Demo and tests of Block Signaling using Lenz BM3 block modules. Here is how to make trains stop at red signals and to automate block control on your model railway. Also I include some other things you can do with it such as protection for lift up bridges or points.
My intention is to have the entire layout operating with block signals, and to get these to work with the points automatically. At this stage its mainly testing it and giving a demo. When I get in a more final setup I’ll make another post and video on it.
Layout Update
In episode 3 I talk about the results of the points testing and the incline tests as well some general progress on the layout. One of the ideas at this stage was around the edges of the 2 side boards – I was looking at doing a double track junction, with a route via the inside and the option to jump over the gap using some sort of lift up bridge. I have never built any sort of bridge like that before, so it might be a problem! As it happens, this layout is actually my first real attempt at woodworking, so its all a learning curve. I also mention a look at using the Lenz automatic braking sysmtem (ABC). This will be in a separate video.
Engine Update
Athearn Ready to roll EMD GP60 – originally a DC loco, I used a PCB and motor connectors from spares of DCC ready loco of the same type. The upper body hasn’t got a cutout for the DCC decoder, so for now the body sits up at an angle like in the video. Once I’m happy with the working of it, I will make the cut out in the body. It wont be seen as its under the removable panel, and newer models of the same have this area removed.
Lima/Hornby Class 156 – East Midlands Trains
Originally an ebay find, this was painted by someone else and had a hurst models detail kit fitted which sadly had mostly come off in shipping. Although I could glue them back on, there were some other issues – kadees had been fitted directly to the chassis, however these fouled the bogie and some of the under frame added detail. Although the underframe detail was nice, I decided to simply swap over the body onto a new Hornby (plastic) chassis. I may revisit the chassis and underframe at a later time, but for now this gives me a working model on a newer motor, with good wheels, all wheel pickups and no traction tires. The lights had been modified by a previous owner, apparently to make them more prototypical, however this seemed to have gone wrong or wasn’t complete – I forget the exact notes the seller gave me, so either way it needed work, I therefore decided to fit an Express models lighting kit to it insted. Some of the holes were wrong or too large, so I filled in the gaps with polyfiller using a pin to pack it in around the lights, I had the lights carefully pushed forward so they protruded about 5 mm, this allowed me to fill the gaps and then carefully paint (again with a pin) the now white parts of the filler. Once dry, I could then carefully push the lights back so they lined up just out from the front, like a light cover would. Ofcourse its not perfect like the real thing, but from a normal viewing distance, it looks good, and much better than it did before. I then added a loksound v4 decoder from Olivia’s trains, which I fitted myself, however its just sitting in the passenger area at the moment.
Athearn SD40
This is the loco that was running slow in DCC. Thanks to Robert for the comment about the CV5 max speed setting. The issue was indeed caused by the decoder and settings, it now runs just fine.
Trains Running 3
Trains Running on the main layout with a Bachmann RES Class 47 with Olivia’s Sound, an Athearn Southern Pacific GP60 and a Lima HST in Blue/Grey InterCity.
When designing the new layout I had planned for inclines on the main running loops, however thinking back to the test layout and all the problems I had there, I thought I had better do some testing to make sure it would be reliable. One thing I really don’t want is to have constant derailments and not be able to run a train without lots of frustration, that is an easy way to loose interest or loose the fun from a layout.
In this first video I’m using my Athearn GP60 with a mix of passenger and freight cars of different lengths, running at different speeds to test out the new points. These are large radius electrofrog points from Peco. The idea here is to use a train with a tighter radius limit to make sure there wont be any issues switching tracks later on when the track is fixed down.
This train combination should give me a nice mix to cover most situations – these are deliberately the more fussy cars to try to find issues quickly.
In this second video I’m testing various trains up and down an extended 4% incline set from Woodland Scienics. The ‘extended’ part means I have added in some level sections at 2 inches high to try to make the grade a little easier.
During the tests one of the trains split and a short recovery operation started.
First – Lima HST, DCC fitted, lights from Express Models and cab interior from Hornby spares.
@00:36 – Athearn Genesis EMD SDP45 with Tsunami sound and Athearn SD40 in Southern Pacific livery & recovery operation.
@10:30 – Hornby EWS Class 90, DCC fitted and lights from Express Models.
@12:00 – Hornby East Midlands Trains HST.
@15:40 – Athearn SP GP60 in Southern Pacific livery (DC).
In addition to the trains in the video, a Lima class 66 was tested and failed to make the incline with a train even with a full run up at full speed.
The pair of bachmann class 20s off in the siding in the video also made the incline without issue.
From these tests, I think its better to have the main line on a flat level without any changes in grade, although most of the newer trains have no issues, older trains have problems and that inclines in general tend to be problematic. One issue I noticed right from the start is that the track tends to lift on the corners, making one rail higher than the other. I want this layout to be reliable and as trouble free as I can, therefore the mainline is going to be flat, and I’ll create another line on a higher level which will be more varied. This gives me something interesting while still having a reliable main line, at least that is the idea.
Please feel free to share any comments or experience you may have with inclines and gradients you may have, as I’m interested in what others have done or had issues with.
Another layout update, mainly track changes to fix some issues and to make it a little more interesting. The original plan had three running loops which all followed the same route, I want to break that up a bit and have the third take a different route. Not so many pictures this time as it looks basically the same but with some track removed. First video is the second episode and the layout update in detail. The second is the running session after.
With the track down, time for some very basic testing. I used my old Lima class 66 and a Lima class 156 Super Sprinter, both running in DC. First issue I encountered was not really a surprise, but not having a way to get between all 3 tracks was a bit a pain for testing, so I used some old short set track points across the 3 lines. These are quite short and tight when curved but I didn’t expect the super sprinter to derail – even when at a crawl. It seems these are just too tight when put back to back, so I’ll need to order some new peco streamline points, I’ll go for the large radius electrofrog and eventually put them near the station.
No major problems at this stage from the track tests, but this is just flat level and all new track. I’m expecting the real issues to happen later when inclines are added. I do also need to test my US HO locos and trains as the curves might be an issue for some of them. As the initial track worked ok, I decided to run some more trains for a bit. Videos are below.
