Appalachian Southern

I am not sure where all the time has gone since my last post. Just trying to get all the materials ready for my wiring panel has taken some time. I am centrally locating as many of my DCC components as possible to minimize the rats nest of wiring that tends to develop under a layout. This centralized panel gives ready access to DCC bus power, 12 volt DC for power supplies, and 120VAC for other needs.  All of my power districts will be centally managed here on this panel. All of the DS64 tortoise controlers will also be mounted here. As the layout grows, the panel will grow to accomodate the needed devices. I have about five additional feet in which the panel can grow.

In the photos below you can see the red and black terminal strips which distribute the DCC bus lines to the layout. The blue and black terminal blocks house the 12 volt DC power for the AX lines on the DS64 units.  The wiring channels have lids that will cover up all the wiring when I am done. This is the same way I used to wire machines, and it works good for the layout.  This wiring channel is 1″ square, but I likely should have purchased 1″ x 2″ to accommodate all of the wiring. This is going to be a tight fit for the amount of wires that will call these channels home.

The first locomotive will be running in  a few minutes! I am excited!  Oops, can’t run anything without some LocoNet cables. I guess I will go and make those!

DCC Central Control Panel

DS64s Mounted to the Control Panel

8 Conductor CAT3 Cable to the Remote Tortoise Machines

DCC Bus Line Distribution Terminal Blocks

Shelf Holds Power Supply and DCS200 Next to the Control Panel

This week I have been working on installing the tortoise switch machines and installing the drops from the track to the DCC bus lines. Each rail  gets its own feeder to the DCC bus lines. The isolated frog of each switch also gets one drop so the tortoise can control the polarity to the turnout frog. This will allow the motive power to crawl slowly through the turnouts.  All is going well so far.

Tomorrow I will start mounting the two Digitrax DS64 units that will be required to add DCC control to these six turnouts.  At that point I can also add my 12v DC power runs to each DS64 and wire up the Tortoise switch machines.  I use DIN rail mounted terminal blocks with jumper bus bars to tie the rail drops into the bus lines.   Here are couple of pictures of the progress so far.

Wiring Drops to the DCC Bus Lines

In the following picture you can see the wiring drops from each turnout’s isolated frog.

Six Tortoise Switch Machines Installed

Valium is completely overrated… I was looking forward to the calming effects it was supposed to have. It is funny how Benadryl can knock me on my butt, but Valium does nothing….  With a sore mouth,  I spent the morning gluing track and inserting filler cross ties at my track joints. The scene is improving every day. Unless my plans change for some reason, tomorrow will be tortoise switch machines and DCC installation day.

Filler Cross Ties Improve the Looks of Things

Atlas code 55 finally made its way onto the layout today in the staging area. I figured I would do the complicated part first.  I haven’t cut the track at the gate yet. The adhesive is still drying.

First Code 55 Atlas Track Laid on the Layout

Atlas Code 55 N Scale on Drop Gate

#7's Ready for Tortoises