains we've used the new Traffic Center Routing Panel.  This panel has always confused me so I know it has to confuse the operators.

When we created the panel it made sense.  However, in normal use, it was very confusing...and it still may be!  We'll have to test it and see.  Click here,  Traffic Center Route Panel, to see the panel that I recreated.    A major change was to put the Upper and Lower level on top and bottom respectively, and arranged Arrival and Departure from left to right.  That helped clarity a lot.  I also highlighted YERMO and italicized the Passthru tracks for clarity too.  There were also a number of smaller issues that I changed, such as adding the Steam and MOW tracks and routings for them.

I printed the sheet and attached it to a piece of cardboard for stability and temporarily attached it to the layout fascia both inside and outside of the TC area so no matter where you stand, you can see the board.  I create all control panels on paper temporarily until we use them a few times and I'm sure that it is what I want.  After that works for a bit, I will make a permanent panel.

One additional addition I am considering is an LED for each track, showing occupancy.  This will require the running of MORE wires, which I love to do...NOT...I'd rather eat hair!  LOL.  Well, that's a project for another day and another post.

LOTS OF PROGRESS! And a step backward.

Over the past week there has been lots of progress that I'd like to tell you about and one setback.

Joel Morse has come by a few times to build building mock-ups.  This has kind of brought the layout into 3-D.  It's amazing what a difference a few mock-ups can make.  I've included a few photos in this post below, and I'll do a separate post showing Joel's work.


Mike Stoner of Sedona, AZ and I made plans for him to come out and replace all 10 of the Peco curved turnouts left.  When I originally planned the railroad it was designed to use Peco curved turnouts to save space.  As I was building it, Atlas came out with their code 55 track.  At first I simply started laying the Atlas track, leaving the Peco track in place.  However, the difference between the two was so dramatic, that I just had to replace the Peco with Atlas.  I replaced all of it except these 10 curved turnouts because there was nothing to replace them.  Years later Atlas finally came out with curved turnouts and to my disappointment, the radius was way too sharp.  So there the Peco's stay!  They have always caused me problems for various reasons.  Don't get me wrong.  They are great turnouts.  They just don't look great next to the Atlas track work.

So, Mike was able to come out to replace all 10 of them.  He arrived on April 26th and left on the 28th and we still only were able to replace 8 of them!  Poor mike was stuck bent over the lower level railroad for three days!  I fed him only cheese crackers and peanut butter and a little bit of water to wash it down and wouldn't let him leave until it was done!  He was replacing the north throat of Bakersfield yard, an important stretch of railroad!  And of course, all turnouts are curved so that made it a much more difficult job.  Thanks Mike!

We just barely go the last Tortoise installed when we had to leave for the airport!  They are not wired up yet but I'll get that done soon.  Honestly, I'm a bit nervous that I might ruin the turnouts.  The look amazing!!!  Below are some photos of the process.

Ah, he's smilin' now!  Mike Stoner starting the process of replacing the throat turnouts by first installing thin strips of homasote.

I spent countless hours getting all the Tortoises installed and then wired in this not-so-accessable area just to tear them all out again when Mike replaced the turnouts!

Mike explaining the project.  Notice the bandage on his thumb.  The day before he flew out he slipped on his skateboard and fell on his thumb, tearing off the nail.  He powered through though.

Tearing out the old Peco turnouts.

This is Ron distracting Mike from doing the job.  Mike needed a break and was happy to engage.

Peco's gone!!!

Homasote installed.

Track lines drawn.

Tie installation.

Hmmm...one of those Atlas curved turnouts came in handy after all...just not in this location.

Spiking the rail.

Lining up the ties.

This is Mike's work area for three days!  Good thing we can't hear Mike!  ;-)

Continuing to slave away.

The angles were terrible for laying track.  Mike thought he was going to draw some lines on homasote and do this on a work bench.  That idea quickly disappeared.

Spiking rail.

Success!  First turnout done and tested!

Mike's tie jig.

Lots of detail to doing this.  Mike is a perfectionist.

More spike detail.

Laying another one.

See that determination!

Are ya done yet?

The master at work.

Move your thumb...I can't see.

A lot of mess for just replacing some turnouts.

Electrical testing to make sure there are no shorts.

All done.  This and the next several shots are of the completed turnouts from left to right.  The darker ties are Atlas track.

I can't thank Mike Stoner enough for taking 3 days of his life and spending them replacing all these turnouts for me.  Thank you Mikey!

That same weekend I had some of the other guys from the crew over and we accomplished a number of  those time consuming projects.

Mark Lestico installed MT couplers on 15 locos.  Joel has been installing resistors on wheels and for some reason about 40% of them have been shorting.  Mark claims it is very easy so Joel and I called his bluff and had him show us how it's done.  Lucky for Mark, Mike was working on the turnouts with tools all over the layout, we couldn't turn the layout on to test the wheels, so we saved that project for another day.

Mark got all the parts together and lined up in order for an assembly line construction and installation.  Can you tell this guy works for a Japanese car company?

Ron Sipkovich, David Sheehan and Rodney Zeibol installed small pieces of styrene in all the little electrical gaps around the railroad to keep them from accidentally closing, causing electrical issues.  (I've got enough of those gremlins!)

Another master hard at work!  Ron is famous for lots of things, including his Cajon Pass layout with amazingly beautiful scenery.

Ron was going to take a shot at installing resistors to wheels, but then we discovered the silver paint was dried up in the tube...brand new $45 tube too!

David, looking like he is enjoying his work just a little too much.

Joel Morse built more mock-ups.  I'll do a separate post on Joel's buildings because he has done so many and they look great.

Getting started.

A finished building!

After a hard day's work on Saturday, Ken Chan and I cooked up a BBQ chicken dinner for the hungry crew complete with corn on the cob, BBQ beans, cole slaw and potato salad and washed it all down with beer.  Mmm, mmm, good!

That left Sunday for me and Mike to finish all those darn turnouts.  You'd think that it would go quickly but it just didn't.

This past week I've been completing various projects.  Finishing installing the styrene in the gaps, relocating and/or replacing spurs, re-wiring spurs, planning additional track laying on the north end of Bakersfield yard, and various other things.  It's been really enjoyable to get these things completed.

I had one set back.  When I was able to finally turn on the layout, there seems to be a gremlin in the Loconet.  After lots of de-installing and testing, I believe it boiled down to the UR92.  And after trying numerous times to update the firmware, no luck.  It turns out that the PR3 may be bad too!  I packed up the UR92, PR3, and both DT402's and sent them to Digitrax to have them update all and make sure all are working fine.  I've got better things to spend my time on!

That brings you up to date.  We've pretty much improved the whole lower level of the railroad!  I'm sure there are things that I forgot to tell you and I'll put those in a future post.

Unfortunately I won't be ready for the layout tour May 18th as we still need to finish the turnouts and install the electrical, not to mention all my equipment is at Digitrax.