Progress Photos

2026 March

2026 February

2026 January

2025 December

5

2025 Novemeber

Study of adding yard tracks, but believe 6 should be sufficient

2025 October

2025 September

2025 August

2025 July

2025 June

2025 May

2025 April

2025 March

2024 December

2022 February

Projects

• generated svg diagrams showing track resistance with multiple feeders
• trkSvg/tgrSvg.k scripts for generating .svg track drawings and diagrams
• created this website using github
• scripts to print coal trestle bents
• scripts to print loading docks
• modifed cardboard freight house
• manual reverser dwarf signal circuit
• remotored Boxcab
  • found nylon worm that mates with axle gear .. mod
  • learned that coefficients for RPM/V and mN/A are equal and provide the means to identify if a motor is suitable. Also determined that ~9mN of torque is appropriate
• Arduino Mega DCC command station, motor shield
• generic DCC controller using
  • ESP32 supporting WiFi
  • RS-485
  • OLED display
  • commercial 4x4 keypad
• accelerometer, 3V battery and java display

Layout Diary

2026 March

• mounted uncoupler ramp on code 100 track & installed on ladder
• built card boxfor yard

  2026 February

  • cut 1/4 sheet for depressed yard
  • tested hump with kadee uncoupler
  • mounted kadees on tyco rdg box and tuned trucks for metal wheel
  • added track bumpers from kim
  • rewired dcc bus & installed PSXs
  • added shelf & mounted SB5
  • rewired switched outlet for SB5
  • replaced cab04 regulator

  2026 January

  • wired ceiling outlet
  • assembled/installed two lamp fixtures
  • mounted 2 rj-12 jacks on shelf
  • pinned down yard for op-session running trains from it
  • glued cork for mainline and arrival tracks
  • ran cabbus around spline to shelf
  • purchased 2 used Cab4s for $80
  • puchased 4 rj-12 jacks
  • puchased coiled telephone cables

  2025 December

  • re-gluing foam-spline, narrowed ends to match foam height
  • braced legs on shelf, added some horizontal braces, corner near stove for foam-spline
  • inventoried car weight and lengths

  2025 November

  • 11/23, finally assembled shelf. Only needed to buy 2 1x2x8s; had 2 1/2x16"x8' plywood and foam; used 2 1x2 pieces from attic;
  • glued, then broke apart, masonite/foam spline

  2025 October

  • re-designing yard
  • re-evaluating Card statistics
  • rewired staging signal with bypass diodes
  • discovered OpenSCAD and working on controller lid
  • completed foundry extention w/ windows

  25/10/12

  • bought 5 cars, 2 cabeese at Bunker Hill trains show Martinsburg

  25/10/2

  • working on lid design
  • Dennis switched Maizeville
  • Tiny came over to see layout
  • finished foundry extention and added windows

  25/09/28

  • completed EBR tower
  • added paper windows to breaker
  • investigated .stl, printed window but learning to use OpenScad
  • working on controller lid
  • planning ops with Tiny and Dennis
  • printed/glued names on all buildings
  • started construction of Foundry extention

  25/08/12

  • added powder car (Buggy's)
  • extended Gilberton freight house track
  • working on EBR additions

  25/08/6

  • 1st op-session with Kim and Richard
  • discussed switching patterns with John S

  25/08/1

  • disappointed with width of foundry
  • completed mill and added windows to mill on two sides
  • started cutting breaker

  25/07/19

  • cut/installed card holders
  • switched Gilerberton in 35 mins
  • switched Maizeville in 32 mins

  25/07/13

  • completed iron works, used heat gun to remove glued windows
  • wrote script to print windows with proper scaling
  • updated scripts to print flats in color, brick, siding
  • switched cars to prep for op session
  • cars derailed when pushed thru staging switches
  • short freight house tracks require aligning coupler

  25/07/4

  • working on carboard iron works
  • printed, cut and located cars with cars
  • glued bents to stringer using jig
  • still working on Wabash couplers

  25/06/20

  • moved longitudinal plates to inside
  • still trying to add kadee couplers to Wabash stock car
  • glueing coal trestle bent to paper for spacing
  • made cardboard hopper loads
  • crisp photo using tripod, timer and overhead lighting (no shadows)

  25/06/14

  • isolate Gilberton freight track as programming track and added switch to disconnect layout
  • kim gifted another Reading GP7
  • programmed GP7 decoders with #s on chassis
  • found East Bear Ridge trackage next to Mahanoy plane on topo from 1956 showing storage tracks on mainline

  25/06/14

  • spoke with Jim Hertzog about collieries

  25/06/1

  • started work on breaker
  • started work on coal trestle

  25/05/31

  • completed wiring wall reverser switch and LED
  • ran loco thru both ends of staging
  • completed Hadley's Hardware with paper windows
  • ordered #148 kadee couplers
  • been working on script to generate Cover Cards

  25/05/7

  • finished pennisula trackage
  • need to wire other end of manual reverser
  • have 2 RDG GP7s from Kim

  25/05/3

  • club train show
  • picked up 2 depots and a freight house
  • picked up Rdg caboose, NYC box, Wabash stock car, DL&W box

  25/04/27

  • kids + kyle operated layout using kim's diesels
  • boxcab slipped trying to pull 5 cars
  • quickly added 3' track to extend ends of layout

  25/04/24

  • need to connect far-end of staging tracks
  • broight rolling stock onto track
  • preparing for Jace
  • successful DCC Arduino cmd-station code, need to test RS-485 connections

  25/01/16

  • glued 1/8" cork on caulk ramp to 3/16" cork
  • fleshed out lower pennisula station trackage
  • looking for B8/Boxcab worm/gear/motor replacement
    gear has 1/8" hole, ~13 teeth and ~.26" dia
    think gear 'mod' is 0.5, diaMm / #teeth
    worm has 1/8" bore, .25 dia
    looking for similar worm fits on common 2mm motor shaft

  25/01/06

  • laid out track for staging -- establish lines
  • cut 1/8" cork for staging
  • looked at older flex track, mix of code 83 & 100
  • glued foam panel
  • laid 2" line for station

  25/01/03

  • worked on 2nd chair
  • added brace under staging turnout
  • stared sanding foam to provide path to staging
  • tried testing acceleration car
  • glued foam to plywood

  24/12/30

  • glued outer edge of cork on spline
  • marking track 2" from edge
  • inventoried need for #6 and ordered remaingin from Oakland

  24/12/17

  • sanded plastic wood, added more where needed
  • looked at different cork rolls: 1/8 and 0.09" and floor underlayment

  24/12/16

  • bought plastic wood and applied to top of spline

  24/12/23

  • tested wood stove after moving
  • move van chair
  • cut several 5/8" cork strips
  • looked a car riding on cork covered spline

  24/12/14

  • added plates under spline ends and plywood
  • tried sanding spline

  24/12/8

  • moved cd player into train room
  • discovered foam panels different thickness
  • cut 1" panel from garage, used waste to fill in to wall

  24/12/9

  • trimmed foam edge leading to loop
  • drew center-line
  • started placing staging turnouts
    • cut webs on turnout, used 28" radial to curve
    • placed 3' sections along centerline
  • foam seem higher than track, need to adjust
  • tacked track to loop
  • split cork and placed some along station track