Signaling off to a slow start, but it's finally started!

The last couple nights I've been trying to "get to know" my SE8C and other signaling components so I can finally kick off the signaling project.  I had already placed signals at the first eight control points, so now it's time to get them hooked up. 

After much frustration trying to figure it out myself, and plenty of additional reading that detailed the problems others were having (one of which seemed to be my exact problem) I finally got one signal bridge lit tonight.

"CLEAR, west on the main at Glace, NS 457 out!"

Scenery construction progress

I've been working on scenery construction on the upper level in Room #1, and also down through the Loops transition peninsula toward the lower level.

At this writing, green-painted plaster scenic base has been completed for the upper level between Johns Creek and Smith (east end of the siding at Paint Bank.)   There is also ballast in this section and some trees and groundcover around the bridge at Johns Creek.

Cardboard webbing is in place (background only at this point) between the switches at Paint Bank siding. 

Green-painted plaster scenic base is in place from Paint Bank (west end of siding) through Forester, VA.

Cardboard webbing is underway for background areas between Forester and Coleman (east end of the siding on the mountain) and is complete for the backgound areas through Ridge (west end of that siding) and most of the Loops.  I'm working out the Andrews Geyser scene in my head before completing the strips there.

I have left the foreground benchwork on the Loops peninsula exposed for now to facilitate installation of CTC wiring. 

With any luck, I'll be slinging some plaster in the next few days.  Just seeing the cardboard web has created a different feel for the Loops area.  I'm looking forward to continued progress there.

Marcus

CR&E Website Updated

There have been some updates (finally) to the CR&E website at www.kntower.com.

There's nothing too exciting on there, but I have updated the Tour section for the layout and the Operations section.

The Tour now includes the new (3/2011) trackage from New Castle through Abbott and Catawba to Roanoke.  It also includes the up-to-date Kessler & Northern branch territory.

The Operations page now has the latest train symbols, including through freights and locals operating on the division.

Marcus

Division Signal Project Begins

LEWISBURG, WV
Office of the Superintendent

During the week of December 26, 2011, work began on the CR&E Division's CTC signaling project.  Shop forces worked hard to construct signal bridges and cantilevers from the sills of retired freight cars, while surveyors and signal engineers in the field plotted the correct locations for the first several signals in the project.

All of this work follows the recent delivery of signal hardware from South Bend Signal Company and the additional acquisition of circuitry required to operate the signal system.

Phase One of the signal project has been identified to include controlled signals at the following interlocking plants:

KD Tower (west end of Lewisburg double track)
Lewis (east end of Lewisburg double track)
Caldwell (holdout location)
Glace (west end of Glace passing siding)
Cove Mountain (east end of Glace passing siding)
Anderson (holdout location)
Ridge (west end of Ridge passing siding)
Coleman (east end of Ridge passing siding)

Crews are in the process of positioning signals at all of these locations.  Currently, home signals are in place but not yet activated as follows:

KD Tower (eastbound cantilever signal)
Lewis (eastbound bridge signals and westbound mast signal)
Caldwell (eastbound and westbound mast signals)
Glace (westbound bridge signals)
Cove Mountain (eastbound bridge signals and westbound mast signal)
Ridge (westbound bridge signals)
Coleman (eastbound bridge signals)

More updates will be provided when available.