New from the last video are the beginnings of work on the 122nd Street portal, the portal at Botanic Garden and the new platform at Prospect Park. None yet completed.
LION, that is one very cool video.
If you ever get that layout completed and fully landscaped, it will make for one awesome video,
Are you a lone (excuse the expression) wolf operator, or do others join in?
Rich
Brother Elias,
Since your video is tagged at 03:47 on March 19th, I have to ask: have you somehow managed to cobble together a flux capacitor from spare parts… [:)]
Nice setup so far! Wish I had that kind of space.
No problem, Jeff, just join the Abbey.
Rich
i understand your need for frugality. i applaud your innovative style. good work LION and thanks for sharing.
Be happy in your work,
Charlie
This is a one LION operation. The operation of the trains is all automatic, once I let a train leave the 242nd Street station it is on its own until it gets back to Dyckman Street, and even then, If I have the interlocking aligned for a slot at 242nd Street, it will continue on without my help. This afternoon six trains were running all at once, except that it did not work out that they had too many meets with this one.
ROAR
Yeah. When I was young, I had money but no space. Now I have space and no money.
Oh well, I like where I am. (Now where is that zookeeper with my breakfast?)
ROAR
In the video, I noticed some silver things on the track - resistors, diodes, reed switches?? They appear to be soldered across track gaps, is this part of your control system? I also noticed someone in a blue cap in the video, I did not know lions wore caps. [swg]
like i said before, i think LION is having as much if not more fun than anyone else in this hobby. i believe the guy in the cap is the one who cleans his cage and throws him raw meat from time to time.
Charlie
Yes. Resistors.
Track voltage is 10.5 volts at 15 amps and on all of the time. The resistors slow the trains down as they approach the stations, and a final gap stops the train.
A timer pulls a relay which allows the train to continue. Exit resistors allows the train to pick up speed.
The entire train is joined with draw bars rather than couplers, and all 48 wheels pick up power.
LION has to work on constant lighting problems but quick calculations this morning suggested a price of $400.00 for this project, which was immediately put on hold. (A long hold).
Next project will be to install track detection and signal controls. At the moment I try to keep 5 minutes between trains, but I could do better with proper signals, so that a train cannot be released from a station until the next station is clear.
This will also allow me to rebuild the model board to actually show train locations. That project comes in at under $130.00 and so I will likely ask the abbot for that money later in the summer or in the fall.
ROAR