Signaling update 6/20/12

Signal installation is going better than I ever expected, although I have had the disappointment of a few LED's that will not light up.  I've been given the advice to check them to be sure they aren't shorting before sending the signal heads back to the manufacturer for replacement.
As of this writing, seven control points have had their signals installed and lit up.  These include:

Lewis - eastbound signal bridge, westbound two-headed mast signal
Caldwell - two single-headed mast signals
Glace - eastbound two-headed mast signal, westbound signal bridge
Cove Mountain - eastbound signal bridge, westbound two-headed mast signal
Anderson - two single-headed mast signals
Ridge - eastbound two-headed mast signal, westbound signal bridge
Coleman - eastbound signal bridge, westbound two-headed mast signal

This loads up all but one position on the first SE8C.  The first position has been left unused until I get cabling long enough to reach the signals at KD Tower (west end of Lewisburg.)

The eastbound main track signal at Lewis has a green LED that will not light.  The westbound main track signal at Glace has a red LED signal that will not light.  Of course both of these are built into the scratchbuilt signal bridges.  I'm hoping to be able to simply replace the heads if I can't get the LED's to light, but I suspect I will have to build new bridges.   Lesson learned - test LED's before installing in the signal bridges.

Turnout control is my next project, and then messing around in JMRI to get the control moved to the computer and detection working with the signals.

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