preparing for setting up the DCC Next

 Today I figured out which signalheads need what colour under the different SP rules:

And made a Excel sheet which makes the whole setup easier:

More later when the signal has arrived!

Grtz, Ronald.

SP rules and Arcomara

 Hi all,

My DCC Next from Arcomora arrived! Software is installed, now I wait for my signal ordered from Ebay. Little patience...

The DCC Next unpacked:

USB loader for the desired software:

Webadress Arcoroma: www.arcoroma.com 

And printed me out some SP signaling rules to figure out how to setup the DCC next module:

Grtz, Ronald.

A good book

 As addition to the previous post; this book is the best for knowledge about signal systems:

Southern Pacific signaling

In my research to the prototype I need offcourse signals. The US style is another thing than the European style. Southern Pacific used a special style of signal rules:

In DCC there are not many ways to control these US signals this way. Also most DCC decoders are high priced. So on our Dutch forum Beneluxspoor.net I asked for a solution for the signaling and the cost of it. Soon they told me to use a Arduino based solution called Arcorama signal decoder: https://www.arcomora.com/arsigdec/  Its based on Arduino and you can buy one complete assembled so no hassling with prints,parts, soldering etc:

I ordered one and I orered a 3 light signal on Ebay. Will make a testfit so I can play with this to see if this will be the solution to my problem. And will sho it here!

So more to come!

Grtz, Ronald.

Still in the planning mode!

 Hi all,

Well, 2025 has ended! And I'm still in the planning modus. But;  2026will be the year I WILL START a home layout! That for sure will be true. 

For that I'm now reorganizing my trainstuff and pack it in labeled boxes. That is needed before I can remove a drywall wall we made in the attic in 2008. We then made 1 extra bedroom there for our son and the other part of the attic was storage. That part was also never painted so I will have a little extra work ahead.

Meanwhile I try to draw a plan the old fashioned way; on paper:

And work out how many trains are going to ride the layout with the ammount of cars I have in my posession:

It will be a multideck layout. My trainroom will be not that big, 17 x 12 ft, but it will get a helix. That helix is already in my posession and will fit the room perfectly. Both radius will be 25 and 23 inch.

Some inspiration from my books!:

Stay tuned! 

Grtz, Ronald

A good book!!

 Today I went to a American train store in Germany. There I did some purchases and one of them is a book I was searching for a longer time... it is out of print and hard to find while the ublisher does not do hardprints any longer. So I felt very, very lcky to have this copy in my hand. For 60 euro's still not over-expensive, that makes it even better! 👍

The book is "Southern Pacific in Oregon" by Ed Austin:

Brandnew! It contains a lot of info and photos not found on the internet so for my home layout good value!

I als bought this Classic trains special issue:

Very overall but still usefull!

I also couldn't resist buying some cars..... You cannot have enough of them:

Well, I've got some reading to do! 

Ronald.

I'm alive!

 Hi all,

Still here! 4 years... what a time to pass. Sorry for the delay 😏

After a visit from a also US friend I realized that I still don't have room to let my big collection of H0 US trains running in our home. So he urged me to get started! But for that I have to rebuild my attic what is the most suitable space in our house in the Netherlands. It now is divided in 2 rooms and that "wall" (sheetrock) has to go if I want to accomodate that big home layout. But it houses also my hobbyroom so for that it demands a big (temporary) relocation of the stuff in there..... what have I got myself into?

I started collecting possible plans on the internet and my interest is a multideck layout. I have a complete suitable helix given by a friend, 7-turn, approx. 59" radius. That gives me the opportnity to have a basic level, staging level and second level layout. At least a double decker, good!!

So I started drawing today! I do that oldfashioned with ruler and pen. Scale of the drawing is 1:20: 

The collected and printed plans:

And some inspiring books

My idea is or Cascade mountains or Siskiyou Lines. Still working on that.

Progress will be slow, before tearing down the wall it will be at least 2 or 3 months further in time. So; stay tuned!😉

Grtz, Ronald