Garden Whistle Apr 2012 - Sandman.org.nz
Garden Whistle Apr 2012 - Sandman.org.nz Garden Whistle Apr 2012 - Sandman.org.nz
The Garden Whistle - April 2012 MacDiarmid Ken & Liz’s Meeting Railway Trains running in opposite directions pass at one of the stations on the line Text by Ken MacDiarmid (Auckland) Photos by Greg Booth (Auckland) Well, our week started with about six inches of flood water in our basement/garage/train storage area, and after three days of frantic carpet airing, ended still slightly smelly!! None of our 35 (about) society members attending were unkind enough to mention it. Ken’s layout which incorporates many of Henrik’s suggestions, is run completely on Digital command control using the very sophisticated ESU Ecommand Operating System, with NCE 5 and 10 amp boosters, LGB handheld cabs, and a variety of decoders, from Loksound 1 and 3amp to Digitrax 5 amp with relays, and Lenz for the smaller Ford railtruck. In addition we have been busy exploring the iPod...... An iPod (or iPhone) sports a vast number of “apps”, and one of these we discovered turns these iGadgets into a sophisticated handheld model railway controller, with - to date - only one fault - it operates only on Lenz or Ecos central stations. This iPod does very well, with a colour graphic interface and a Wi-Fi reliable range greater than any other radio control systems we have used. [Look it up! Its in Appstore/ Utilities and named Touchcab.] Herein lies the great virtue of the Loksound system, that it can be mixed with any NMRA compatible segment. Inexpensive American high current decoders and boosters can be paired with clever German electronic architecture. Even LGB! In spite of Murphy’s law the double track layout functioned well on it’s first real test, needing two “Loco Engineers” for running trains in opposing directions, (see the layout diagram) through the long loop, with diverging single and double track sections. The additional bottom horseshoe gives us a height difference of 5 feet from the lowest yard to the spiral, with an average gradient of 3.5% and a total track length of 170 meters plus storage sidings Here we were very indebted to Jenny Keal who gave Hugh permission to come and help us Page 12
The Garden Whistle - April 2012 run the layout. Thanks Jenny. The layout control system has an “if only I’d known” history. We tried an automatic signalled train control system which hinged on tracing locomotives on and off the sections of single track, to avoid head-on smashes. We could not buy dependable reed switches in NZ, and as they failed, so did the whole system. So we chopped the heart out of it and ended with a simple but not prototypical signal system which indicated when a single track section was occupied. That meant that the engine driver had to wait at the junction until he sighted the opposing train moving through the turnout. Thereafter, as he inched forward he switched the turnout before him AND the signal turned to green. Pretty sneaky! But it looks good, and it works - after a fashion. We will have to find big fat reed switches somewhere. The track plan does not show indoor storage sidings The very relaxed 'pot luck dinner' captured twenty members who stayed on to share and keep us entertained until after 9pm that night with a great deal of discussion about the Christchurch convention with its different structure. Though people seemed to see value in it Brenda and Glen set it up only because a hall was so difficult to find in shattered Christchurch. An enjoyable day. The indoor storage yard. Brian scratch built this Mid West Quarry building. Left Top: Michael Hilliar & John Reinecke Left Bottom: Crossing the diamond crossing under the house Page 13
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The <strong>Garden</strong> <strong>Whistle</strong> - <strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2012</strong><br />
MacDiarmid Ken & Liz’s Meeting Railway<br />
Trains running in opposite directions pass at one of the stations on the line<br />
Text by Ken MacDiarmid (Auckland)<br />
Photos by Greg Booth (Auckland)<br />
Well, our week started with about six inches<br />
of flood water in our basement/garage/train storage<br />
area, and after three days of frantic carpet<br />
airing, ended still slightly smelly!!<br />
None of our 35 (about) society members attending<br />
were unkind enough to mention it.<br />
Ken’s layout which incorporates many of Henrik’s<br />
suggestions, is run completely on Digital<br />
command control using the very sophisticated<br />
ESU Ecommand Operating System, with NCE 5<br />
and 10 amp boosters, LGB handheld cabs, and a<br />
variety of decoders, from Loksound 1 and 3amp<br />
to Digitrax 5 amp with relays, and Le<strong>nz</strong> for the<br />
smaller Ford railtruck. In addition we have<br />
been busy exploring the iPod......<br />
An iPod (or iPhone) sports a vast number of<br />
“apps”, and one of these we discovered turns<br />
these iGadgets into a sophisticated handheld<br />
model railway controller, with - to date - only<br />
one fault - it operates only on Le<strong>nz</strong> or Ecos central<br />
stations. This iPod does very well, with a<br />
colour graphic interface and a Wi-Fi reliable<br />
range greater than any other radio control systems<br />
we have used. [Look it up! Its in Appstore/<br />
Utilities and named Touchcab.]<br />
Herein lies the great virtue of the Loksound system,<br />
that it can be mixed with any NMRA compatible<br />
segment. Inexpensive American high<br />
current decoders and boosters can be paired with<br />
clever German electronic architecture. Even<br />
LGB!<br />
In spite of Murphy’s law the double track layout<br />
functioned well on it’s first real test, needing<br />
two “Loco Engineers” for running trains in opposing<br />
directions, (see the layout diagram)<br />
through the long loop, with diverging single and<br />
double track sections. The additional bottom<br />
horseshoe gives us a height difference of 5 feet<br />
from the lowest yard to the spiral, with an average<br />
gradient of 3.5% and a total track length of<br />
170 meters plus storage sidings<br />
Here we were very indebted to Jenny Keal<br />
who gave Hugh permission to come and help us<br />
Page 12
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