NAGWRLLYN

Discussion in 'Members Personal Layouts' started by Splitpin, Aug 30, 2017.

  1. Splitpin

    Splitpin Full Member

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    For your amusement and general derision, Splitpin's new layout begins.
    Where I'm at. Nagwrllyn is my current overgrown inglenook middle of the shelves in the junk room layout. It's 9x1 built 2003 or so and I've enjoyed it so much it'll stay in any new layout. DCC just for train driving, nothing else.It's been ready for a scenic pass for 15 years which I'm looking forward to now especially with the inspiration of what I've seen done by members here with custom back scenes. You'll see it's track plan below.
    [​IMG] It'll get more head height when I get rid of much much junk. It's also lying fallow and cramped as I've put together a 'proving grounds' layout to learn all the lacking DCC knowledge I'll need before launching into the big layout. Occupancy blocks, stopping where I want, rev loops, points management scheduling etc etc and tying this all back to software. No control panel whatsoever, just click on the screen.So it was never meant to be pretty, just a short term learning exercise and will get pulled up when it warms up enough here to construct baseboards in the garage and ... oh yeah when I actually have a plan.
    [​IMG] which follows
     
  2. Splitpin

    Splitpin Full Member

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    The room is 15' x 9'.There's 2 doors at the SE corner making crossing that area problematic. There's also a really useful floor to ceiling shelving edifice along the whole 'south' wall containing Nagwrllyn.

    Specs.
    1. Must have continuous double track running. I've been playing with Nagwrllyn since 2003, back and forward, back and forward - I want to just watch trains run and run and run, and play on the branch line.
    2. I was a programmer, I'm fascinated by the idea of automating 6+ trains like actors in a play running up and down a double main line never knowing quite which train is going to appear from where but that it makes sense as well ... up coal trains are always empty, down ones full, 6 coach express appears rarely once up, once down, lots of local passenger and local freight. That sort of thing.
    3. Brewery, it must have a brewery.

    I have three basic plan ideas in mind. This one is currently at the top of the pile but in no way certain but it does have double track continuous running, can be round and round or both tracks can access the reversing loop, or a mixture of both, main lines are totally flat - easy running. What I'm less impressed with is sooo much hidden track.
    The other two are some sort of dog bone twisted over on itself for mains but that's means the mains will have gradients and operation wouldn't be half as versatile in terms of automation - but more visible track.Or a round the room double loop - awkward negotiating the 2 door area though.The
    Branch line to Nagwrllyn is in all three.

    I used XtrakCad for planning.

    The first pic shows visible trackwork.
    [​IMG]

    Second pic shows what's really going on under the scenery and branch line.
    [​IMG]
     
  3. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Jesus ...... What a start. I hope you've got deep pockets. :avatar: did you design this from scratch yourself ? You better start stockpiling track .

    Looks excellent .... And ..... Has a brewery so it gets my vote.:avatar:

    Looking forward to seeing the build develop.

    Cheers

    Toto
     
  4. Ron

    Ron Full Member

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    Looking forward to following this build, don't forget to keep the questions coming. :thumbs:
     
  5. ianvolvo46

    ianvolvo46 Staff Member Moderator

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    Very impressive Splitpin but achievable in time. Are they Tri-ang celestery coaches I see in the 2nd photo?

    Ian vt
     
  6. Splitpin

    Splitpin Full Member

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    Toto.
    Not so bad, I have much of the point work and bundles of mostly re-useable flex track from the layout that got sacrificed for space ... later leading to the in-shelf jobbie. Means I'm committed to Code100 but that's not so bad. Also I've been plotting this for a long time, and actively collecting stuff for the last 3 years. So the only real costs from where I am, to laid track and test running, is baseboards and the stationary 'other' DCC components occupancy/points activation/feedback etc and wiring. And rose coloured glasses lol yeah I know but this is my retirement layout - the one you must not finish.
    Design it ? yeah it's all my fault, problem is I'm not sure it's the best I could do, what is ? but I am really open to any suggestions on how to squeeze any more of what I want into 15'x9' and as Ian says keep it achievable.
    Ian
    "Are they Tri-ang celestery coaches " - LOL - I'm old ok. Not quite - branded Hornby circa 2000 but probably exactly what you are referring to. They were really cool then. I have a proud rake of 3.
    JohnOD
    [line]this post may contain traces of single malt and late nights
     
  7. SMR CHRIS

    SMR CHRIS Staff Member Moderator

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    Hi John nice plans for your new layout
    There's plenty to do in the build should keep you going for a while, Just keeping up with all the new DCC tech will keep you busy.
    Thanks for posting going to follow along.
    http://www.click
     
  8. Kimbo

    Kimbo Staff Member Moderator

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    Hi John, any further progress on the layout build?
    Kim
     
  9. Splitpin

    Splitpin Full Member

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    Well yes Kimbo, in terms of two steps back and one forward, but progress yes. It is all about the journey isn't it ? And I've been feeling a bit guilty about my silence, but all the superb 0 gauge stuff around here is just so damm intimidating.
    Anyway, somebody with a bigger layout than me said in a video not far away, "it's easy just start in a corner and go from there" so I have, but that meant starting again. Nagwrllyn has been torn up and re-laid and rewired getting ready for ballasting. Pic1 also shows magnets for scenery location and plasticard covers for switch motors so those rocks don't fall through.
    Pic2. Those magnets are fantastic for locking scenery down. And the all new wall around the first 3ft of the layout. The wall was my first 'go' with weathering powders. The factory is on trial as back scene.
    In other news I've learnt a lot from my test larger layout. Mostly don'ts. Like, never again will I use a Peco Settrack Curved point. But mostly that I'll have to come up with a new big plan with larger radii and generally easier running for the mainline. 13'x9' isn't feeling very big right now.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  10. Kimbo

    Kimbo Staff Member Moderator

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    Hi John, some times starting again is the only way forward, it’s just a case of plucking up courage to rip up the old...well it looks like your well on your way. From what I can see in the pictures it looks like a great start.
    Wise move to replace the set track points. The odd one in a siding is fine but as you have found out for smoother running you need to increase the curves. May be it’s a case of less is more,less track work will allow more space for some quality track work, if you get my drift.
    I Don’t think it any different in any scale we model in, the room we have available just shrinks when you start adding pointwork, more so in o gauge with points almost two feet long!!
    Keep at it....” how do you eat an elephant ? One bite at a time”
    Doesn’t matter how big the bites are, you’ll get there:thumbs:
    I and I’m sure others, look forward to the next bite !
    Kim
     
  11. Splitpin

    Splitpin Full Member

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    Gee where did those 6 months go, but there has been progress.
    First thing was to change the plan. General rules still apply, double track main line roundy roundy for running and automating multiple trains. A branch line up to the old shelf layout. Changes are that we now go right round the room with a lifting bridge for access and the station has become a kinda 'fake' Terminus looking station thats also a reversing loop.

    Phase1a.jpg

    IMG_0116.JPG
    IMG_0117.JPG
    Phase1 was basically the outside loop of the room with 600mm baseboards round 3 sides of the room, the 4th side another layer in the shelves. And the lifting bridge - I've managed a Mark1 version thats taught me the lessons I needed to learn, works ok and looks simply awful. I have big plans for Mark2, still manual but ummmmm less chunky.
    So Phase1 was completed and I could start running trains and testing. For running automated trains the first thing I have to achieve is reliability, tried to take special care with tracklaying and it seems to have worked. The next month or two disappeared in running trains and tinkering with software.
    Recently I suffered a bout of motivation and have got stuck into Phase2 which completes the 2 main line loops and starts the station/town area. This requires a whole bunch of new benchwork with a curved laminated ply front which is turning out pretty well at this stage. You can also see the track plan/map and some 'still thinking' pieces.

    Phase2a.jpg

    IMG_0121.JPG
     
    jakesdad13 and Ron like this.
  12. SMR CHRIS

    SMR CHRIS Staff Member Moderator

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    Some good progress being made.
    Like the lifting bridge for layout entry :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: that gets the thumbs up form someone with a broken back :thumbs:
     
  13. Splitpin

    Splitpin Full Member

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    So another couple of very busy months and a huge milestone achieved. A functional layout - now the real work begins I guess.
    However I've been having too much fun in the last few weeks running trains and working with software and tinkering with locos and decoders to think about scenery or starting ballasting or posting some photos or anything else for that matter.

    So here's a walk round the current state of the room.

    The tour starts where you walk in, at the rustic lifting bridge. To the right there's a Bridge Too Far Too Late - The Townstreet Iron bridge - my first 'in place' piece of permanent scenery.
    Started work on the station too mainly because it covers/hides most of the fiddle yard and hidden tracks at the back and I had to work out how or even if it was going to work. And it will, so that's nice.

    1.jpg

    The station mostly just mocked up on paper but the canopy part at least is done. Temporary platforms of 15mm ply, 2 layers 3mm mdf, Scalescenes paper. They may be temporary for quite some time, get some edging on them all they'll look fine.

    As soon as it all 'worked' about 2 weeks ago I jumped right into 'Computer Automation' as that's been the goal from the beginning - the last two weeks has been mostly really good, many moments of sheer joy, some of blind terror. But I have had up to 5 trains running automagically and all playing politely for 15mins or so before something jumps off the track. Just short trains at the moment but that'll get better as I do more speed profiling of locos. My blocks should allow a 5 coach train with a tender loco comfortably in the end under auto control. Six under manual control just. That's too many for a 4x3M room anyway but cool once in a while.
    2.jpg
    3.jpg
    4.jpg
    5.jpg
    6.jpg

     
  14. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    The cat ain't looking too amused. :scratchchin: one swipe of that tail and you could have a major " cat " astrophy on your hands. :avatar:Looking good. :thumbs:
     
  15. Splitpin

    Splitpin Full Member

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    Happens, :facepalm: she just didn't like being woken up, she's very good really lol otherwise her cushion wouldn't be where it is.
     
  16. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Nice project you have there Splitpin :tophat: I guess the main thing is getting enjoyment out of your project and not to think the larger scales overshadow OO layouts because they don't, really. OO has the massive advantage that you can achieve things in spaces which otherwise larger scales would need a barn for. Now I too like the brewery so that's good for starters, and thanks for posting up pictures its all looks great.:thumbs:
     
  17. Splitpin

    Splitpin Full Member

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    Thanks Paul yes Rule 1 applies. I'm already aware I'm trying to or have squeezed too much in, but that's all the space I have and elegant simplicity wasn't the goal.
    The goal, the only goal for this stage was successful automation of 2 round the room mainline tracks. I was a software developer in a previous life, I have fantasies of being able to play with some AI of my own to control those trains in the future. There were a lot of compromises trying to achieve reliable running. Dead flat, no gradients and #3 radius minimum being the biggies. However in terms of that goal, I'm there in spades as far as I'm concerned, so now the next stage. I'm not sure what that is though … either starting some scenery on this, or start the branch line which winds it's way up to the original shelf layout lying fallow in the bookcase.
     

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