Hello. We’re off and building our new layout- it’s a an around the walls layout with a duck under. It’s not too big- a little more than 6’ x a little less than 10’ for the outside dimensions. The layout is 2’ deep except for the duck under area. It’s built in sections or modules so that we can expand (sometime in the distant future) when we move and have more room. One of the sections (each wall is a “section”) will have a yard and a turntable\roundhouse. Not sure I’m going to use tortoises in the yard- I may stay with ground throws to conserve cash. In any case, the wiring for the tracks off of the turntable and the yard make me want to have block control (and turnout control) for that section right there- so you can be close to what you’re switching around. In out previous hollow-core door layout (we’re n-scalers), we built a small control panel that was in the middle of the long edge of the door\layout. This panel had the turnout controls and the block (we’re still DC) power switches. We will eventually move to DCC, but not in the forseeable future. So here’s the question- For a lyout this size, that’s running DC, would you all recommend having the block control and\or turnout controls on a central panel (of course, what’s “central” in an around the room layout), or would you put all of that stuff on each of the 4 sides of the layout, for that specific section? Having it centralized is ALOT more wiring of course, and may or may not make it simpler to run. Thoughts, opinions, experiences are all appreciated! Mike & Nik
My personal preference for block controls is to have the ones for the mainline at a central location. This makes continuous running of the layout from that location possible without walking around the layout to throw block switches. Turnouts on the mainline should have their controls on this panel for the same reason.
For the siding turnout controls, it would depend on your operating “style.” If you have several industrial switching locations, then the turnout controls can be placed on nearby “minipanels.” If dual turnout control is not possible with your type turnout machine, the turnout on the mainline feeding into the industry should be controlled from the main panel.
My roundhouse has its own control panel.
Conserving wire is not really something I consider, it will be a one-time expense. Look for the best setup to match you operating style.
As Tom said, preferred operating style is everything.
There are ways to have both a central panel and a local panel in DC. Ed Ravenscroft laid out the most understandable way to do it with his MZL articles on wiring (1960s?) in Model Railroader. But it is a lot of wiring. I think Chuck is doing an updated version of MZL control on his layout.
If you can bring yourself to choose either local or central control, wiring becomes much simpler. My preference and choice was/is for local control only (using DC). I have tethered walk-around throttles that plug into jacks at each location. Block toggles and switch machine controls (can and did easily use manual throws instead) are located on a small panel at each town. Towns aren’t much more than a train length apart, so I divide the separating main line into 2 blocks - each 1/2 fed and controlled by the adjacent town. Then I have no problems accomplishing runaround moves at a town using the main temporarily. All switching is local, and I am standing right there for turnout throwing and uncoupling.
If I want to sit back and watch them run (I will be “operating” alone in that situation on my small layouts), I simply set up the through blocks in advance - before sitting down. My layout won’t handle 2 continuous run trains simultaneously so not having a central panel is not a big deal.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
Thanks for the replies (so far). I’m not trying to conserve wire- I’m just trying to conserve work. By having “local control” or “mini panels” I can just run a couple of power buses between the modules\sections, vs having complex connectors to get back to the “main pane”… at least that’s my original thought. We’re very new to the hobby. My 9 year old still just likes to run trains, but playing around with some operating “concepts” has been of interest too. For me, there’s alot of times a glass of scotch and a train going round and round is very cathartic. We’re planning on having two loops with sidings,k industry, the yard, etc. I like the idea of just flipping the swiches and letting them go. I’ll go see if I can find those old articles. Thanks again
IMHO, the best resource for anyone planning somewhat sophisticated DC wiring (satellite panels, etc.) is Andy Sperandeo’s Easy Model Railroad Wiring, 2nd Edition, published by Kalmbach. Very complete and well explained.
Byron
Model RR Blog
I located the turnout and block control toggles all around the layout (a small around the wall job) , attempting to get them as close to the turnout or block controlled as possible. This allows the engineer to follow his train around the layout and operate everything easily. It also saves on a lot of wire and makes layout operation more intuitive. I plan to have walkaround DC throttles some day after I get some structures built. Right now I just have a long wire on my ordinary Tech IV power pack that allows me to carry it around the layout.
For just plain running so as to watch the train go, it works fine.
Thanks again to everyone. What are some tethered or wireless DC controllers\throttles? I haven’t seen anything in our LHS.
One more vote for non-centralized. My layout is 16 x 29 and has six panels for major areas.
I typically have a central panel for the main line and seperate local panels for each major operating center, such as a yard or industrial centers.
Nick
Since my name, and the MZL system, were mentioned, I’ll jump in here with a few comments:
First, a definition. MZL describes the places where a train (“A locomotive, or locomotives, with or without cars, carrying markers,” Rights of Trains) can be controlled:
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M - Main panel. Think CTC, with locomotive power routing.
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Z - Zone panel. A panel that controls a segment of the entire railroad (town, junction or industry.)
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L - Local. Not a panel, but refers to walkaround control, hand-thrown switch points and manual uncoupling - up close and personal train control set up from the Zone panel.
The MZL system, as developed by the late Ed Ravenscroft, was described in four articles in MR, printed in February, April, May and October of 1974. In its original form it has a number of shortcomings - everything from individual potentiometers in the panel diagram for speed control (!) to the use of components that are no longer commonly available (Varney slot-car speed controllers…) My variant is designed to work with common rail standards and off-the-shelf MRC and similar power packs for train control, which reduces the wiring considerably without losing the system’s capabilities.
The key feature of MZL is that it is possible to build ONLY the Zone panels (one per station or switching location) and then set controls on those panels in, “Pass-along,” configuration and run a train in a circle around the entire loop main line, if the mainline is set up for such running, from any Zone panel. If a modular railroad is set up with one Zone panel per module (or two, if there are two independent and unconnected routes passing through that module) the module-to-module wiring wo
I built my handheld throttle from a simple circuit/article in Model Railroader a few decades ago. I used a coiled telephone handset cord as the tether wires (most circuits require 4 wires) and a small project case from Radio Shack. The aluminum plate case bottom was used to mount the Darlington transistor (primary transistor in the circuit) and provide a heat sink at the same time. Power supply was an AHM train set power pack with a broken rheostat mounted under the layout. A 4 prong square Radio Shack plug and socket set was used for the jacks/plugs - I don’t trust or like the standard telephone jack plugs.
Similar circuits (and more complex throttle circuits) are available at various web sites and in Peter Thorne’s electronic projects for model railroading books (Kalmbach, out of print). A quick Google of DC throttles brings up a list. http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/Throttles.html and http://www.awrr.com/throttle.html are 2 of my favorites. Older Model Railroader issues often had circuits and project articles. But since MR has become a shameless DCC pusher these articles aren’t seen any more. A simple DC handheld throttle is a good DIY project - not too time consuming or difficult, rewarding, and cheaper than buying a commercial unit. Mine might cost $20 in parts today - even at Radio Shark prices (at least twice what buying on line would cost).
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W