Toy Trains

[Sub-Routine]

Since the ISY has made Insteon so simple I spent some free time on my model railroad.

 

 

There are a dozen sets of wires hidden beneath the cave wall on the left.

 

 

This image utilizes Insteon dimmers to control three sets of rope lights, blue, red, and multi.

 

 

Rand

[MikeB]

Very cool, Rand. How big is your setup? Do you have any wider shots?

[Algorithm]

Rand, that is fantastic!!

 

Once when I was a young boy, my father took me to the home of a co-worker to see his train set--it occupied his entire basement! It was very realistic, but as I recall certainly had no where near the brilliant colours of your setup. I second the request for some wider shots as well.

[Michel Kohanim]

Rand,

 

Thanks so very much for sharing this ... I love it!

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[Sub-Routine]

Thank you for the kind words

 

The main level of this part of my railroad is 4X11 feet. The cave/cavern level is 4X10. I am just beginning the main level. I am planning a desert scene.

 

 

Most of my layout is more traditional.

 

 

Here is a small slideshow of the entire mess:

 

Rand

[Algorithm]

Rand, that is incredible! Thanks so much for sharing!

 

What is the gauge of your railroad... it appears to be larger than HO?

[Sub-Routine]

Darrell,

 

The trains are O gauge, ~1:48. Almost twice as large as HO (1:87). HO stands for Half-O. In Europe O gauge is 1:43.5 (thus HO is correct). O gauge was Americanized to quarter inch (1/4" X 48 = 1 foot). The track gauge is the same here as in Europe so it's a bit wider than scale 1:48.

 

The third rail gives O away. O gauge trains operate on AC electricity, hot on the center rail and neutral on the outside rail(s). This is great for reversing loops because there are no worries about switching the polarity of the rails as you would have to do with two rails (DC).

 

I am using Digital Command System (DCS) which works similarly to Insteon. Each engine is assigned an ID. Full power is always present on the track and signals are sent on the hot rail. Trains decode the signals and respond accordingly.

 

Rand

[Algorithm]

Hi Rand,

 

Thanks so much for the refresher course. [Actually, most of it is quite new to me. ] I spotted that centre rail right away, and knew it wasn't the old HO that I had played with in the distant past which was, as you say DC. What is the voltage of the AC that O uses? DCS sounds very interesting, and much more sophisticated than the simple DC system.

 

A layout such as yours would obviously carry a price tag that is most definitely not for the faint of heart. Are there any contests for model railroading? If so, your layout should definitely be entered!

[YW84U]

Rand, that is one fantastic setup! I couldn't help but notice the slot car track in the edge of one of the pics....almost reminds me of an old Strombecker set I used to have! Which set makes up 'The Rabbit'?

 

Reminds me... I still have a complete AFX system stashed away somewhere in my basement saved for a rainy day

 

Cheers,

 

Tom

[Sub-Routine]

Darrell, the O gauge trains can be run with up to 22 volts. 18 -20 is more common. A single engine will draw 1-3 amps. Smoke units and lighted cars can really suck up the power.

 

The DC guys also have a command control called DCC. AFAIK DCC uses low voltage AC signals imposed on the hot wire.

 

While one can spend an ungodly sum of money on these trains the track is not really expensive. Almost everything else you see I made using extruded polystyrene, plaster, and paint.

 

Tom, that is a 1:32 Scalextric slot car set. If you haven't looked in a while you won't believe how detailed these cars can be. They are another money pit

 

I use Insteon to control the lights on the layout:

 

Thank you,

Rand

[Sub-Routine]

The slot car track:

 

 

Rand

[MikeB]

Hey Rand -

 

I just met someone over the weekend into trains, and showed him your pics and thread. He loved it and wanted more information.

 

If you ever have the time, you should consider posting more details on what you're doing and how you're controlling it with Insteon - I know I'd love to hear more, and I'm sure many others would as well.

[Sub-Routine]

Mike, thank you for your interest.

 

I use Insteon Lamp Modules to control the illumination on the railroad. The rope lights are 120V and plug right in. For the low voltage lighting I have a variety of power supplies plugged in to LampLincs. Some are electronic supplies and some are old school transformers. Transformers always work with the dimmers. Only some electronic power supplies function well with the dimmers, it is trial and error here.

 

I use different ramp rates depending on the activator but the final results are the same.

 

Rand

[MikeB]

Thanks, I will pass it on to him!