Barry’s DCC bus wiring has to be seen to be believed:
“Hi Al, after seeing Cameron’s article, I decide to send in some photos of my test track.
I have to clean out my double garage (9M x 6M), to make room for my track, so I only have a test track at the moment.
I decided to use Digitrax DCC equipment, which is why I built the test track (8′ x 2′), so that I could get all the equipment to work with the computer software.
I tried JMRI initially, but found it too hard to work out, so went with Rocrail (both programs are free).
I have since bought Train Controller Gold, as this will give me better control in the future.
The reason my wiring is fairly neat, is because I am an “A class electrician”, and I am used to working with higher voltages than 16v, and I was taught as an apprentice to be neat and tidy (and it is a habit I cannot change).
The photo of the steam engine was taken from my back door, and they try and run the steam engines when the weather permits.
The town I was born and grew up in is called Goolwa (in South Australia, and I still live there), is home to Australia’s FIRST railway line in 1854.
This was built to transport river goods (Goolwa is on the River Murray, near its mouth), to a place called Middleton (on the Southern Ocean). When I start on my bigger layout, I will keep you posted on my progress.
Barry”
A big thanks to Barry and my word! That’s the neatest wiring I have ever seen.
Now on to Bill:
“Mr. Lee, Check this out if you have not seen this before I think you will enjoy. Located in Lethbridge, Alberta Canada. I stumbled on this on the way to Calgary a couple years ago.
Bill”
“Al;
The other day out in my garage where the doggie is I noticed some white stuff like stuffing on garage floor. Come to find out its from a pillow my son thru away and he missed the trash can………..Immediately I thought about snow drifts areas that linger from not getting enough sun exposure…..sheltered areas….gullies fencelines…etc. I dont think it would work for larger areas of snow cover but who knows It probably would if there werent plans for alot of other scenery….
Just wanted to share SO check old pillows before they hit the dumpster, trash truck…..
DG”
“Al,
I’ve been away from the model railroading hobby for several years due to it becoming less important than other things in my life, so I’m not up on the latest available technology. But I’m beginning to think it’s time to get back to a hobby I’ve had since I was a kid (I’m 56 now).
I always ran my trains to what I perceived as scale speed, but alas, some throttle packs don’t do well at slow speeds. Yet, others do. There are several factors that affect the ability to operate the models at near-scale speeds, such as condition of the motors, cleanliness of the track and the powered trucks’ wheels, weight of the train, and the throttle’s potentiometer (throttle).
Aside from those kinds of things, there’s the scale itself; the smaller the scale the harder it is to achieve scale movements. This is because, while we have succeeded in reducing the scale of the railroad world with amazing detail, we can never reduce the scale of their molecular structures! The laws of physics cannot be denied! But, as control and materials technologies progress, better control at slower speeds may be achieved.
I applaud someone drawing attention to this aspect of the art. I’ve observed realistic-looking layouts operated at unrealistic speeds, but also many of the same genre operated with very good realism. I suppose it comes down to a matter of what the layout owner decides is acceptable. And that’s okay.
But for those of us who pursue the finer aspects of the art of model railroading, this is a great point of discussion. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I really appreciate your daily communications.
Russ”
Thanks to everyone for today’s missive.
Hope you enjoyed it as much as me.
And if your head is spinning at just how much goes in to a layout, it’s all made simple and easy here.
Best
Al
Wish that gentleman could come and wire my layout mine is a spaghetti mess!
He must be an electrical panel builder. Very nice,.
Very nice work.
Ok Barry, you win. Who else has 1/1 scale in their backyard? and steam no less!
Thank you Al for all your work presenting this blog, I look forward to it every day.
I have to say that the wiring is very impressive. I admire the people that take time and pride in their . Again to do this work you need to take your time, Keep up the great work.
Barry
For us Yankees in the US -Panduit G3X2LG6 Wide Slotted Wiring Duct, PVC, 3″ x 2″ x 6ft, Light Gray is a wiring trough and a common way of conveying low voltage wiring in commercial buildings. When you do wiring like Barry does troubleshooting is so much easier. Great start. Hope to see updates.
Russ
DCC does away with all the high speed nonsense required of analog systems and trains can run all day long at proper scale speeds. That’s why I convert my American flyer S scale oldies to DC cans & DCC because they look so foolish when they cannot run slowly. It was different for a kid who liked to nail the transformer and watch’er fly off the tracks but us more mature blokes enjoy realism.
Big Al
My contribution this fine AM
“The beginning is the most important part of the work” – Plato.😎
Barry: That has to be the best wiring on a layout I have ever seen!!!
Leaves my “rats nest” wiring under the bench top for dead!!!
My only wish is to be able to have wiring that neat and concise.
Peter (Buco Australia) on the fabulous Gold Coast in sunny Queensland.
Yes, the best I’ve seen here. Wiring is combed, enough slack in connections to make additional changes without splices, color scheme followed, wire looms… this individual’s done this before I believe… all about what nobody ever sees as good or better than that which is showing.
Rich, Regards
It’s very nice wiring up until the point you want to change something. I just upgraded all of my track and rebuilt my sidings. All of mine were bundled similarly, with tie wraps, and it was very frustrating to take bundles apart. I even have my switch, lights and track in different bundles and it was hard. I made wire hangars to run the wiring through on one end of my layout, but it looks too messy for me. I have some cloth velcro wraps for extension cords I might try once I have track power reconnected. If anyone has any ideas, let us know if there is a reasonable way to organize wiring that has to go the length of the layout. Thanks.
Wow Barry, I haven’t seen wiring that organized since I wired private jets for Bombardier/LearJet. Bravo!
OH, Barry!! You inspired me to clean my house!! Thinking no one would complain about your layout in any room you chose!! Good on Ya!
Nancy recently of Gig Harbor. WA
His wiring reminds me of the Amtrak 500 Class GE DASH 8’s I worked on, Very neat and thought out well.
I guess neatness does count. Slow and steady wins the race.
The Critic