Weekend Update 11/10/19

[C855B]

Who makes that decoder?  I'll have some of these to do... some day.

Looks to be the front half of a TCS CN-GP. The rear half of this split board is just for the light, explaining the resistor and wires (to the LED, which is off-camera). @diezmon is our inadvertent expert on this decoder.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Looks to be the front half of a TCS CN-GP. The rear half of this split board is just for the light, explaining the resistor and wires (to the LED, which is off-camera). @diezmon is our inadvertent expert on this decoder.

There's also the DN126M2 designed for use in the SW1500 that's intended to fit in that space.

[sirenwerks]

Working on some more flats for my Royal American Shows carnival train.  I need to finish the trucks of course as well as finish decaling the wagons.

(Attachment Link)

Where are the tractors from? They look 1970s-ish.

[randgust]

Busy trying to get the last of the leaves raked up, before the arctic winter comes. I did have time to add DCC to another Life-Like SW

(Attachment Link)

Whose decoder is that - and what leads are those - to the cab headlight?   That's one of those inexplicable things with most of the stock SW1500 nose-placement decoders - no recognizable provision for a cab headlight connection terminal.

[sirenwerks]

I have, and it was decades ago. This is nothing new. Before the bottled water craze took over, "ration"-type potable water was available in small cartons like that by the case, intended for situations when fresh water was unavailable. It was sold in the industrial B2B marketplace.

Railroads in the West were users, Santa Fe and Southern Pacific in my direct experience. There was a period circa 1980 when you would find the ROW over Tehachapi littered with empty water cartons.

It's still used in personal emergency preparedness circles too. I know a number of people who have cached it as part of their Cascadia subduction event supplies. I prefer water bricks.

[John]

I prefer water bricks.

That and a few ammo bricks

[Brian M]

In October a bunch of us from Vancouver made the trip to rural New Jersey where we were very graciously welcomed by the ops community for four days of ops on some notable layouts: Ted Pamperin's C&O, Perry Squire's Shawmut & Northern, Tony Koester's NKP, and Dave Olesen's Chessie.  Words just can't describe it I am afraid although running Berks across the myriad interchanges on Tony's layout was just awesome.  What a wonderful aspect of our hobby.  We hope to return their hospitality next year!
md

We've done two trips of Colorado-based operators to these same layouts, and I've been fortunate to get invited on both trips (one in 2010 and again in 2016).  All of those layouts are a lot fun to operate and the level of modeling is outstanding.  As one of Tony's regulars (who was helping me out on my first run) said, "It's kind of like playing in Yankee Stadium, just applied to model railroading".

-Brian.

[diezmon]

Who makes that decoder?  I'll have some of these to do... some day.

It's a Digitrax DN126M2. TCS makes one too.

[diezmon]

Looks to be the front half of a TCS CN-GP. The rear half of this split board is just for the light, explaining the resistor and wires (to the LED, which is off-camera). @diezmon is our inadvertent expert on this decoder.

Ha, not quite      I don't know that you can split them up. Although, i don't have one in front of me and don't recall if there's circuitry on the rear half.

The resistor is for the rear headlight.

[peteski]

Ha, not quite      I don't know that you can split them up. Although, i don't have one in front of me and don't recall if there's circuitry on the rear half.

I don't think  you can split that decoder, and, only use the front part (with most of its components), as IIRC, the rear board contains part of the bridge rectifier.  But I could be wrong - its been some time since I dealt with one of those decoders (and  it seems that they produced a new version)

[tehachapifan]

I don't think  you can split that decoder, and, only use the front part (with most of its components), as IIRC, the rear board contains part of the bridge rectifier.  But I could be wrong - its been some time since I dealt with one of those decoders (and  it seems that they produced a new version)

I think you may be right and, while it's been a while, I seem to recall all 4 frame contacts needing to make solid contact with the frame on that decoder as well, when two might be enough on some other decoders. I might not have that right though.

[ednadolski]

It just about fits around the back side.

Aha, I didn't realize you meant for the tracks to continue

Ed

[C855B]

I don't think  you can split that decoder, and, only use the front part (with most of its components), as IIRC, the rear board contains part of the bridge rectifier.  But I could be wrong - its been some time since I dealt with one of those decoders (and  it seems that they produced a new version)

  Yes, you're right. I didn't look under the rear board. Four diodes.

[diezmon]

  Yes, you're right. I didn't look under the rear board. Four diodes.

hmm, although I'm thinking now, you could use the DN126M2 in any other split frame engine too, if you don't mind hand wiring the rear lights.  It is a small little sucker.  Or, put it in the back of a hood unit and have a detailed cab interior. 

[spookshow]

Whoa!  Been very impressed with Mark's work for some time, but seeing this panorama is a mind blower.  You've gotta REALLY look close...super advertisement for N Scale!  Not to mention pure modeling.  No shake the box here.

Thanks Jim! 

Cheers,
-Mark