You don't actually have to decide dc or dcc, I wire exactly the same for both, with live common crossings on the points and traditional point control. When I want to run dcc I can simply throw the section switches and plug in my DCC controller.

For a layout that is more about operations I would go DCC without question, you can still have proper lever frames for the points, most moderately priced DCC controllers are clunky for this anyway. Also don't use those short radius points on running lines, it is not money saved if you like operating and intend to use some kit built stock.

Sounds like a real cracker to run too, good luck with the interlocking, just the thought of it makes my brain hurt!

As for the dukedog, look at Franks blog, he is doing one too, maybe this will help stop yours being put away unfinished?

Devon D, thanks for the comments. To answer you in detail will pre-empt the next blog entry, but Google did provide me with the route to getting both an answer to the DC/DCC question and got my Bulldog built. It also opened a number of other avenues. The blog is still catching up with reality.

Nevertheless, I understand your comments about being able to change from DC to DCC as indeed I ran a wiring bus and droppers. I don't understand your comment about live common crossings on the points. On the newly bought points I have used electrofrogs, but have wired the frogs back to the point control switches to change polarity. What do you do?

The short radius points have found use in the storage loops and goods yards/private sidings.

Thanks for your interest. Keep in touch.

I agree many exhibition layouts lack operational interest but have nice scenery.

I used to read the American Railroad Modeller, which usually featured a large layout each month. As well as nice scenery such a big layout would be operated on a point to point method, station to station and station to fiddle yard. With fast and slow passenger trains, block goods and pick-up goods operated from station to station or between industrial siding. A time table or schedule would be used to keep everything in order.

Also traffic or wagon requirements would be generated by a computer or random playing card system to tell the train operators what wagons are needed where on each railroad system. Often a non-train driving central controller ( a human sitting at a desk ) would marshal all train movements.

Groups of operators would meet monthly or visit each others layouts on a round robin bases. Something very rare in this country.

The open or scenicked fiddle yard is also a feature, and is built as a big marshalling yard, on the Denny layout the central through station, is it Grandborough Junction, had this task?

Also the Denny layout was built up from smaller sections over many years, in his book he said he never threw anything out so old buildings could be recycled onto a new section.

To me such a layout is the most attractive, here is where clubs could do more and develop the more common round and round or terminus to fiddle yard into something bigger and better. A whole railway system where the signals and other railway stuff are as important as the locomotives. With the increase in sophistication would come lasting interest.

I agree many exhibition layouts lack operational interest but have nice scenery.

I used to read the American Railroad Modeller, which usually featured a large layout each month. As well as nice scenery such a big layout would be operated on a point to point method, station to station and station to fiddle yard. With fast and slow passenger trains, block goods and pick-up goods operated from station to station or between industrial siding. A time table or schedule would be used to keep everything in order.

 

Also traffic or wagon requirements would be generated by a computer or random playing card system to tell the train operators what wagons are needed where on each railroad system. Often a non-train driving central controller ( a human sitting at a desk ) would marshal all train movements.

 

Groups of operators would meet monthly or visit each others layouts on a round robin bases. Something very rare in this country.

 

The open or scenicked fiddle yard is also a feature, and is built as a big marshalling yard, on the Denny layout the central through station, is it Grandborough Junction, had this task?

 

Also the Denny layout was built up from smaller sections over many years, in his book he said he never threw anything out so old buildings could be recycled onto a new section.

 

To me such a layout is the most attractive, here is where clubs could do more and develop the more common round and round or terminus to fiddle yard into something bigger and better. A whole railway system where the signals and other railway stuff are as important as the locomotives. With the increase in sophistication would come lasting interest.

Hi.

That's exactly what I am trying to acheive! You don't live near High Wycombe do you?

Rich

Only Americans call them "frogs" so a PW engineer told me! I use either SEEPs with switches or a mechanical rod with a switch on the end to change the polarity. All my points are modified with cross bonding as well. Glad the bulldog got finished.

You can also fit switches to the bottom of gem or MSE lever frames, either to switch polarity or activate solenoids, I have not tried this but have seen some very neat lever frames done this way on here. The method of operation above sounded very sociable too. Look forward to the next entry! Wish my blog was behind my actual modelling progress, just have not had a block of time lately to do much needed finishing.

I live 'oop North', and dispite my enthusiasm for the ideal Layout to aim for I have only a 4 ft long shunting layout. But. It has 5 sidings where wagons can be spotted so operation of the shunting puzzle type can be carried out.

I've started to cut wood and mdf to build an extension that will nearly double the size of the layout and increase operational potential by adding more sidings and so destinations for wagon and a fiddle yard so wagons can be exchanged for new ones.

Trains will then be able to run from the top of the chest of draws to the book shelf next to it and a time table can then be devised to help vary the operation.

So far this extension project has progressed only slowly. Wagon building has been my main area of the hobby and I have enough to cover all the track several times over.