Wednesday 26th October 2022

Worklist:

Replace the loom connector on the bridge board with a larger unit to accommodate the new section wiring from the Masons yard.

Modify the loom connections on the station board by replacing the two 'supplementary' connectors fitted previously with a single plug and socket.

Just Geoff and Stephen today.

When adding features to the layout some time ago, a few extra wires across the boards were required, but there was no spare capacity in our 'Cinch' connectors. We took the simple way out and added a spare, but unusual 5-way connector, which was always a bit awkward to connect. We now decided to replace this with another Cinch. However, the only spare 'sets' we had were 20-way, far in excess of our requirement. We did have a spare 12-way socket, so we decided to cut a 20-way plug down and produce 12-way and 8-way plugs. The 12-way male unit was wired-up and fitted on the board.

12-way fitted to the Bridge board, with the residual 8-way awaiting fitting on the Station board.

Geoff had previously 3D printed covers for Cinch connectors, but he now modified one of his existing drawings for the 8-way, with off-set fixing holes, and set the printer going. By lunchtime, the new cover was ready. 

Cut-down 8-way plug with new cover.

Station board - We didn't have a spare 8-way female socket, so rather than cut a new 20-way down to size, we fitted an unmodified 20-way and blanked off the unused holes. We can always change the plug if more wires are needed in the future.

Geoff modifying the loom

Stephen had made up a panel for the new track section change-over switch, which was now trimmed to size and shape. A miniature SPDT switch was wired-up and fitted, before the panel was fitted beside the signal control panel, which was moved the previous week. Labelling was also added.

It was good to get the new section wiring completed, but next week, the rail joint will be cut and the system tested. Modifying the connectors was certainly a worthwhile job and will simplify assembly of the loom in the future.

Finally, Stephen floated an idea he'd had for the masons building. The original idea was that the track went INTO the building, but this surely put a restriction on the types of loco that could go inside? It could create an interesting need for a small IC loco to be used when a steam loco dropped something off, but maybe not. However, he now proposed there be two buildings, with a structure spanning the track between them and a gate below, that would still disguise views of the fiddleyard beyond, where wagon exchange would take place. Separate roof areas create an interesting arrangement with scope for different materials and features, such as a tank house. A new mock-up will be required to investigate the idea further.

Wednesday 19th October 2022

Worklist:

Nothing planned for this week, so setting-up the boards to start with.

Laurence on family duties so just two.

As the trestles and boards started to be erected, a query arose. The two main station boards have central stiffeners and require two bespoke trestles with restraint blocks in the middle. The other two trestles have blocks on the edges, which have caused problems with the Masons boards. These have had blocks adapted or chopped off! A few moments consideration resulted in the trestles being swapped around to perfect positions! The adapted and removed blocks will be repaired reinstated - Doh!

Geoff decided to tidy up the wiring on the two new boards. Connectors had been moved around to suit later additions and mods, and the servo cables flopped everywhere. An 'operating theatre-like' setup developed to ensure the different tools i.e. ferrules, cutters, strippers, crimpers and drivers, were available at the right moment - a very satisfying exercise.

The senior surgeon at work

To begin with, Stephen had been studying the existing wiring relating to the possibility of extending the Masons control panel area of track control onto the Worton Court boards. A working option emerged.

Existing and proposed

Button A2 controls section A2 which incorporates a historic track section. Button A1 controls the section on 'the next board' via the loom with an 8-way plug. This board can be the fiddleyard on a 4-board setup, a transition board for a 10-board (J-shaped workshop setup) and the engine shed board on a 6-board setup. In the diagrams above, A1 goes to the Masons controller selection switch. The output from this switch goes to section C2. A spur from C2 needs to be brought back through the loom to extend control to the new section on WC. Normally, this switch would need only to be set when the layout is set up and so it could be under the layout. However, it is possible that a shunting manoeuvre on WC might require access to the new section and so it needs to be 'reasonably easily' switched. It was decided to locate it on the rear face of the layout, beside the signal switches.

The panel was moved to the left and a new switch and panel started on the right.

Having agreed the scheme, work started. The extra wire was inserted into the loom and as the session ended, a  fixing panel with a switch was being assembled. It was a far more tiring session than the description implies.

Wednesday 5th October 2022 - A special day in Worton Court history!

Worklist:

Assemble the full 6-board exhibition layout!

Play trains.

Unfortunately, Laurence was unable to join us for what became a memorable occasion.

We had decided the previous week that today we would try and assemble the 'future' 6-board exhibition layout in its straight format. Measurements and quick sketches indicated that it was possible, but would it be operable? Geoff had fabricated a small frame to sit on his work desk and the main station end board was offered up with a temporary cardboard box to support the other end. The trestles normally supporting the next two board joints were put in place, and the boards bolted on. Then the two new scenic boards we had been working on were also attached. These boards were made slightly differently and so location blocks on top of the two trestles had to be trimmed down slightly. Finally, the fiddleyard was bolted on, spanning into the storage rack. All six boards were in place, with 280mm to spare off the back wall. Storage cassettes were added to the fiddleyard roads and were also satisfactorily tested for ease of connection and removal. Both control panels and looms were fitted, but each half was tested separately, before finally trying the whole layout - which (unbelievably) worked perfectly!!!!!

A random selection of photos showing the combined sections:

Engine shed board abutting the seldom-seen side of the bridge.

The hidden 'Quarry line' between WC and the fiddleyard.

Worton Courts long-awaited engine shed, just the other side of the bridge.

The masons factory building with its private siding will sit across the end of the layout, hiding the fiddleyard. A fairly bulky building was planned to act as the backdrop, but this will now have to be considered in respect of access to the fiddleyard cassettes. Maybe alternative buildings for the workshop and exhibition formats would be appropriate?

Shrubs on the new board will disguise the joint. (The big tree also sits in the corner).

Masons yard and siding on the left and mainline on the right. The road crossing became a stopping/handover point for WC driven trains to the fiddleyard. Maybe a few warning signs will be appropriate.

Clearance around the corner of the engine shed was deemed acceptable.

The only problem is having to get on your hands and knees to reach the storage racking on the far side.

Afterthoughts:

Why didn't we think about this format in the first place and save having to build the 4 transition boards? We don't think it ever occurred to us! However, we were used to being able to walk around the end of the 4-board layout to reach the storage racking and to work on the other side of the layout, so forming a solid 'wall' probably didn't seem sensible. During this inaugural session, it became a nuisance crawling on hands and knees to get something from the far side, so it is not ideal. Maybe just for occasional running sessions. We also have the transition boards to finish, so both formats will have their time.

Train handover - As the layout was being operated, the handover stopping places soon came up for discussion. The key point - The 'Local' operator on the new boards can give control of the new boards to Worton Court, but not vice versa. So, a mainline train from the fiddleyard to WC has two options a) The WC operator is given full control of the Masons boards and drives the train the whole way or b) The Masons operator drives the train and stops in front of the bridge, i.e. as far as the local electrical control goes and isolates it. When the WC operator was ready, the mainline was handed over to WC control. However, it was decided that being able to run up to the signal on WC would make more sense. Rather than create a new section on WC, and adding a new panel switch, a section could be created that was controlled by a local (under baseboard) switch that would be set to suit the session. To be continued! Trains running to the fiddleyard on the mainline would remain at WC until both operators were ready for the WC operator to drive at least to the road crossing. The quarry line is pretty straightforward. The fiddleyard operator can set the route control to WC and let the operator drive all the way through when ready and then isolate the route on the WC panel. 

Geoff marked the trestle feet positions for future reference.

We also put some of the new boards into the racking with the scenery in place which fitted!

A truly memorable day.

Thursday 31st August 2022

Worklist:
Continue with wiring the Masons board uncoupling magnets.

Laurence preparing for a family wedding, so just two this session, which ended a bit early due to other commitments.

After a quick review of what wiring was outstanding, Stephen asked Geoff for a wiring layout diagram to clarify exactly what was needed. It was more difficult than anticipated, but served as a useful exercise for both. With the diagram totally absorbed, a missing pair of wires (servo 5v & ground) were added between the control panel and the engine shed board. On the Masons board (below) the connector block was repositioned to keep the servo wires short enough to obviate extensions. The servos were then wired into the block. It was then possible to plug the test unit into the Servo Control Board on the engine shed board and operate both servos for the uncouplers. Progress.

A few more wires were added to both boards to complete the system. Good progress! 

The servo-powered units (points, uncouplers and any other accessories) require an on/off switch. Rotary switches are used for the points as these also indicate the route. For the magnets, Stephen had bought some miniature SPDT switches for the uncouplers and so a quick exercise was undertaken to confirm the position of the switches. These will throw up/down, but will require a master reversing switch to change between workshop and exhibitions where the control panel orientation is reversed! The additional 'accessory' is intended to be a door into the masons building/yard. There are 3 more channels available on the servo control board, but additional wires would need to be fitted into the loom to make use of them. They would have to be worth it!

Wednesday 29th September 2021

Worklist:

Get the exchange area control system working.

A full house and all focus was on working out what is wrong with Stephens control/switching system for the exchange area. The whole layout (minus fiddleyard) was set up to provide a testing area beyond the exchange boards. Moving on from last week, Geoff had a plan to test what route power was taking through the control box. He quickly identified that two section wires were reversed. After swapping within the box, we had switchable power on the outer (Quarry) line. Another short while later another reversed pair were found and corrected. We suddenly had a a fully working system. After the wiring changes were recorded, we spent a fair time testing the system. 

Local Panel - Using the track section switches on board 1 to isolate trains driven onto the exchange area (boards 2 & 3). Main Panel - used the two-way switch box to take control of the exchange area and drive the train into Worton Court. Ditto from Main panel to Local panel. Ditto mainline track.

Local Panel switched Quarry overall power selector switch to Main Panel. Main Panel drives train from Worton Court through to 'Fiddleyard'.

Laurence had to run through the different options a few times to grasp the concepts, but was confident that a good practice session would fix the systems.

All early testing was with one controller/panel. The AMR controller that was bought 'untested' on eBay then had the plug exchanged to match our standard socket, but was initially wired up wrong. When examined closely, the unit had failed along a PCB track that was almost completely corroded away. A quick addition of a soldered jumper and we were back in business with two controllers.

Finally, Geoff got his wonderful machine out and the two black boxes were labelled.

It was very satisfactory to finally have a fully functional electrical system!