The Farrish Class 08 Network Rail finally got it’s MN180N and the STAC01 stay alive fitted – giving it close to 10 seconds of uninterrupted running. Not sure if we’ve mentioned this before but we came a cropper to this once as the computer controlling the layout went to sleep and our BR Class 08 kept on going and straight off the edge of the layout, crashing to the floor.
These are pretty fiddly operations but this is the second we’ve done now so getting more confident.
Layout update
We’ve been battling with the configuration of the Yamorc YD7403 booster that we received back in February.
Several of the Yamorc devices feature a USB connector (YD6016LN-CS) on the device that can be plugged into a computer and then using the S88 link a second Yamorc device can be connected and configured “through” the connected device.
We tried everything, computers, cables and we just couldn’t get the YD7404 to configure, in the end, a suggestion from Karst (the designer/owner of Yamorc) on a forum asked if we’d tried the YD9100 which allows you to plug the device directly into the computer via USB. Of course, the minute we tried this, it sprung into life and we could configure the on/off DCC address for the booster so we could configure it. in iTrain for the layout.
What’s this booster going to let us do, you ask? Well, by running a booster we can move all of the traction to that and have the accessories operated by the YD7001. Why? In the event of a short circuit, typically occuring at a turnout means that we can ‘fix’ the turnout position and then resume operation. Neat!
So what else is going on here? You can see the YD7403 and the YD7001 in the upper left square connected via those Loconet cables I made previously and then a YD7016LN-CS connected to a a YD7016ES-CS. This is a great feature that means you only a single YD606LN-CS and you can then chain up to 5 of the slightly cheaper ES devices but have all the detections published via loconet. There are still a few blocks to be adding when we’ve finished the inspection pits on the right side hence the empty connectors on the YD6016LN.
Bottom right square is the 6PDT switch that we use to disconnect the 3rd running line from the incoming feed to our layouts traction – remember, this layout can be part of the bigger club modular layout so we sometimes need to be able to toggle the track between us and them and this lets us do that.
Mounted in the base board support of the bottom right square is the programming track toggle switch – this means we can drive a train into the siding, toggle the switch, program the train, toggle the switch and then drive the train out.
So that’s pretty much board 1 completed – the engine shed over the inspections pits will feature moving doors so there’s going to be some servo controls on this board as well! But more on that another day.
We’re well on the way with track on board 2 now and even board 3 as positions of turnouts on those will dictate some track angles across the other boards.
Club Open Day
On April 27th our club held it’s open day – this is an opportunity to share what we’ve been working on as a club and as members.
I was there with Board 1 and Board 2 of the still unnamed layout and had various trains doing shuttles under iTrain’s watchful eye. Always nice to be chatting to visitors, especially when the layout can just keep running itself while we chat. Sadly, I didn’t take any photos of us!
Chris, was there with his collection of 6 modular boards depicting a run down Widnes in the 1950/60’s – it’s quite incredible the amount of progress he makes every time we see this boards – oh to be retired.
The test track was always a hit, this time, a visitor brought their braand new TT:120 Hornby HST down for a bit of a run.
Sadly, the weather was against us and rain put a biit a dampner on things, also meant we couldn’t have any G gauge running outside.
Z21 app updates
April ended with Roco updating their Z21 app to now require payment for non Z21 hardware users to being able to use more than 1 loco with their application. It’s still a great application and the £17.99 charge is entirely worth it if it means they will keep up developing the application.
