Thanks for the call!

+ Katherine

Hey Geno,

Good call today! 

Ezra Klein with Oren Cass here.

Here's a pic of 2 sections of Kato N scale track - 62 mm Feeder Track (20-041) and a #6 Left Turnout (186 mm, 20-202). The rails are spaced 9 mm. The Feeder Track comes with wires terminating in a standard Mini Tamiya connector

Here's the underside. I have installed a Digitrax DS51K1 decoder per this link. I have also wired the turnout for non-power routing. I secure the decoder with a piece of painter's tape, which I may "upgrade" to a dab of Aileen's Tacky Glue. 

The primary goal in installing these small decoders directly to the track is to have flexible track pieces that one can move and reconfigure at will without needing to disconnect wiring from beneath "benchwork" (the term used to describe traditional plywood surfaces and wood support framing). I have no benchwork; instead my layout is on an Ikea 30 x 60 desk, which can be elevated up and down. 

Here's a pic of my current layout. I love this layout because it incorporates elements I think add interest: elevations leading to a bridge over another section of track; reversing sections that allow for reversing the direction of the locos and require the reverse sensing built into the command station; multiple loops - call the outer a mainline and the inner a local - that allow multiple trains running in the same or opposite directions. 

But you can see the problem with the wiring; there's a lot of it, mainly controlling the turnouts and converting them to non power routing. The wires run under the tracks causing irregularities and derailments. There's also the large, unsightly 4 turnout stationary decoders to hide. There's more at this blog post. (Incidentally, if you go to the top of the blog, you'll see a post on the crew reunion with lots of pics.) 

I envision the next evolution of this layout: replace wired turnouts with built-in decoder turnouts (I have 6 of the small decoders); build more sidings to support at least one "industry". Industry implies modelling of a "historically accurate" commercial activity. I've chosen timber and mining as my first two. I have some nice log cars with and without log loads and sawn lumber. At some point I hope to model a timber camp and sawmill. And mining operations, perhaps coal that fires the steam operated logging and sawmill equipment.

I went straight to Digital Command Control (DCC) because the command, control and possibility of automation is what interests me more than, say, scenery. I also went with the steam era (1850's to mostly 1920's but as late as 1950's). That's somewhat limiting - diesel and electric locos seem to be currently more popular - but not really an issue. I'm using open source designs and code from DCC-EX. Excellent work imo. My command station is based on a low cost ESP32 board in Arduino form factor paired with a low cost Motor Shield. I believe my layout is relatively low power so that battery operation may be an option. 

I use the also excellent Engine Driver app as my throttle on a tablet and/or phone. I've also connected the layout to JMRI, which I am not using currently, but may start to use, especially if I need more advanced automation than what DCC-EX provides natively or if I want to display real-time layout and train status. 

I've bombarded you with a ton of info. Please don't feel obligated; process only as you have time or interest. 

Good talking, Geno.

Hank

PS. FYI I'm making this email a blog post to capture the new content.