PROGRESS! A few more buildings are in - my brewery (Calhoun's - when you're having more than one) and my wife's radio station in the Midland Utilities headquarters building (KPEG) along with the Midland maintenance building.

Small Town America - the railroad starts to come to life. A few details here. . . a few details there. While the glue and paint are drying, I'm still able to switch a few cars here and there as well. 

Need some help wiring two sets of crossing signals (no gates - just flashers) with three wires coming out of the base. No markings as to manufacturer - they came out of a donation box at the club. Several questions:

A. How do I make them work in conjunction with an approaching train?

B. Can anyone supply me with a simplified wiring diagram?

C. Do they require any type of resistor? - Am pretty sure they are not DCC nor LED.

D. Can the two signals at the same crossing be wired together or should they be wired to DC Accessory Power separately?

SCRAP YARD! I have some more "tweaking" to do, but here is the start of the first scenery portion of the new layout. Lights have to be connected as this is a 24 hr operation which gives my switching crews plenty to do - LOL. More landscaping and perhaps a few more figures will help detail it further.

WIRING IS DONE1 Tested. Everything works. Tortise slow-motion switch machines installed on main line turnouts. Place-holder buildings will slowly be replaced with highly detailed scenery. Just got my photo interiors for my buildings.

that kept the Tortise machine from operating the turnout properly. I had to disconnect two others; lesson learned and applicable to work on the other (right) half later this year. Many thanks to all those who took their time to make suggestions - - all of which were helpful.   Now, with track down and tested, turnouts wired and tested; it's time to start on my favorite part - - SCENERY! 

I am having a problem installing a Tortise switch on my main line. The first two went in with little or no trouble; the third one is a royal pain. . . The problem is the adjustment so the switch throws in both directions. Here are the details:

1. The hole is more than big enough for the throw rod travel.

2. The original wire has been replaced with a stiffer piano wire with the correct bend.

3. The switch functions well when not inserted into position (ie. in my hand tested with power).

. . . and on the 2nd day the Chief Operating Officer said "Let there be light," and the Chief Maintenance Officer said to his men, "Make it so." And IKEA was good . . . . Thus it began, with wire and snips and hot irons they went to work to make it a railroad.

SKY BLUE! Have made more progress on the new layout with a backdrop and painting and some initial critical switches installed (sans Tortise machines) before finishing the man line.

Ok, the railroad club just "inherited," through an unsolicited donation, a bunch of Atlas slide/momentary buttons used for their brand of switches. Has anyone used or know if these little slide buttons can be used on a Tortoise or NJ switch machine to active the switch? I'd hate to trash them or go buy SPDT's if they can be used. I'm going to lay track and switches on the new railroad within the month and would use these if they can work.