DCC Layout Pics

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My Layout current and future plans.

**The people places and products that helped make my layout.**

No I am not associated nor receive any type of compensation from any of the above. I am just a very satisfied customer of each. Each and every one of the above places and products have been used to make my railroad what it is today. And the people involved with each one have proven to be very friendly, knowledgeable, and more then willing to help. These all combine together to make me a very satisfied customer.
This is just my way of thanking each and everyone of these people for making my model railroading experiences as enjoyable as they are.

Cadrail by Sandia Software. Cadrail has been the number one CAD program of railroaders for over 8 years now. There are over 10,000 happy Cadrail customers. They were the first to introduce a CAD program specifically made for railroad design. They helped introduce the the idea of using the computer to design your railroad. I have not only used Cadrail for designing my layouts and those for others. I have used it to design my control panels, buildings, ect. I have used it to make full size drilling templets. I am always finding never ending uses for it. I even used it for the designing and layout of the basement remodeling for the new layout. Runrail is great for checking siding lengths and track spacing on curves. Though designed as a Railroad CAD program, it is a true CAD program in every aspect. Support is great.

Digitrax is one of the world's leading suppliers of Digital Command Control equipment for the model railroad hobby. Their products give you sophistication without complexity and are engineered to give you the best value for your money.
I have used Digitrax DCC for my control system since 1996. Staring with the Challenger, then the Big Boy, and now the Chief. Each and every one has functioned with out fail. And has always performed as advertised. The people and the support has always been great. They stand behind what they sell. Am I hooked on DCC you bet I am. Of all the control systems I have used in the past, DCC beats them all. I have never enjoyed this type of freedom and protype operations before. And I have Digitrax to thank for it.

Loy Spurlock is a DCC specialists - DCC sales and service is their only business. And besides stocking the entire Digitrax line, they have the largest selection of DCC accessories anywhere - to the point of developing and manufacturing some of it their selves. If it's related to DCC, and it's worth having, they either have it, or will have it when its made available to him. They only carry the products that they believe in. In their opinion, these products are either the best there is for what they do, or they are the best value for the money. I have used Loy's to buy almost all my DCC equipment and software. Besides great prices, they also include a bi-monthly newsletter and such goodies as the Chiefs Hints and Tips book. The service and support are great.

About the Layout
Currently under construction. Aren't they all, but this one really is.
The layout represents the B&O AU devision as would be in 1960-1970. As modeled in HO scale, from PA. to WV. Both PA. and WV are represented as hidden staging yards under the both ends of the layout. Not shown on the CADrail plans below.

Layout.Gif CadRail picture of the new layout.

These are the CadRail plans for the new layout currently under construction. The old layout is still about 1/3 functional while the construction of the new takes place.
Click image for larger view.

The layout measures 17.5 ft. by 33 ft. Construction is typical L girder with 1/2 in. plywood and 1/2 in. Homosote® used for sub roadbed. Roadbed is cork and blue board. Basic scenery is a combination of plaster soaked paper towels and blue board. All track work is code 83 Atlas flex track, except hidden track in the helix and staging yards, here Atlas code 100 flex track is used. All turnouts are Micro Engineering #6 or Walthers #5 and #6 double crossover. All powered turnouts are powered by Tortoise switch machines.
I plan to have this layout signaled as the previous layout was/is. That is with standard 5 aspect B&O color position signals. At this time I am just waiting to see what the new DCC signal systems are going to be like. All blocks are detected for signaling and WinLoc computer software for dispatching and combinations of semi and auto control of the layout.

This is a clip of the WinLoc CTC panel used to run the railroad. From here the Dispatcher has full control of all turnouts and signals on the layout. Routing and interlocking are also controlled from here.
Click image for larger view.

All power bus feeders are #12 wire, with track feeders being #24 wire. Power for the DCC rails is supplied by a DCS100 command station/booster and 4 DB100 boosters. I currently have 6 throttles 4 DT100s, 1 DT200, and 1 BT2. There are future plans for the new Digitrax Wireless system.

Pictures from the old layout.

The modelers favorite view point, the meet. Here we have a local heading up the 2% grade to the brewery with a load of grain. It has just exited tunnel 3 to meet another local coming down grade and waiting in the hole.

Here is that local again, coming out of tunnel 6. The local has made the grade and is just passing the branch that leads off to Milt's mine. This is a rocky area and the crew has to keep a eye out on the rails head.

The highest point on the route, not a good place for anyone afraid of heights. This SW is just cutting a set of cars for Middlesburg heights. From the looks of the water falls there must have been a good rain not to long ago.

Nice catch of some leased power. Doing some work just outside of town. That track in the foreground is the turntable next to the shops. By the way, that hand car on the end track there, it is powered and so far the only piece of powered equipment I have not yet figured how to fit a decoder in.

BD tower at the interchange and interlock. The track just in front of BD tower is the interchange track to the B&O. The turnout and diamond are the interlock. And yes both railroads, the Potomac Central and B&O operate. That is the repair shop on the left. Looks like they might have just finished some work on that RS3.

A busy day at the warehouse. Things seem to be moving pretty good here. This means a good day for the Potomac Central, they will transfer most of this freight to the B&O. Looks like it is either break time, or there is a problem on the docks.

Last updated 07-20-06