Now that school holidays have finished its back into the wiring of the blocks into the remaining two (2) BDL168's. The next section is the Rutherford to Manheim Junction section, this will use two of the four (4) blocks and eight (8) sensors.
The configuration is not really pretty but it works and makes problem solving much easier if required. The labelling is quite time consuming but again makes identifying the individual blocks easier.
Each zone wiring block is marked so that is identifiable from the other wiring under the layout. The red (thicker) wires are the block power feeds from the BDL, and the white (with red stripe) are the corresponding track feeder. The plain white wire is actually the black wire and common for the layout.
Keeping everything in order and labelled will save time in the future if you ever need to find faults in the detection wiring, it is also mind numbing and quite boring at times too. Checking each block when connected is essential when working with so many wires and feeders, already I have picked up un-isolated block boundaries that required insulated track joiners to be installed.
Two more zones (8 blocks) to go and onto the last BDL168...
Jas.
For the last week and half I have been pretty much stagnant as far as layout time has been concerned as we are in the middle of our first term school break, and with this comes little to no time for the layout.
However over the last two days/nights I have been designing and completing our layout division/system map. It is now completed and has been designated as the "Harrisburg & Shippensburg Division - System Map 1975".
This has planted the layout in a era and will set the scene for the operating sessions on the layout. Whilst having a little get together a few weeks ago it was decided that we needed this map as it will allow operators to see the divisions and how to get to the specific towns and areas.
Hopefully once holidays are finished I can get stuck into designing the operating sessions.
Jas...
