Isn't reality irritating at times!!!!!

In "Bells and Whistles" I said how I'd sorted the wiring for the storage loops (which feed into a return loop). Reality is that it doesn't quite work how I intended.

After lots of testing, I finally realised that because locos stop in different places as they cross the double break at the end of the loops, they are the cause of some odd ghost movements that were starting to seriously irritate me and prevented me moving onto the next part of the project. The breaks in the rails and the wiring are designed to automatically stop the train towqrds the end of the loop whilst out of sight, but then allow it to pull away under when required, using the other controller. The insulfrog points forming the exit are supposed to route the power to the right loop and the sprung, centre off, dpdt switch is used to switch the end section on, so the trains only exit when wanted.

It transpires that some of the locos stop partly over the breaks, with their wheels or their tender wheels shorting the gap and then as the power feed is changed from one controller to the other, and the common return rail effectively swaps over (the exit from the loops is via a return loop), the shorting wheels can feed power/return to different rails in the exit trackwork through point stockrails and the wiring. The end result is that occassionally, depending on point settings and which locos have stopped how far over the breaks, two locos start up instead of one! The results are rather obvious!!! Considering all this occurs out of sight, it is set back. I had not envisaged such back flows of power. The (very rough) circuit diagramme is below, but only shows two loops. I am still not 100% sure how it is happening, but it certainly is and I have tested continuity over and over, with locos in all sorts of positions. I have even undone track feeds and removed the wires from the switches to prove the point.

I am now having to insert further breaks to make each loco stopping space into a separate isolating section with a further push button controlling each. So much for simplicity! It will be fun trying to fit isolating fishplates to track already glued down!!!! Ho hum!

At least, due to my testing, I was able to get some green locos moving. Here are my Saint, 61xx (in the process of becoming a 51xx), City and one of my Dean Goods.

I have also been asked about the layout itself and how it fits in the loft. Here are some photos to put it in context. It is at a very early stage, with only the storage loops and continuous run built and no scenery at all. I need to loops working fully, before I then build the incline up to the junction and then on to Buckingham West and finally the branch to Brackley Road.

This is the twin double junctions on the continuous run. The one on the left leads to the storage loops (and reverse loop) and the one on the right will lead to the incline up to the Junction. The incline will be built alongside the collar beam seen running towards the camera.

This is the baseboard for Buckingham West - the main terminus - with the continuous run in front at the lower level. The line here will be in a cutting with a brick arched retaining wall up to the higher level.

This is the entry end of the storage loops with the continous run in front and the reverse loop out at the rear. The loops will be covered by the Junction station, with the ground sloping down to the continuous run in the front. The boards for the juction are propped up at the front.

This is the exit of the storage loops and shows the dumbell/reverse loop bac to the continuous run. The mainlines are to the front. Note the boxes of stock and buildings waiting to escape their 30 years incarceration and becoe a layout!

With the Buckingham West baseboard seen to the left, the mainline crosses behind the hatch and dives under the Buckingham West board. The collar beam is again seen in the centre of the loft, but this is the other end. The incline will be on the right side of this and the small branch terminus (Brackley Road) will be built on the left side with trains leaving away from the camera and swinging right handed to the junction.

This shot puts the central collar beam into perspective with the Buckingham West boards in the background.

The loops and the exits which caused me so much trouble. More work required!!!!

Thanks for reading.

Rich