AP Electrical for the
Utah Night Shift Railroad
I’m going to work on Electrical, Civil and Scenery all at
the same time, but Electrical will come first as I need the layout operating
before I install hand built trackwork items or the scenery. So we’ll focus on this with the intent to get
it done by late June.
My notes in BLUE
Steps I need to take in RED
Here is my check list:
To qualify for the Model Railroad Engineer - Electrical certificate,
you must:
A. Construct and
demonstrate on own or club layout, the satisfactory operation of an electrical
control system on a model railroad capable of simultaneous and independent
control of two mainline trains in either direction, and containing at least:
The UNSRR (my own layout) will be a DCC operated
layout. The layout will have two DCC
locomotives with sound for demonstration.
Need to build the shelf to support the
DCC system!
For conventional DC
wiring (non-command-control), five electrical blocks that can be controlled independently.
For command control wiring (DCC, TMCC, and others), sufficient gaps and
switches to maintain polarity, phase if needed, and troubleshooting.
The layout is in three sections, so each section will be
electrically isolated by insulator connectors.
These are for trouble shooting only.
There is no need for polarity switches.
1.
One mainline passing siding. The passing siding is
on the Utah RR main.
2.
One reversing loop, wye, turntable, or transfer
table. There is no plan for this on the layout, which is
a switching layout. I need to draw on
the plan an optional Atlas turntable that will be bolted on to the yard section
for demonstration, then removed after completion. There is no requirement for the turntable to
be powered, so it will be remain manual.
I’ll probably build a small, self supporting box section that just bolts
on to the inside part of the layout, and then wire it. The Digitrax system will handle the auto reverse.
3.
One yard with a minimum of three tracks and a
switching lead independent of the main line.
The yard has three tracks (some may be removed later for
scenery as they aren’t needed for operation) and the yard lead, separate of the
main, will function also as the connector to the Trax line.
4.
Facilities for the storing of at least two
unused motive power units
There is a siding next to the yard that is long enough to
store two locomotives, and provide fuel, light repairs, etc. The DCC system provides for “power down”.
5.
One power supply with protective devices (short
indicator or circuit breaker) to ensure safe operation.
The Digitrax DCC system provides the protective devices
which include an audible short indicator and an automatic circuit breaker and
reset system.
B. Wire and
demonstrate the electrical operation of at least three of the following items:
1.
Turnout
The layout features many turnouts, so one will be chosen and
wired with a Tortoise switch machine.
2.
Crossing
There are two 90 degree crossings that will be wired in.
3. Crossover
The left hand
crossovers will be wired together for simultaneous throw, normal for Trax
operations. Most likely with Tortoise
machines and buttons on the front panel.
I may do both crossovers.
The rest of the
options were removed.
C. Wire and
demonstrate the electrical operation of at least three of the following items:
Items not
needed/considered have been removed.
7. Electronic
throttle with inertia and braking provisions. (This requirement could be
combined with requirement A-6, above.) This is mandatory with a DCC system, so I will demonstrate
how the inertia and braking work on a DCC throttle, plugged in to the bus.
11. Installation
of an advanced electronic and/or computer control for the model railroad.
This is mandatory with a DCC system, so I’ll demonstrate the
Digitrax implementation with is both advanced electronics and computer
controlled.
15. Installation
of a command control throttle buss line around a layout capable of handling at
least two throttles at three or more separate locations. This is mandatory for DCC so we’ll include this one. I’ll put in three DB5’s, two inside and one
outside. I will have two throttles.
D. Prepare a
schematic drawing of the propulsion circuitry of the model railroad in (A)
showing the gaps, blocks, feeders, speed and direction control, electrical
switches, and power supplies.
Note that
this requirement includes ONLY the propulsion circuitry. It is not required to
include the wiring for electrical turnout control, signal systems, building
lighting, etc. You do not need to include the details for parts of the diagram
which are repeated. If a number of parts are wired in the same way, it
sufficient to draw one section in detail and indicate other locations with
rectangles.
Prepare a separate electrical layer(s) of the track plan to
cover these items. Use common symbols
for the indication of components. Focus on propulsion circuitry only!
5. Prepare schematic drawings identifying the wiring and components of the six items under (2) and (3).
For the sake
of clarity, these schematics should probably be separate from the propulsion
circuitry schematic in (D) above. If you already have one over-all schematic of
the layout, you might want to consider making multiple copies and going over
the applicable lines with a highlighter for each feature.
Note that
this is just turning in the kind of documentation that you should be preparing
for your layout anyway. It will make trouble shooting much easier in a couple
of years when you 've forgotten how it all went together!
Prepare a separate wiring drawing layer for these six items.
E. You must
submit a Statement of
Qualification (SOQ - available from the Regional AP Manager)
which includes the following:
1. The
track plan for the layout used in (A). Be sure to update the final plan and then print it.
2. A
description of each of the features used in (B) and (C), including:
a. A description of
the item. Start
a separate word document with photos for each of the 6.
b. The methods of
construction. Add
to word file.
c. Identification of
commercial components used. Add to word file.
3. The
signed Witness Certification form, showing that each of the above items are
operational and meet all applicable NMRA standards.
Get Mark Evans to evaluate and sign.
Get Mark Evans to evaluate and sign.
For step 2, perhaps consider using a transfer table of certain length, or the turntable, as part of a staging area?
ReplyDeleteThe Atlas powered turntable is very cheap and readily available used, plus it is very compact. I want to install it and then sell it off. Even the cheapest Walther's transfer table is $166. This is a place where we go quick and cheap. Actually I may not even have to power it...just hand crank. Now we're down to $30.
ReplyDelete