Build Progress - 07/23

Build Progress - 07/23

Have a few updates this month on different fronts. I didn't get to my goal of finishing the Level 2 peninsula benchwork, but have made a good start on it that'll continue (and hopefully complete) over the coming weeks.

Relaying of Curve Complete

Attempt 3 on the peninsula curve is so far, successful. This was a complete redo, including:

  • New benchwork, replaced with foam board and a plywood base which will help for the scenic elements later in this location
  • A slight relevelling of the benchwork on either side of the foam to ease the transition to the grade
  • Re-laying cork
  • Superelevation and releveling to eliminate twists
  • Replacement of hand-laid curved turnouts with Walthers ready made.

I took a fair bit of time to get this right, as I didn't want to do it again. So far initial testing with some of the more precious rolling stock I have (long wheelbase, limited lateral movement in the bogie) shows a significant improvement from the previous attempts.

last of the glueing in progress

ESP Upgrade

All of the existing ESPs have been swapped out with the new design detailed in my earlier post https://illawarraline.net/esp32s-for-block-detection-and-point-control-using-esphome/

I've also added a PCA9685 controller to each location to separate the servo power supply from the ESP. This has resulted in much more reliable operation when the system is initialised.

Upgraded board installed at Bombo

In doing the upgrade I added an additional piece of code to allow real-time updates to endpoints, which helps massively when a servo may buzz on a particular endpoint. Log into the website, adjust the backoff value and job done!

Running some trains!

As I've now stopped doing any type of contstuction in the shed that creates dust, I've started to stage a few trains on the layout and am shuttling them end to end. Mostly to help shake down the track work, but its a good motivator seeing a train crawl through the whole layout and back again. As I have no run-round facility at the top end, I stage a set of locos in Kiama and bring them up behind any freight trains to take them back to staging and loop around back to the top again.‌

Ballast train halted on the main at Bombo, with a Bomaderry-bound train sitting in staging below.

As the trains are now using the block detectors, I've test fitted a few SMD resistors to some wagons. These are 3.3k resistors which with my detectors seem to work well. I found in testing the threshold is <3.6k so this should keep them reliable. I've got another 1000 resistors on the way so I'll start chipping away at the fleet now to get it all done.

First lot of resistors going on

Level 2 Peninsula Benchwork

After much procrastination I've started on Level 2's peninsula benchwork. Its one of those things where I can only plan to a certain point, and after that I just need to go ahead and do it. So as a result some of the key supports are in place, and i've temporarily fixed the end pieces on to get an idea on how it looks, and start doing some testing on the overall strength of the design. I may need to bolster underneath with brackets to prevent sagging over time, it may be over-engineering it but will give me some piece of mind. The last piece around to the rear of the layout will hopefully be completed in the next 1-2 weeks, and join up with the left-hand side.

The updated design for the yard and benchwork layout
first lot of benchwork going up

Other little bits

  • Extended the Bombo Ballast quarry sidings to fit 5 cars each evenly.
5 cars per siding now fit without issue
  • Bought a displaycase for Lego from K-Mart, turned it into a case to display locos when not on the layout.
  • Revisited my staging manager that I built a while ago. This runs in node-red and will (hopefully) manage the staging yard automatically at the direction of the dispatching, which will be beneficial once the staging is hidden.