Planning for building a large layout can be quite intimidating. In addition to physical preparation of the space, I will also be adding significant complexity by automating much or all of the operations of the layout. I work in a fairly technical job, and while I'm not intimidated by the electronics and computer control, I definitely have some homework to do. One of the best ways I have found to truly understand what is going on/how things work is to run some experiments. These experiments will be 'lower cost' than the final product (however you define 'cost'...money, time, effort, etc.), and will be used as learning tools to build my skills, knowledge, and abilities in deploying a fully-automated DCC controlled layout.
With this approach in mind, I am planning a 'test layout' of sorts. After scouring the interwebz, I came across what I think is a very suitable trackplan. I remember seeing this particular plan years ago when I first became interested in the Tehachapi Loop, but sadly it appears that the original hosting website is no longer active. Fortunately, Pinterest and Google to the rescue!
This trackplan achieves some key goals:
- Small...this can probably be done in roughly 2ft x 4ft of space in Z, and at most on a cheap hollow-core door
- Key attributes are similar to the larger layout, including:
- Grades -- trains will have to negotiate them on the larger layout
- (Very small) Staging -- can learn automation routines, identify problem areas, etc.
- Walong siding -- allows trains to meet in the 'open' area of the layout, and offers possibilities to try out signalling.
- Cheap and fast...I have a baseboard and material for a frame for this layout, plus foam to build the grades. Any scenery will be minimal, if any is attempted at all. Also, any track purchases would be minimal, since I have most of what would be needed. Worst-case scenario is to use a hollow-core door (~$37 at my local big box store)
- Simple!! With three staging tracks, one short, and one long siding, the number of detection zones is minimal, but still retains the potential for full automation. Further, wiring is greatly simplified and the layout is small enough to prop up on its side to install the electronics and wiring, as well as for easier troubleshooting. I don't mind crawling under a larger layout, but with the amount of tracing and potential for mis-wiring things my first time, I'd much rather pop the layout on its side and brace it upright so I can see everything in ample lighting conditions.
I still have a lot of organizing and de-cluttering to do in the layout space, but I feel this is a nice step towards learning the capabilities and possibilities of DCC and computer control.
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