hmm, this makes for interesting discussion... please take it as that, and not arguing.
Posted By cabforward on 05/06/2008 3:27 PM
I am one of the 15 engeneers in the wolds longest trains.
From talking to rick and being at the layout to run the train
A) There is NO way that you could run the train under track power NO mader how many blocks there are.
>> Interesting, since you say in C below it could be track powered, I cannot see how you say you could not make the train run under track power. Please tell me what specifically makes it impossible.
B) Tod If you could use blocks how would it be possible to know whick block one of the 44 engines are in to spead it up or slow it down.
>>> if you set the unit up so that each block got the same voltage it would work, assuming you matched your locomotives... which is a good idea... or you could use constant voltage in all the blocks and then some kind of receiver in each loco like Aristo TE, DCC, MTH DCS, Locolinc, LGB MTH, AirWire.... (should I go on???)
C)And the whole armchair thing that the layout is not in the condition for track power that is not true the layout could be track powered it has rail clamps concret road bed
>>> Great! gives you more possible choices on how to make it run.
D)Tod it takes between halfhour and 45 minutes to get around the layout
>> 1254 feet is 0.2275 mile. 0.2375 mile in 3/4 of an hour is 9.1833 scale miles per hour by my calculations. Do you guys really run that slow? Or is this with stops?
E)Mark it is 75 sets of five car articulated that make a grand total of 395 cars the articulateds let us have one fith the number of coupalers for slack as well as the fact that the middle three cars share one truck
F)The planning of this thing is through the roof
>> does that mean a lot of planning already took place, or there is a lot to go?
G)Greg it is possible for that kind of range you hook the antina to the track
>> kind of iffy still on such a long layout...
H) Mark if you were to use a single transmitter it would be 7 amps times 44 equals 308 amps
I)Greg DCC would not work eather the layout covers almost three acres!
>>> It would work with the NCE system and their latest wireless cabs... no problem
J)Greg and others the info on the layout is
3800 feet of track overall
* 1254 linear feet of track per main and it is a double track main.
* 91 feet of bridges
* 95 feet of trestles
* 78 feet of tunnels
* 1 city with a streetcar that runs through it separately from the mainline
* several smaller towns and ranches
* a pond with a capacity of 12,000 gallons which spills over into a river flowing to a dammed reservoir.
The one proble are grades we decend 7 feet 6 inches from we exit the train barn to the bottom of the hill in about 800 feet of track
K) The main reason that we are using the big boys are that USA donated them
L) the other 44 engines are all brand new USA GP-30's with locolink and 1 volt batterys
>>>> probably not 1 volt, 12 volt?
M) for more info and pictures of the Dynamite Rio verde and eastern go to
www.ricktherailroadguy.com click on RAILROADS and then 3/4 of the page you will see the dynamite rio verde and eastern.
IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR IDEAS IE DCC, ONE CONTROLER ETC.
>>> I'd do it the way I first said, although DCC might actually be cheaper and better for later. I could do it either way I suggested.
Rick told me to post his phone number he would be more then happy to talk the train or anything about trains
the number is
602-501-7553
If there are any questions feel free to call again the number is
602-501-7553