smithdom

I earlier incorrectly stated I'm using all electrofrog turnouts. In fact all turnouts that I intend to motorise are Peco bullhead code 75 unifrog. I volunteer on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway in the Permanent Way department and I'm setting out to model Winchcombe Station, Greet Tunnel (entrances) and eventually Stanway Viaduct. At the moment it feels like ambition exceeds capability by a factor of 10, but that's the joy of the journey.

Just straightened out. My room is about 7m x 5m and the two main tracks runs around the perimeter with a lift up bridge for access.

Thanks for the pointer to MERG. More reading coming up...

I was planning to use servos, inspired by Rob at Little Wicket, but when I watched videos of Cobalt installation I thought it would simplify powering the frog correctly. From what you are saying this is not necesarily the case. I confess I don't know what you mean by "full change-over switch contacts". I'm using PECO electrofrog turnouts.

I'm planning my first DCC layout (OO), very rough schematic below, roughly accurate. I plan to use a SPROG 3 with JMRI, but am pondering power districts and circuit protection. Points outside the sidings will be motorised, probably using the Cobalt motors. I'll have some powered semaphore signals, building lighting etc. I want to explore sensors and possibly block detection. I'm thinking a power bus for each of the main lines, and perhaps another for point motors etc, not yet watched anough YouTube channels to be sure. I don't expect to be running more than three locos at a time, but they will be sound fitted. I have a regulated 15V 3A power supply. Will that be enough? Should I circuit protect each power bus? If so do I just split the power after the sprog and insert a circuit breaker before connecting to each bus? Any recommended circuit breakers? Should I include a surge protector for power on? If so, where should that go? I read that a snubber at the ends of each bus is advised. Any advice from those that have been here and done it much appreciated.

Anyone else received an e-mail from TMC advising that their option to fit one sound decoder and one non-sound decoder to the new 1938 tube stock has hit a potential problem, with the non-sound decoder attempting to drive before the sound decoder? The fix is apparently to give up on sound at a saving of £110, or double up on sound at an extra cost of £110, making a total of an eye watering £577.45. It has certainly given me pause for thought.

I'm planning to model the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, whose Class 117 is, I believe the one scanned for this offering. The one on the GWR is in a green livery (mostly) but has corridoor connections and head and tail lights. It seems from photos that the Bachmann 117 in green has neither whereas the blue & grey has both. Am I missing something? https://www.gwsr.com/enthusiasts/miscellaneous/DMURailcar_1.html