Willamette Model RR club

Posted on May 10, 2013 | Leave a comment

I visited the Willamette model railroad club again last night for their Thursday work session. I find their attitude and enthusiasm very appealing and will probably join this summer. They are dedicated to operations and have a membership with lots of modeling skills. I could learn a lot from this group.

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Posted in Operations

A visit to the Corvallis Society of Model Engineers

Posted on April 30, 2013 | Leave a comment

Tomorrow, Wednesdqy, I am planning to drive to Corvallis Oregon and visit the Corvallis RR club for their operating session. I am thinking of taking my computer and Digitrax PC interface to demonstrate using JMRI and a cell phone throttle. I also hope to learn how they plan to do operations on their new layout. I’ll return on Friday with pictures.

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Posted in Operations

Model Railroad Operations

Posted on April 29, 2013 | Leave a comment

I visited the Willamette Model Railroad again last Saturday after class and participated in an operations session I can only describe as very complete. They use a dispatcher, train warrants, and radio communications to move trains. I do believe I will be joining this club to learn more about operations.2013-04 Willamette MRRclub (7) 2013-04 Willamette MRRclub (11)

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Posted in Operations

Layout visits

Posted on April 26, 2013 | Leave a comment

I visited the Willamette Model Railroad club layout last night and was very impressed with their enthusiasm and accomplishments. In just three years they have gone from nothing to a huge operating layout. They are still working on completing the east end of the main line into Bend, but the energy demonstrated in their work session last night makes me want to be a part of this group. I will be returning Saturday afternoon to see the railroad in operations.2013-04 Willamette MRRclub (1) 2013-04 Willamette MRRclub (4)

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Posted in Construction of a model railroad

Learning layout operations

Posted on April 25, 2013 | Leave a comment

This evening I am visiting the Willamette Model Railroad club layout to learn how they do “operations”, the scheduling and running of trains. I posted a request for information on local clubs doing operations on the Yahoo opSIG, Operations Special Interest Group, web site and received several responses. I will be visiting several Portland area layouts in the coming weeks. With Spring and gardening I haven’t done much on my layout.

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Posted in Construction of a model railroad

Posted on April 8, 2013 | Leave a comment

Between doing our taxes, vacation time, teaching sailing, and gardening, I haven’t had time to do much on my layout. I have been reading the JMRI manuals to try to figure out how to integrate a computer into the digital Command Control network at home and at our RR club layout. I need to get back to laying track on my layout.

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Posted in wiring the layout

NCE Vs Digitrax

Posted on March 19, 2013 | Leave a comment

I got the club computer re-connected and a programming track wired in but found a short-circuit in the cable connecting the USB board and the Power Panel. Those tricky NCE people wire their cable plugs backwards to how the Digitrax cables are wired. So when I plugged one of my cables between the boards it created a short and no signal or power got through. I’ll wire up a new cable today and try again.

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Posted in wiring the layout

NCE RRclub hardware

Posted on March 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

Spent the weekend teaching sailing so got no railroading done. I’m hoping to get the power brick for the club NCE digital Command Control system from the hobby shop today so I can set up the computer system at the club this evening. As spring slowly arrives my garden is starting to call, sailing classes are picking up, and the basement layout may have to wait for a while. Oh Well…

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Posted in Construction of a model railroad

Working at the club

Posted on March 8, 2013 | 1 Comment

I’m currently working to get the railroad club computer hooked up to our NCE digital command control system. This involves building a box to hold two circuit boards and wiring them together. Then we will have to string 100′ of cable from the work room to the layout in the next room.  This also involves convincing and teaching a bunch of “old guys” that it’s worthwhile to use the new system. 

What the new system will do better is program the digital decoders in engines and allow cell phones to operate as throttles. If the club hopes to survive past our old guys we must innovate and start using more of the technology that young people take for granted. 

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Posted in Construction of a model railroad

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Work on Club layout

Posted on March 4, 2013 | Leave a comment

This evening is the SWWMRR club monthly meeting. I am making a proposal to hook up the club computer to the layour for programming locomotive digital decoders and using cell phone Wi-Fi throttles. I will need authorization to purchase several computer PC boards and cables. I hope the “old boys” will not stall on my request.

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Posted in wiring the layout