Willow Springs Under Way - - Last Spike

Extra 27 Westbound meets 288 at Willow Springs

Over the last week, I finished the track-work at Willow Springs; the mainline, passing track, and the four spur tracks are all complete. I did choose to use code 70 and adjust the ties to emphasize the difference from mainline trackage on the spurs. The fold up staging is the only remaining track and wiring to complete.

Today, I ran trains, including setting out cars at each of the spurs. The Willow Springs bill boxes still need to be installed, and all the boxes need labeled. While the track-work and the turnout controls mostly worked very smoothly, I did notice a short between the Baldwin switcher's glad hand and the "Y" at the bottom of the "U" which needs my attention. I will have to determine whether the turnout or the glad hand is at fault.

Now, I get to make the big transition from track-work and wiring to scenery and operations.

Willow Springs Under Way - - Getting Closer

Mainline and passing siding at Willow Springs

With thunderstorms and intermittent rain interrupting our painting of the house, I have been able to work on the layout. The mainline and passing siding at Willow Springs are complete with all six turnouts wired and tested. I have not soldered all the rail joiners yet though; I want to do a few more test runs first. I used one of the internal switches in each of the Tortoises to power its frog, and by the final install, I had the process (described in a previous post) down. I have to say that if I contemplate expanding the layout, I definitely should plan on laying and wiring the track before mounting the section in place. Having the flexibility to work with the section on its side on sawhorses would be so much easier than crawling under to work overhead.

Installing the turnout controls

To control the turnouts, I am using Touch Toggles mounted to a track diagram. In addition to the Touch Toggles and Base Unit, I purchased DC Power Extension Cables and a Wye to run a turnout bus from the original East Staging control panel. Wiring the controls couldn't be simpler. I used bell wire soldered to the #1 and #8 pads on the Tortoise and then ran it to the Direct Base attached to the fascia. As I want the normal position on a main track switch to be for the main, I set up that position to be green on the Touch Toggle LED. It was easy to switch the wires at the blue screw terminals to be consistent with that scheme (if I even needed to change them). In the photo the turnout controls are all wired and the angled supports for the inexpensive frame are glued in place. I have since taped the toggles in place behind the diagram and clamped the frame in place, but I have not permanently mounted it yet. I want to try it out for a bit and pick up black pan head screws and paint the plywood supports before the final install of the frame.

Next up, the spur tracks

The next step is to install the spur tracks, but first I have to make some final decisions. I have the flex track on hand to either use code 83 (like the mainline) or code 70 for the spur tracks. In a recent (July 2017) Model Railroader article, Lou Sassi recommends using "different size rail to help distinguish between types of track" in addition to using different techniques for ballasting. While this is predominantly a scenery decision, the decision does need to be made now. Another scenery consideration is whether I have enough room for the appropriate structures along the Oil Spur. I should decide now whether to shorten the spur in that location. Removing some cork roadbed before laying the spur track will be easier than tearing up everything later.