My Christmas Layout and New Train

[jimhaleyscomet]

Below is my new Christmas layout.  There is also my new K-line "Santa Train" Set that I just got today.

Right after I got done adjusting cutting out plywood bottoms for the upper tracks I saw the "cookie cutter" method in my new CTT.  Oh well....I will use that next time!





Jim H

[jimhaleyscomet]

Here are a few more pictures.  I love the way my Marx 6" cars look with the Plymouth switcher.  And talk about no noise! 





Jim H

[pbjwilson]

Very nice set up. I like the way the Plymouth switcher looks pulling the Marx cars too! Great idea. The snow with the lites underneath looks really cool too.

But I think you are breaking the rules. No Christmas layouts before Thanksgiving, Man Law.

[trainbrain]

Sorry but I can't see the pix. Must be another feature of the new Explorer 7.0!!

[jefelectric]

I can't see them either and I'm still using 6.0.

[ADCX Rob]

What's Explorer?

Rob(Mozilla Firefox User)

[jimhaleyscomet]

Let's try again.  I hope four pictures follow:










Jim H

[pbjwilson]

WOW! I'm noticing all kinds of stuff after looking at these for awhile. Hope others are seeing these.

I see a Christmas kitty. That should be interesting. My cat likes to run off with my  trees and chew them.

Also noticed two loops around the tree. A Christmas BEEP. And is that a K-line Christmas set? I think you've got it pretty well covered. Very impressive.

Just reread your original post. That is the K-line set. Looks nice.

[jimhaleyscomet]

I was wondering if anyone would see the kitty.  I missed her at first.  The K-line Santa Set I just recieved today from JusTrains.   It was only about $100 (was missing the transformer).  It's a pretty nice set, but I could not use the "Christmas on Parade" car.  It is too wide for this layout.  Next year I will make the clearance a tad larger (and use the cookie cutter method in this months CTT instead of trestles!). 

I originally had a crossover but my Marx engines did not like it.  I also originally had another loop with switches under the tree....except I purchased a new tree and the base was too big.  The long route is run by 3 transformers - 3 power blocks.  One for up hill, one for down hill and one for level running.  This way I can two trains on the long loop.  The little Supertrack loop is run by its own transformer.

The track layout is as follows:



Jim H

[riverrailfan]

You have your tree up already. I thought it was bad when When the local radio station started playing christmas music on 11/1.

[lionelsoni]

I guess I'll make my standard warning here against running between blocks powered by different transformer outputs.  At least the transformers are separate, so that the circuit breakers are effective.

[jimhaleyscomet]

guess I'll make my standard warning here against running between blocks powered by different transformer outputs.  At least the transformers are separate, so that the circuit breakers are effective.

I have an old (with external fuse) and a new ZW.  Should I use one of them instead?

Jim H

[lionelsoni]

No.  The problem is that the two transformers powering the track on either side of the gap are trying to enforce their own, different, voltages on the same train when the pickup crosses the gap.  This produces a fault current that is very like a short circuit.  It causes arcing at the pickup rollers, inductive voltage spikes, and, if the train happens to stop over the gap and you are using a single multi-output transformer, damage to wiring and transformer, which is not protected by its circuit breaker.

The problem is of course exacerbated when someone accidentally increases the voltage differences among the transformers.

The best solution I know of is to use a single transformer with a passive voltage-dropping element in series with each of the blocks (except for the highest-voltage, uphill, block).  The most practical device for this is an old-fashioned rheostat.

[cnw1995]

Very nice indeed - though too early for me. How about a Thanksgiving layout?  I echo this warning about transformers across the gap. This is way I used to have my layout in ignorance.

[jimhaleyscomet]

There are three reasons I put it up so early.

1.  I knew it would take a fair amount of effort so I wanted to finish before Thanksgiving. 
2.  I needed to move it out of the room used for "construction".
3.  We have some visitors coming this week and I wanted it set up before they leave.
4.   I JUST COULD NOT WAIT TO FINISH MY FIRST (more than just a loop) CHRISTMAS LAYOUT!

Jim H

[jimhaleyscomet]

"The most practical device for this is an old-fashioned rheostat."

Where would I find a few of these?  Do you have any part numbers?  Are they huge like a transformer or smaller like a switch?  I am now running of my old ZW but each Tap is "protected" by a separate fuse.

Jim H

[lionelsoni]

They are small, only about 4 inches long and have a maximum resistance of about 5 ohms.  Search for "Lionel rheostat" (without the quotation marks) on Ebay.  You should be able to get them for $5 to $10 each.  Some model numbers are 81, 88, or 95.  They were used before the war with transformers whose output could not easily be adjusted.