Roundhouse & Turntable Setting out & New Stock

Popped into my Local Model shop and picked up this GP40-2 CP Rail for £40  DCC ready and chipped which if you ask me is a very good price.  Once i get a little weathering on it, the loco should fit right in.

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Setting out the Roundhouse and turn table was a chore.
I was looking to get as many covered Walthers Stalls in as possible I think i should manage 9 and the Engine Servicing building attached to the end.  This will be one of the last Area's i build and i have a lot of construction work still to do above.  so this has become a dumping ground.

With the Helix all wired i can now start to apply the scenic s here.

Southern Pacific Manifest - La Mesa Club

Cheap DCC Decoder - Soo Line Stock

So i have looked out all my Loco's and rolling stock, and have been working through them to change the couplers over to KD5's which is easier on some Loco's than others.

I was looking in a drawer and found this SD60, totally forgot i had it.  when i was changing the couplers over i seen this was DDC ready and just needed a chip which was a big surprise.  I found a cheap DCC chip on ebay. which arrived yesterday, plug it in and it runs like a dream.

This Decoder is £9.50 from a UK seller on ebay with £0.90 postage, it has 4 functions and can come with or without the 8 pin Plug.  Its also has the Stay alive wires attached.

Laisdcc motor + 4 Function DCC Decoder with trailing NEM 652 plug

I seem to have 4 Soo line loco's This SD60 and GP9 (which is a Dummy), and i have a GP35 and another GP9 which has the same number as the dummy.  The SD60 requires The Handrails to be fixed, LED lights installed and a working Orange beacon. and the GP need the number changed and internal lights.

My Other GP9 looks like this just now,  i have installed a Lenz Decoder which has 2 functions, i have installed front and rear 3.0mm LED lights.  The glazing needs to be fixed and the couplers need to be changed to KD5's which is my next project to finish.

On a final note, all the track that is in position now is fully wired and just needs to be tided up to make it look neater.

Sunrise in Altoona: 1 Hour Long Video of Norfolk Southern Trains Near Ro...

These Videos are amazing, you can get some much information from them, on how Yards are Operated and the different bits of equipment that are scattered around.

Ecos DCC Control Box

So a little building work this week, i need a place to house my Control system, so i found the perfect bit.  I will be use the Mobile app to run my locos, but its here tucked out the way, encase i need to add new Loco's

There is loads of room below for the locos to pass, and you can get to the points ok under there.  So another job done

Roseville Rail Yard - The largest rail yard in the West Coast - Californ...

Now this is an Amazing yard

First Lift out Section

 I feel this is a big step for me.  My layout is sitting in parts just now, The lower Yard, The Helix, the First Level run around, nothing connect.  Well here is my first connection.  I can now run from the lower yard onto the helix, and i can run around the back line into the complete siding (one piece of track to finish the other).  When i get onto the Helix i can go up three turns when i come off to the first level, where i need to build the next lift out,  I will need 4 in total

The point on the lift out was an after thought. I had an idea to have a small spur come off there that coal wagons can drop coal into Hoppers that will be below, for the Steam Loco's to be refilled before heading to the roundhouse.  The first of the three tracks is the Spur, the Second takes you up the Helix, and the last is a run around, that takes you to the two sidings at the back of the yard.

The Lift out is constructed of 11mm OSB and a 38x38 stiffener fixed below.  As i am using Ground Throws i am not to worried about wiring here, i will add a few connectors to allow power to transfer to the lift out.

Helix Side of the lift out,  I will add in the missing sleepers at a later time, and of course the ballast.








Workbench side of the liftout.  I am worried about the outside line begin to tight a radius for the Challenger,  I might be able to re-lay the track here if it is, but that will cause me alot of pain.  Tomorrow will tell if this is the case as my friend is bringing his over to test it.  If i cant get it around or fix the track, it means it wont be able to run into the back yard.  I was hoping to have it run everywhere and no restrictions on the layout, but i will live with this one.