Came across this in my serach for cheap and junk MRR stuff. When I came across this iteam, well at $7,000.00 worth a look. Board is good, but when I looked at the wiring I felt a little numb. Is that what it takes to be a MRR? Or is it a little over kill?
Did give me some ideas on the next board so was worth the look. I need wheels!
Cuda Ken
I think its over kill personally.That or it looks alot cause everything has lights or is powered then thats why its so wired.
My last layout was a 9’ x 9’ N scale, and I’m humbled by that!
That looks like one of my phone company’s hospital phone systems!
It is rather impressive. Very neatly organized and thought out. It illustrates how complex the wiring on a multi cab DC layout control system can be. Remember of course that the wiring is not just the track power, there is all the structure lighting and also all the wiring for the switch control. DCC wiring would be a lot less complex.
That is what it takes to really do DC with several cabs. Makes DCC look even better.
it may look like overkill… HOWEVER, if you look closely (or blow up what I consider the “front” view - the second pic from the top) the owner has what appears to be three (3) MRC Tech II’s… or at the very least they’re DC throttles…
Couple that with a large-ish layout (granted, to me anything bigger than 4x8 is large-ish), completely powered TO’s, and who knows else with regard to lighting, and the wiring is probably all necessary. I would bet that 80% of that wiring is for the DC throttles… that whole “simplify your wiring” bit of DCC comes into sharp focus now…
Also looks like he has some sort of table-mounted sound system…
I was an Avionics Technician in the Air Force working on the C141’s. This looks simple.
If you REALLY look at it, there’s not that much wiring there. He has it well routed and terminal stripped for ease of troubleshooting and expansion. I’m willing to bet he has a wiring book with diagrams, too.
As far as overkill, probably not. With my background as a technician (and the fact that Murphy’s Law is strictly enforced on a model railroad), the easier you make things for yourself during initial construction, the better you’ll be when you want to expand or need to troubleshoot.
It’s not overkill at all.
Having wired several display layouts for Dunham Studios (http://www.dunhamstudios.com/rrcontents.htm), this one is on par with what you would find under a fully automated, fully signaled, multiple cab system. This one even has a control panel that will show train positions. That all takes a lot of wire! The layout looks like it was professionally built.
Looks very organized and professional to me.
To somebody who’s seeing it for the first time, it might be overwhelming. But the person who built it did it one circuit at a time, and the wires just kept accumulating till they looked the way they currently do.
If the builder took the time to diagram everything, and explain what each different color of wire represents, that could make troubleshooting a whole lot easier. I’d ask about that if I was thinking of bidding on this layout.
Although the layout itself is a bit “crowded” for my taste, the wiring is indeed impressive. I like the switching board, too. Well done, neat, and intuitive. Observing the large thru holes in the cross beams, it looks like the builder has had plenty of prior electrical experience. For the next iteration of my layout, I would like to strive to have my track and lighting wiring as organized.
I think someone will eventually bid that kind of $$$ for a well thought out and well designed layout.
Tom
Yup, that looks about right for a DC multi cab layout. And, echoing everyones responses, it’s a good job, too.
Note that there are 25 blocks on this fairly compact layout, evidently at least three cabs, and that there are LEDs on the control panel. That would account for lots and lots of wire.
I would not call it overkill – depends on how you want to operate – but I would say that 25 blocks is a rather large number given the size of the layout. It would be possible to DC wire it with fewer blocks, forget the LEDs on the panel, and have much less wiring. But whoever did this was a very careful worker and good craftsman. It would look even worse if it was not so well organized. I bet this guy has a sign near his workbench that says “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” I know the type …
Dave Nelson
Double ditto. I’m impressed.
I’m building a 4 x 3 On30 layout, and the wiring on that one is much neater than the mess I have under the board!!!
I hoped you folks would enjoy the posting. I wonder what is lurking under K-10’s 60’ X 80’ foot board. There is 15 main lines, all turn out are thrown by hand to make it easyer to use and guessing wiring as well. I think there are 3 main’s that are DC only, rest DCC.
Heck, the DC main I ran has 9 MRC 9500’s a lone.
My wiring, well it works but sure not pretty.[B)]
Cuda Ken
I don’t care what anybody says about it being overkill, that’s a very professional job.
Say, Isn’t this the control panel in the Grand Coulee dam???