The two NCE DCC systems are now up and running, with 'Birch Vale' unchanged except that now there is the chance to plug in a hand-held controller at Newmills hidden sidings; - the main controls are at Hayfield end where the operator can easily reach the two, hand-operated point levers. From the first days of adding DCC, I built in the ability to switch to either DCC or analogue and this is retained.

'Bowton's Yard' has a new control panel which allows for either DCC or analogue control and which also allows switching between layout and programming track. This sits at Guidebridge hidden sidings, alongside the 'signalbox', which allows route setting over all the layout. Also now fitted close to Stalybridge hidden sidings are twin sockets into which can be plugged hand-held controllers.

I've taken a few pictures:-

This is what I've always called the "Signalbox" and is part of the original controls. It accepts an input from a controller, which until recent changes was the Lenz 'Compact'. Fairly obviously this is where a route is set up, the route being indicated by lighted LEDs. At the far right, there is evidence of recent changes at 'Stalybridge', where the change of a single Y turn-out to a cross-over, needed a change of position of one LED and a bit of hand-drawn mimic track.

The NEC system is mainly built into the main, hand-held unit, but a bit of 'electrickery' is in the main socket panel which is designed around being fitted into the baseboard sides. The 'master NEC hand-held must be plugged in here.
I needed to build a free-standing panel to house this main socket, but decided that the ability to switch to analogue control should be achieved for 'Bowton's', as it is for 'Birch Vale. Also, NCE suggest a need for a change-over switch with which to switch a programming track on and switch the layout off. The programming track existed from the Lenz days and shows in this picture; as also does the new free-standing panel at its first 'lash-up' testing.

The "lash-up" having proved the new panel, there was need to tidy up the labeling. This was achieved by CorelDraw and printing black-on-white on inkjet paper. Cut to size the two sheets were laminated in clear plastic and UHUed to the plywood panels. This picture shows the end result. The analogue controller was left off, but it plugs into the 4-pin DIN socket, providing 14-18 volts ac to the controller and accepting 0-12 V dc to be switched (or not!) to the layout. I use a Gaugemaster 'HH' for this job.

Good modelling to you,
Dave