RikkiGTR

A little video I took a few days ago of things running on the layout.

I used an emery board for in between the point blades and stock rails (the small part where they meet). I did this after applying some IPA with a cotton bud. Seems to have done the trick, as all my locos run over the points perfectly now. Aside from a single loco (a brand new Class 58) which stops dead on all siding points, yet runs around the mainline loops, pulling a rake of carriages without any issue at all.

The points that I have painted with rust are now quite bad in terms of electrical connection. I need a way to clean the rust off the top of the rails, and in particular around the point blades which I believe is where the worst issues are. I'm wondering if I could use my Dremel to "buff" these areas, or is there a better solution?

Re-laid the station throat as described in previous post, and set about getting some ballast down on the branch line to test out my ability in that department. Looking good so far.

Another minor change being made - this may have been recommended here or on the N Gauge forum so I take no credit for it. I've discovered that when running trains on the anti-clockwise line I need a way to get to the central avoiding line from there without fouling the clockwise line, so a couple more curved points have been ordered to remedy this. I was told about this when planning the layout but it's only in practice that I realised how important it is.

Yeah I really didn’t fancy it at this point, they seem to be working fine even if they are manually operated for now. Yep! Something I had planned to do anyway was do any soldering “above ground” before fitting the motors underneath the base boards.

Yes I’ve seen a few things about this, but the points seem to be working fine here with no mods unless it’s something that will happen with continued DCC use? Only issue I’ve noticed so far is when I’ve accidentally run a loco over a point that’s set the wrong way - I get an overload. What else will happen?

After your comments earlier on my thread, I followed the trail back here and had a good read through the thread. Fascinating layout with some amazing electrickery, will be following keenly.

@Siberian Snooper the “points on the bridge” will not actually be an issue as only the front single line will be a girder bridge - the back mainline will run over another embankment with perhaps a small water outlet below it, so easy enough to disguise the motors. @BluenGreyAnorak as much as this task is daunting, it’s also extremely exciting as well. I’m not remotely put off by the amount of work ahead of me to realise my ambitions with this layout, and I’ve no doubt that once I start I’ll get my head around it. I’ve just been unsure *where* to start. Your control systems look incredible though, and it’s a lot of inspiration for me.

@ITG yes the entire layout is laid, I ensured there was a hole drilled for each point motor pin as I went around laying the track. I’m unable to flip the boards up though so I will be fixing them in situ.

@Jeremy Cumberland this is a closer representation of what the layout is now. Only remaining change I haven't shown is the double slip at the station throat (left hand side), which I have replace with a couple of sets of regular left and right hand points (pictured) for less complex wiring. I could do it easily when laying the track, but couldn't replicate that in scarm 😅 Ironically the 4 points at the top right is where I began track laying, so it makes sense to begin point motor wiring there as well. All your points (no pun intended) are much appreciated, taken on board, and are certainly extremely helpful. Thank you! PS - the fiddle yard has 8 tracks, not 6 as depicted in the track plan.

This is the track plan, more or less. the “dock/scrap yard” is a different shape on the layout but same point composition. And I’ve lengthened the 2 lower sidings where it says “industry or maintenance” and added a runaround loop. I’ll try to put together a fully up to date track plan later on Scarm, but this is accurate enough as it is.

DCC control of points seems just as daunting (even more so, truth be told) than DC control. The choice before me is so vast I once again don't even know where to start.

@Nigelcliffe another vote for DCC control of points. I do have a good Android tablet here that’s largely going to waste, it could be better served as a control system for the railway. Certainly worth looking into.

@ITG perhaps I’ll look into that then, if it simplifies anything for me it’s worth at least investigating.