Re: Train Show recap

["Steve Wise" <swise@aoot.com>]

> I also heard that we had some trouble using the sidings.  i can see how
> this happens.  WE need someone to make a poster that can be hung on the
> inside of the layout to remind us how it works.  Once you get the hang of
> it really is not that troublesome.  To have all 4 sidings independently
> controlled would require adding two more transformers and powermasters to
> the boxes and removing the block controller.   We only have 1 RW
> transformer that we are not using, so the cost of this change would be
> about $160.

Remember sidings 3 & 4 are off the same mainline.  We could use a single
transformer for both sidings.  This would prohibit setting up two
conventional trains concurrently on these sidings, but that's probably rare.
So we could use the 3 RWs we have to control the sidings independently:  T5
controls siding 1 off of mainline 2, T6 controls siding 2 off of mainline 4,
and T7 controls sidings 3 & 4 off of mainline 3.

This removes the block controller complexity and the ambiguity of who is
using which transformer to control which siding.  (who's on first? :-)


>
> The sidings are there for all or us to use.  We all need to be able to
> operate them.  WE also need to use them for putting trains on and off the
> tracks.  IN my opinion, the best use of the sidings is to put a train on
> the track while the mainline is in operation.  Then to trade places.

This is a good idea.  It wasn't obvious to me that we should use the sidings
for this purpose.  Duh...

> This takes some coordination but keeps the tracks in operation.  Then the
> old train can  be taken off making room for the next user.  Ideally, the
> next user should be established 15 minutes before the exchange so the
> train can be put together on the siding.  It seems that about 1 hour is
> about the right length of time to have a track given the length of the
> trains that we are running.  Therefore, theoretically, we would only have
> some one changing trains every 15 minutes once we got into sequence.
> This is what the Fat Controller is to regulate though.
>

I didn't volunteer for Fat Controller in part because I'm lazy, but also
because it isn't clear to me what the Fat Controller does.  But a mission
of:  "Keeping trains running on the 4 mains at all times" certainly sounds
like a useful job...