36th National Narrow Gauge Convention

The 36th National Narrow Gauge Convention was held in Augusta, Maine from September 7th through the 10th.  There was a mix of Maine two-foot prototypes and models, along with clinics and the Manufacturer's/Vendor room.  Most Convention activities took place at the Civic Center.  There were three rooms full of modular layouts.  I visited the WW&F, and the SR&RL prototype railroads, and several layouts.  I am sharing a few pictures of the prototype and modular railroads.

Prototype

Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington No. 9.  This locomotive has been fully restored.  Two-foot locomotives are cute!

Monson Railroad No. 3, running on the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes.  This is a short run, but we had multiple photo run-bys. 

Models

 

Denver & RIo Grande Western No. 271, a C-16 class locomotive, beside the Dolores Feed Mill on the Canadian group's Dolores On3 modular layout.

Rio Grande Southern No. 41 running on the Canadian group's modular layout.  This is a new module, connected to their Dolores scene.

Another view of RGS 41 on the new module.

The Wye at Dolores

I have completed installation of the wye at Dolores on my version of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad.  I made use of spline sub-roadbed to build smooth, eased curves leading into the wye, as well as the curved tracks of the wye itself.  I used 3/16" thick lauan plywood to construct the wye.  I cut leftover scrap lauan plywood into 1/2" wide by 8 foot long strips.  These strips were laminated together to form the sub-roadbed.  I am using 2" wide sub-roadbed to support Homasote roadbed made by Cascade Rail Supply.  This roadbed is supplied in two pieces, allowing curves to be made easily.  The two-piece construction makes a solid sub-roadbed very desirable.  I found that it required 11 strips of the lauan plywood, laminated together, to achieve the desired width.

As with Dolores, I chose to control the turnouts using Berrett Hill Trains Touch Toggles.  I used a DCC Specialties OG-AR Auto Reverser salvaged from my previous layout to automatically change the polarity of the rails as the train is turned.  The OG-AR has been replaced by the PSX-AR.

Overall view of the wye at Dolores.  The mainline curves from the upper right of the photo to the lower left .  It consists of 11 strips of lauan plywood laminated together using Titebond Ultimate III wood glue. 

The unfinished end of the laminated roadbed.  The varying lengths of the lauan plywood strips is shown.  This allows additional strips to be easily added.

THe end of the wye, showing the Cascade Rail Supply two-piece Homasote roadbed.  I marked the center strip of lauan plywood to ease installation of the roadbed.

 

It takes a lot of clamps to glue the strips together!

This is a small, inexpensive level available at local home centers.  I used this to ensure the track was level from side-to-side, and that a consistent uphill grade was achieved.

The electronic components required to control the turnouts and polarity of the wye.  Top row:  Berrett Hill Trains Touch Toggle components; consisting of 12 volt power supply, Tortoise connectors, 4 output Direct Base, and 4 Touch Toggles.  Bottom row:  DCC Specialties OG-AR automatic reverser.

Touch Toggles for Turnout Control

One of my goals for this model railroad is to try new technologies and techniques that can improve my modeling experience, and create a more enjoyable, authentic model railroad.  On the previous layout, I initially had control panels with Rotary-switch block controls, and DPDT switches to control turnouts.  When I converted the layout to DCC, I eliminated all block controls.  I also decided to convert to turnout control using DCC accessory decoders.  While this worked well, visitors to the layout found it difficult to remember turnout numbers, and how to throw the turnouts using the handheld throttles.  A new product has been introduced, Touch Toggles from Berrett Hill Trains.  I decided to give these a try after evaluating them at a couple of train shows.

I am using Tortoise slow motion switch machines to control turnouts on the entire layout.  The town of Dolores has ten turnouts, and the Lost Canon stock pens has one, for a total of eleven turnouts to be controlled by Touch Toggles.  I purchased two four-output Direct System packages, each of which consist of a four-output Direct Base, four one-light Touch Toggles (which change color from red to green), and a 12-volt power supply.  I also purchased two additional two-output Direct Bases, two one-light Touch Toggles, and a new Mini-Cup Toggle, to control the lone turnout in Lost Canon.

I mounted the Direct Bases to the layout framing, and connected the power supply to the 110 volt layout power.  I plugged the Touch Toggles into the Direct Base, and the Tortoises are wired up to the screw connectors on the  Tortoise connectors.  This is much easier than soldering to the Tortoise.  Note:  the turnouts in Dolores are connected using SNAPS! wiring connectors from Accu-lites.  Similar connectors are available from Berrett Hill Trains; solder-style edge connectors are available from Greenway Products.  All turnouts in the Durango portion of the layout make use of the Greenway Products edge connectors.  I personally prefer a connector with screw terminals.

The Mini-Cup Toggle is intended for installations where a single control is needed, such as at the Lost Canon.

These are the Touch Toggle components used on each end of Dolores.  At the top is the 110 volt power supply.  From left to right are the:  4-position Direct Base; 2-position Direct Base; 5 single-light Touch Toggles; Mini-Cup Toggle.  Located below the Direct Base units are the #6x3/4" screws used to mount the Direct Base to the layout framework.  Note that only one power supply is required.  The Direct Bases can be connected together by removing the red cover from the pins, and plugging them together. 

Rio Grande Southern reaches Dolores, CO

I recently completed the trackwork into Dolores, Colorado.  The latest expansion to the layout consists of the crossing of the Animas River just outside Durango.  The track then passes by the Lost Canon stock pens, and climbs up a 1.75% grade into the town of Dolores.  The photos show that the diorama containing the Depot, Goose Barn, Toilet Building, and Gas Pump has been installed in a new location, compared to the previous track plan.  This demonstrates that track plans are fluid, and subject to change as construction progresses.  Future buildings include the Dolores Feed and Fruit Warehouse, Ford Dealer, Water Tank, and Pump House.  Eleven turnouts are in place, and controlled by Tortoise slow-motion switch machines.  The track is Code 55 Flex Track by Micro Engineering, and the No. 6 turnouts are scratchbuilt using Fast Tracks fixtures.  Turnout control, which is to be installed, will be accomplished using Berrett Hill Trains Touch Toggles.  Wiring has been completed, and trains have successfully negotiated the new trackwork into Dolores.  The following photos show the progress so far.

Rio Grande Southern bridge over the Animas River.

Overview of the Lost Canon trackage.  The Animas River bridge is to the right; the turnout will service the Lost Canon Stock Pens.  In the distance can be seen the town of Dolores.

Dolores CO.  Original diorama installed in permanent location on the layout.  Two inch blue foam was used as the base for the module, and additional sections. 

Overview of the town of Dolores.  The original diorama is located in the distance.  The ashpit/locomtive service tracks have been added.

A closer view of the original Dolores diorama, with the locomotive service tracks installed.

A view of the Dolores Depot installed in the layout.

View showing how the Dolores diorama was integrated into the layout.

The Dolores, CO CONOCO oil facility.  This is a Raggs...to Riches kit.  The main line will curve around to the left behind the oil facility.

Updated Trackplan

I have updated the track plan as follows.  Note that Ridgway has been moved to the end "blob", with a return loop added for continuous running.  This eliminates the need for a second deck.  Yes indeed, this track plan has been undergoing continuous modification.  However, construction is also proceeding.  The track is complete into Dolores, and is the subject of the next post.

Rio Grande Southern Railroad, v2.4.  Track from Dolores  to Ridgway is subject to change.

Benchwork Blitz

I have updated the trackplan shown in previous posts.  As such, I have recently constructed benchwork for the next section of the layout.  This section will house Hesperus, Vance Junction, Dolores, Lost Canon, Rico, and Placerville.  The benchwork for Ophir has not been started.  Also, the benchwork for Ridgway has not been started.  Some modification to the Ridgway scene may be required.

Note that a second deck is included for Ridgway.  The original location for Ridgway was too small; therefore a second deck was included above Hesperus and Vance Junction.  Dolores also required additional space, so it has been moved to a location along the center peninsula.  Rico will be at the end of the center peninsula, and Ophir will be on its own peninsula.

Overall view of the newly constructed benchwork.  The center peninsula, which will contain Rico and the Pro Patria Mill, is in the foreground.

The new benchwork showing the tentative location of the town of Dolores.

The central peninsula, showing its relationship to the existing town of Duango (in the background).

Latest Track Plan

I have been working on revisions to the track plan for my Rio Grande Southern layout.  Rather than post the plan in my previous post, I thought that it merited its own post.  Therefore, I am presenting the "final" plan.

Rio Grande Southern, v 2.2