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So the Christmas season is over. Half the state is
flooded. Jade is building an arc and Connie-dogs is desperately looking
for a companion to accompany her on this little “boat ride”. Aside from
that, Adam and the voices have been working harder then a one legged
man in a bum kicking contest.
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After many, many, many, many (...you get the idea)
hours of tearing my hair out (I still have plenty to spare though
for some reason), I have finally managed to get the last 27 switches
wired for the dispatch panel. So with all of this wired and installed,
it must be time to have a proper running session and see what I
have done to stuff it all up. |
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| So if your wondering what a dispatch panel is
and what is for then please read on… Essentially, the idea is that
if you are driving a train over the layout you simply obey the signals.
So, next step is to wire in some more signals. But that’s for another
chapter. |
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All the mainline points have been “double wired”,
for example each of the sets of points in Summiton, Holman and the
Hidden Stage have two switches for each set of points. This enables
the layout to be operated by one person or to have all switches
controlled from the dispatch panel. |
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| The only points not controlled by the dispatch
panel are those for Harlexton Ballast sidings and in Summiton Loco
Depot. So the theory is (and remember I said “THEORY” here) that
the driver will receive clearance through to Harlexton and proceed
with his train. |
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Once he is within the limits of Harlexton, he
can control all points not on the main line as required. As soon
as he is finished, then he proceeds to the signal and awaits clearance
to enter the main line again. |
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So whilst all that may sound well thought out and simple
enough, it is important to remember that it is all just words and I
will no doubt find a never ending list of mistakes that I simply must
make for the sheer fun of it.
So with around 300 Metres of wire required for the
dispatch panel, the underside of the layout was looking somewhat like
a large explosion in the Heinz Spaghetti factory.
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| I decided to tidy all the wires up a bit, starting
with the lights and signals. I have installed little terminal blocks
every three feet or so. From there I have run two wires, one for
positive and one for negative actually (go figure hey). Between
them and then back to the CDA controller I have to power the wires
and points. |
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So after grabbing another 100 metre roll
of wire, I was ready to get to it.
At least I was until laziness set in.
So with laziness being an issue, I decided to get to and do some more
work on a couple of 1720’s I am building. |
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One of these is going to represent 1729D and
is being built for a mate. The other will be 1741D and will be mine.
I have noticed that pretty much all of the remaining blue 1720’s
have a different paint scheme. There are slight differences around
the roof area near the cab. This is one of the little eccentricities
about QR that I love. |
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I’ll throw in a few shots of the 1720s over the next
chapter or so… memory and weather permitting of course.
We shall see how we go.
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