Phase 4 Complete 01 May 2007

Staging Level Trackage and Basic Electrical Systems are Operational

The basic loop-to-loop lower level with three five-track staging yards is operating. Occupancy detectors are installed, the turnouts are all motorized, and a virtual CTC board (using JMRI PanelPro) is operational. As can be seen in many of the photos a lot of "clean-up" of electical wiring is still going on. Some of this wiring is subject to change in the next phase of construction so there was no immediate need to tie it all up in neat bundles just yet. Testing of trackwork and train operation will continue as the electrical system is refined and additional control elements are brought on line in Phase 5. Phase 5 officially began on May 1, two years after layout construction began.

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(1) The staging level consists of 2 reversing loops (the West Loop and the East Loop) that are connected by a series of three staging yards (A, B, and C). See the schematic - the staging level trackage is in red. This configuration is designed to allow complete flexibility in the storage and sequencing of "off stage" trains. Minimum siding capacity is 35 cars (allowing a prototype average of 45' per car). This photo is of the West Loop.

(2) Power District 1 and West Loop auto reversing controls. The staging level has five power districts altogether, each having its own AC power supply, Digitrax 8A DB200 Booster, DC power supply (salvaged PC supply) and DCCOD block occupancy detectors. In addition, each reversing loop has auto reversing circuits and automatic turnout control. This picture is of the components for Power District 1, controlling the West Loop.

(3) This is the West throat to Staging Yard A. The rightmost track (Track 1) is actually the through "main" and will not be used for normal staging. All tracks on the layout are numbered from the aisle side toward the wall. Here, Track 1 (the "main") is on the far right, and Track 5 is on the far left. In the distance, mounted on a shelf against the benchwork skirt, are the central components for Power District 2.

(4) Power Districts 2, 3 and 4 are all electrically similar. These are the central components of Power District 2. In the photo, from front to back, are the DC power supply, 7 DCCOD occupancy detectors (monitoring the East and West throats plus the 5 yard tracks), the DB200 booster and its AC power supply and the DS64 interface to LocoNet. Seven of the 8 DS64 inputs are used to communicate block occupancy back to JMRI via LocoNet. Not readily visible in the photo is a "relay card", controlled by the DS64, to cut DCC power to tracks 2-5. The intent is to kill power to staged trains to silence them as well as to guard against the occasional "runaway".

(5) This is the East Throat of Staging Yard A and the West Throat of Staging Yard B. The two DS-64s visible in the picture control the staging yard turnouts. The one on the left controls the East throat of Staging Yard A and is part of Power District 2 while the one on the right controls the West throat of Staging Yard B and is part of Power District 3. DS64 Outputs control the switch motors and Inputs are used to communicate point position back (normal or reverse) back to JMRI via LocoNet. Both units are mounted on removable panels to ease future maintenance when the second level will competely cover this area.

(6) This view, looking East down "The Narrows", includes Staging Yard B (on the left) and the Tower that holds the central components for Power District 3. Since the three staging yards are each around 40-45 feet long dedicated boosters are provided to keep track power bus lengths to a minimum. Boosters and block occupancy detectors are located as close to the center of each staging yard as practical. Maximum DCC power load for each staging yard will occur with one train exiting , one train entering, and four trains "idling". This will exceed the capacity of an 8A Digitrax booster - hence the provision to cut power to tracks with idle trains.

(7) Looking back down "The Narrows" from the East throat of staging Yard B. The West Loop trackage is on the left.

(8) This is Staging Yard C, as seen from its West Throat. The DS64 visible on the left controls this throat and is part of Power District 4. The central components for Power District 4 are on the over-track-tower in the distance.

(9) A close up view of Power District 4 components. Most of the power district components for this level of the layout are mounted on these "over-track-tower" arrangements. They are all designed as slide out trays since access after addition of the second track level will be limited.

(10) This view looks down the tracks of Staging Yard C toward its East Throat. The DS64 on the left controls just two turnouts. The unused inputs are used for occupancy detector feedback. The through "main" (Track 1) is along the aisle.

(11) This is the East Loop, with its auto-reversing/turnout controller and Power District 5 components mounted in the over-the-tracks tower.

(12) This is the shop track and JMRI control center. There is a 5A DCS100 (and associated electronics) inside the white box under the programming track. Eventually this track will join the layout trackage (on the second level). The DCS100 is the master controlller for programming and LocoNet commands to the entire layout. It also provides the interface to JMRI (via a USB LocoBuffer). It does not provide track power to the layout - that is all provided by the 8A DB200 units distributed around the layout.

(13) This is Staging Yard A and the West Loop, as displayed by JMRI PanelPro. Occupancy lights and turnout controls/indication are all fully functional. Signal levers are not operational because there will be no actual signals on the hidden staging trackage. Operation of these levers and their lamps will be incorporated into the procedures to be used to dispatch and stage trains.

(14) This is Staging Yard B as displayed by JMRI PanelPro. When PanelPro opens a Python script automatically runs to first check that no trains are parked over a turnout, and then to safely place all staging turnouts into their "nominal" position. Normally this is exact;y where they are when the layout powers up, but this makes sure. In addition, sending appropriate open or close commands to all the turnouts also updates the computer displays.

(15) This is Staging Yard C and the East Loop, as displayed by JMRI PanelPro. These three panels were implemented quickly, primarily as a learning tool, but also to provide basic control of the layout for now. In addition to controlling the layout now, these panels serve as "prototypes" for development of hardware panels (later - much later) and operational procedures.