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Controlling Interests #1 Increasing Main Line operation

Graham_Muz

Entry posted by Graham_Muz

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Although Fisherton Sarum is not currently set up, I am using the time between shows to make a few changes and additions to the operating system. These modifications include: the addition of a third controller for main line operation (see below), the installation of a

Model Electronic Railway Group (MERG) turntable control unit

with stepper motor, moving of the signal control to the fiddle yard panels and changing all the point motors to

slow acting Cobalt types

. The other modifications will form the subject of future posts so to coin a phrase watch or follow this space.

Whilst operating the layout at the

Doncaster Festival of British Model Railways my fellow operators from theHigh Wycombe and District MRS, naming no names (Roger and Mark) hatched a plan for improved operation of the main running lines. Currently the layout has two Gaugemaster ‘W’ handheld controllers for traditional DC Cab control allowing either controller to control any section of the layout.

Our default operation is one controller for the shed area and one for the main lines. This does mean that only one of the fiddle operators actually drives the main line trains and does so in both directions. The suggestion was to add a third controller so that two can be used on the main lines, i.e. one up and one down, allowing each fiddle yard operator to drive the trains towards their end. This will also increase the likelihood of trains passing on the main too (already possible but meaning the shed movements having to stop). The plan also includes the addition of remote signal controls to the fiddle yard indicator panels to ease operation too.

Time has been spent this weekend modifying the control panel wiring for the new controller, along with the installation of the new Turntable controller (but more of this soon). The final part of the controller installation will be the wiring on the west end baseboard to a socket for the new controller (the wiring harness is already in place with suitable spare cores). Fisherton Sarum’s first outing with the new operation will be

Tring and District MRC show 13th October 2012.

The above is an entry from my blog at

www.grahammuz.com

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Tim Hale

How does someone increase mainline operation on a small MPD diorama, do you intend to extend the running lines?

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Graham_Muz
  • RMweb Gold

Tim,

 

I consider Fisherton Sarum to be a layout, rather than a diorama which implies it is static.

I am not at the moment extending the running lines, but thgey are still just that, running lines, the additional controller and operation method will allow / simplify the main line running and also allow for more movements to occur simultainously hence the increased running.

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