My train
modelling
My primary modelling is in N
scale/gauge. However, I first started modelling in HO scale/gauge back
in the mid 70's. SAR Lima were the most common stuff in South Africa
back then - they were poor quality even back then. After the necessary
hiatus of about 15 years (school, marriage, kids), I jumped back into
the hobby into N scale/gauge while living in Plymouth, UK. I haven't
looked back since. About 3 years ago I first came across Roco HO stock
and having the appreciation for quality, I decided to get a small amount
of Roco's fine quality HO stock. They run like Kato in N scale and look
brilliant! Very detailed. I have several HO modeller friends and for
this reason I now have a secondary modelling scale - HO German Epoch III
in Roco only. I am also looking into Roco Digital at this moment -
Digital sure is cool!
I recently did a few firsts - kit
bashing and mould making. Click here to
read more about it.
Digital
Command Control (DCC)
Back in 1998 I met a good friend,
Kevin Chamberlain. He introduced me to Digitrax DCC. With his older
brother Glynn and some more like minded friends/modellers we later
helped form the Cape Town Ntrak Club (see the link to their site above
or click here).
DCC played a big role in our club as most of us really loved the
operational possibilities of it. That was my main reason for investing
in DCC. I started off buying the Digitrax Empire Builder. Soon after
that I got myself a UR90 as the Infra Red capability of the system
intrigued me. Last year I got hold of a UR91 and two DT100R radio
throttles - even more fun! I still use my DT100IR, but I must admit that
my radio throttles get more attention nowadays. The freedom to interact
with visitors at exhibitions always appealed to me - how many times do
the operators lurk behind the scenes? DCC is a great asset to our hobby
by allowing us to get nearer to the public.
Digitrax EB's command
station and throttle 
The layout
As we moved to Ireland in February 2001, we had to decide what to
bring and what not. I had to leave my Ntrak modules behind. In hindsight
it was a good idea as there are few model trains blokes around these
parts. Now, if my hobby was Guinness I'd have a million fellow hobbyists
in a second. Each to its own,
I guess.
So, I had to build me a layout and decided to opt for mobility as I
would have to move a couple of times - 3' x 6'6" more or less a door
size. I started work on the base in Jun/Jul 2001. I might have over
killed on the construction but I thought of strength. No good having a
great layout but its falling apart at the seams.
I also started out with some parameters:
- Only Peco code 55 track and points.
- Electrofrog points only as I use Digitrax DCC. Insulfrog double
and single slips.
- No point motors as everything is near the ends for hand operation.
- Two halves for two man operation - middle divider thus.
And that was that. You can see some of the progress down below. I am
currently busy (supposedly - I run too many trains) airbrushing and
assembling some DPM kits to go with the various Heljan kits already
built. A lot to do still.
Some history on my un named layout: I model Union Pacific mostly
because of the great selection of steam and diesels the prototype had.
It so happens that someone I work with used to work in the UP's IT
department too - that's quite handy. I
have decided not to fix a time period. If I like it, I run it. Maybe its
because in this parallel universe no railroads ever had to scrap stock.
They are also always clean (can you guess who doesn't weather his stock?
Just cannot bring myself to take that new Micro Trains out of its box
and slap paint on it...) and in ex-factory state. I am still working
over the details of the operations but I can tell you this, I have 5
times more stock than I need for this layout if not more. That's why I
already made provisions to expand into some more permanent fixture, or
maybe oNetrack or something. But I am getting way ahead of myself.
The Digitrax loconet is in, so is my Infra red and Radio receivers.
And the wiring is done too. Until I need to wire some lights in...
Some pictures of my layout - work in progress...
