Hello everyone, I'm a Chinese railroad modeler but the newbie for this forum. I have viewed this forum for a long time and learned more and more skills. Thanks Again!
After monthly planning for my 2nd N Scale Germany style Layout - Schneidburg, the big moment finally arrived at Oct, 2007! Hope to get more advices about my layout design and I'll appreciate every one from you!
The layout was designed by Wintrack 3D 7.0 and illustrated by Adobe Illustration CS.
A. This is the up level layout plan and the theme of Schneidburg is set in German during 1960s. The landscape is typically German with 2 railway stations, freight yard, Engine Terminal Service, little villages and old towns.
The plan is based on wide curves and narrow-angle turnouts. All curves start with an easement, which results in nicely flowing lines. The track system is Peco Code 55. For the Realistic running, I use the #8 electrical frog turnout in mainline and #6 in the yard.
B. Upper Level Technical Plan:
Schnediburg is a purely DCC Layout Controlled by Railroad & Co Train Controller 5.8 and I made highly detailed technical drawings before I started working. I added all isolations, turnout numbers controlled by stationary decoder, feedback occupancy detectors, power circuits, block numbers and signals. It is a lot of work, but once I have completed the drawings, I can work without having to rethink everything over and over again.
C. Lower level Technical plan.
D. The Germany Signal System is complicated and it confused me for a long time. After research a lots of website and test again and again, I finalize the signal system of Schneidburg.
The Signal system of Schneidburg railway Station:
The Signal system of yard:
Because of the file size of the full scale layout plan is very big; you can download the entire layout plan from:
http://www.ezonics.com.cn/download/Train/Webpost/Download/Schneidburg.pdf
The DCC System:
1. Command Center:
The Fleischmann Twin Center which is OEM by the Uhlenbrock Intellibox is the command Center of the Schneidburg. The Twin Center integrated with a 3A booster and 2 throttles supported almost all bus system over the world such as loconet, S88 and Marklin. I'm very happy with it.
2. Stationary Decoder:
For controlling the Tortoise turnout motor and Viessmann signal, I use the Uhlenbrock 63410 switch module as my stationary decoder. It has 20 switch outputs at 1A and each output can be independently configured as a continuous output (for lamps) or momentary output (for turnouts or signals).
Of course you can use 2 outputs for controlling the Tortoise, but it is not cost effective. And I found another potential problem of the Peco turnout: the point rail cannot get the power if I weather the turnout because the point rail gets the power from the connection point with the stock rail. I designed a very simple PCB board and the polarity of the Tortoise and electrical frog of Peco Turnout can be changed by the Relay.
Please don't forget to remove the spring when the turnout was driven by the Tortoise
3. Feedback Module:
Of course the Digitrax BDL-168 is the best choice for the feedback detect. But I can't understand why Digitrax do not put the naked PCB board into a plastic box for dust protection just like the Europe manufacturers. I also purchased 7 Uhlenbrock 63340 feedback modules which can support 8 detectors.
Before I start to construct the layout, I built a small desk for more testing and it was very helpful for me.
Now I'm working on the Benchwork!
Wow! Very impressive. I like this style of layout, but my only concern would the ease of maintaining and operating it...some of the reaches are substantial.
Please continue to post images as you can.
This will be worth watching.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
I second the others. Very nice.
Such planning to that level this early in the construction is very good.