The 60/40 Layout And Other Railway Related Things

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I've finally bitten the bullet and delved into the weird world of JMRI, with all its attendant mysteries which seem to be many, I think I've got the absolute basics, I can at least load and save a loco to the roster, had to ask Ken (@D&J RailRoad) a few basic questions, and, as always, helpful advice, so thanks Ken.

This is my current setup for using JMRI, which is a hodgepodge, to say the least, I've decided that I'm going to have to invest in a Digitrax
PR4 simply so I don't have to use the DCS52 controller as the interface which is tied to the layout, explains why I've got such a screwy-looking and highly unstable "workstation".

Oh! And the black boxes everything is sitting on, that's just locomotive storage.

1701636445419.png
 
Nice! I want to interface my laptop w/ my layout but read that you should have all your switch machines attached to the bus line first. Not sure if that's true just being patient and playing it safe.

As for your laptop on the plastic crate? That's crazy! I put my printer on my plastic crate 🤣
 
PMW said:
Nice! I want to interface my laptop w/ my layout but read that you should have all your switch machines attached to the bus line first. Not sure if that's true just being patient and playing it safe.

As for your laptop on the plastic crate? That's crazy! I put my printer on my plastic crate 🤣
Click to expand...
If you're using your laptop/JMRI to run your switch machines that does make sense, but I would have thought you could add them at a later date as well, Ken (@D&J RailRoad) would be able to answer that I think.

My plan is when the PR4 arrives I'll just add a bit of track to a small piece of plyboard and sit that on my printer rather than taking the laptop to the layout every time I want to use JMRI, got a lot of locomotives to add.
 


Ok, Quick update.

Now I have JMRI I'm busy loading all my Locomotives onto it, so far I've done two boxes (or 34 Locos) and two more boxes to go, then I can start on my un-boxed ones, I wonder how many I actually have. 🤔

Thanks to @Bruette I have my one and only (I hope) QSI decoder locomotive up and running again, although sadly I've lost the voice announcement it originally had on F10, now it just tells me it's running number.:confused:

Found 5 locomotives that don't respond at all, at least on JMRI they don't, so more fun and games to be had in the technical department, I'll try running them on my layout first, and see what transpires, may just need a factory reset, or probably my bad soldering, as they're all OO scale and the first ones I converted to DCC.

I may get another locomotive box loaded onto JMRI tomorrow, but grocery shopping is on my "to-do" list, it was going to be done today but I had the car in for a major service and its yearly MOT.
 
Well after several hours with a multi-meter, lots of head scratching and more profanity than usual when I do this, I've worked out that the motor on this Lima is "no longer serviceable". Seems the pancake motor has a broken winding somewhere, it'll run but only when nudged a few times and whenever it stops it's always on that "dead spot", so a motor upgrade kit from this guy will hopefully be in the post Monday.

www.strathpefferjunction.com

Lima Ringfield Replacement 6V CD Motor & Adaptor Kit (LA2/12MM/Bo-Bo) - Strathpeffer Junction - OO Gauge Railway Modelling, Products, Videos & Tutorials

A brand new OO Gauge Lima ringfield motor conversion kit, comprising: a replacement 12mm thick 6Vdc high torque 6V can motor, computer-designed 3D-printed adaptor, 2 x 8-tooth gears (one spare),and a length of heat shrink tubing. This kit requires no permanent adaptation to be made to the motor...
www.strathpefferjunction.com www.strathpefferjunction.com

It's a nice Loco, I've got the two missing buffers somewhere, and the coupling hook, might do that too when I do the motor.

1702166918407.png
 


Topherisme said:
Man, you been busy! I am jealous lol

Was the JMRI fairly easy to set up and get going? Need to watch a few how to videos on that, after upgrading my DCC situation I would like that to be my next step, but still a ways away…
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Setup was relatively easy, I used my controller to start with then got a Digitrax PR4, which made it easier. I've only got so far as loading the locos onto the roster, which is probably the worst part, typing in all the information, but it's got tons of features I haven't even looked at yet, never mind understanding how they work, I think I'm going to be bugging Ken (@D&J RailRoad) with tons of questions about JMRI.
 
Smudge617 said:
Setup was relatively easy, I used my controller to start with then got a Digitrax PR4, which made it easier. I've only got so far as loading the locos onto the roster, which is probably the worst part, typing in all the information, but it's got tons of features I haven't even looked at yet, never mind understanding how they work, I think I'm going to be bugging Ken (@D&J RailRoad) with tons of questions about JMRI.
Click to expand...

You are speaking a language that I'm not familiar with. I'm stuck in the DC world, and I'm ok with that.
 
No work on JMRI today, I've been busy on the other 4 "non-runners" I discovered yesterday, one just needed a thorough cleaning and service, and another one, (Hornby tender driven 4-6-0 with another of their wonderful pancake motors), I got it running after about 2 hours feckling with it, kept hesitating when in reverse, but it's fine forwards, so I may have to do a second motor upgrade, I'll keep working on it tho'.

So I'm left with two non-runners, one with a short, and the other, with a runaway motor :D
 
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Chris from France said:
Me too. Welcome to the club ! :D
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Me three.
Being a software engineer i should be all over DCC, but it seems to be very expensive and very confusing lol. Still i am making sure the stuff i buy is dcc friendly at least, just in case 🤔
Most of my stuff is Kato, Dapol and Graham Farish. Would Digitrax be a good option if i were to upgrade next time i am feeling rich??
 
dgrafix said:
Me three.
Being a software engineer i should be all over DCC, but it seems to be very expensive and very confusing lol. Still i am making sure the stuff i buy is dcc friendly at least, just in case 🤔
Most of my stuff is Kato, Dapol and Graham Farish. Would Digitrax be a good option if i were to upgrade next time i am feeling rich??
Click to expand...
NCE and Digitrax seem to be the most popular, but you definitely need to look around and see which suits you and your budget, (the Digitrax DCS52 is around the $200 mark).

Once you've decided on your system, the next expense you have is decoders, which vary from $11-$15 for a cheap 8-pin, 4-function decoder to over $100 for a 21-pin sound decoder.

If there is a model club somewhere near you, see if you can go along and maybe try out different control systems, see what you like and also ask questions.

I use a Digitrx DCS52, so I'm already biased towards Digitrax, for what I want and the size of my layout it suits my needs I've run 5 locomotives all at the same time, (not advisable I might add) and it's also expandable, so adding extra throttles etc. is easy to do, but most manufacturers now have similar capabilities.

I've got a whole heap of older tender driven Hornby steamers which I've converted successfully to DCC operation, but having said that, DCC-ready locomotives save's a fair bit of soldering.

This is the one I use, which is a starter set.

Zephyr Express: All-in-one Command Station/Booster/Throttle

Zephyr Express gives you simple to use Digitrax Complete Train Control for a great price. It offers simplified advanced train operation for any size layout and is fully expandable. You won’t have to start over when you want to do more with your railroad.
www.digitrax.com www.digitrax.com

And this is a similar NCE starter set.

 
Quick Update, no photos but I'll try and get some done over the weekend.

The Lima Class 37, is still waiting on the motor conversion kit, but I did find buffers and coupling hook have now been fitted.

The Hornby 4-4-0 that had a short somewhere, I found it was a dodgy decoder, contacted the vendor and told to throw that one away and another is now in the mail, free of charge, not bad considering the decoder is well over 4 years old.

The 4-6-0 tender-driven Loco that was hesitating in reverse now goes like a rocket in both directions, I remembered I had a Hornby pancake motor conversion kit, so that's had an upgrade tonight.

Tomorrow, well today now, I'll look at the Runaway loco, and I'm hoping that the lima conversion kit arrives by Saturday, so I can get that done.

Today I'm awaiting a delivery from the USA, it; 's been here for a while now, but was unable to get it delivered till today, foto's will follow.
 


I've already added these in the RPO thread, this was in my package from Paul (@PMW) which I've been waiting on.

Again, big Thank You Paul.

There's a couple of detail parts that had come loose which Paul sent along with them, so just waiting on the glue to dry

1702675869374.jpeg


And he kindly sent me a couple of containers to go with them.

1702675937338.jpeg
 
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