OK, I've gotten thru the first 80 links, and updated them (of, oh, at least a thousand or two!). This just might take a while....
Check out my site at Rio Grande Southern info.
Feb 21, 2011
Updating links
If you haven't noticed by now, MANY of my photo links at to the PhotosWest collection at the Denver Public Library, which is a wonderful collection. In the last couple of weeks, they've updated their digital collection and added some great new features.
However, they've also changed the way public URLs are created, in a way that I can't easiliy convert. So, I've started the process of working thru the several thousand links I have, find the new photos, and updating the URLs. This will not be a short project, but I will get it done eventually.
Thanks for your patience.
However, they've also changed the way public URLs are created, in a way that I can't easiliy convert. So, I've started the process of working thru the several thousand links I have, find the new photos, and updating the URLs. This will not be a short project, but I will get it done eventually.
Thanks for your patience.
Jan 25, 2011
On to fund-raising for DigiTrax
OK, after a lot of research and hearing from numerous friends, I've made my decision to go w/
DigiTrax for my DCC system. Yes, I know all about the benefits of NCE, and at the end of the day they're both excellent systems. For my particular situation, I decided DigiTrax's architecture and design was a slightly better fit.
Next step - raising some funds to pay for it! I've decided to sell most of my old Lionel trains - they're all on eBay now. Hopefully they'll raise enough to at least get started. It's a little bittersweet, as there's a lot of memories here, but - as we usually say when we're cleaning - we'll hang on the memories but get rid of (most of) the stuff.
On to DCC!
DigiTrax for my DCC system. Yes, I know all about the benefits of NCE, and at the end of the day they're both excellent systems. For my particular situation, I decided DigiTrax's architecture and design was a slightly better fit.
Next step - raising some funds to pay for it! I've decided to sell most of my old Lionel trains - they're all on eBay now. Hopefully they'll raise enough to at least get started. It's a little bittersweet, as there's a lot of memories here, but - as we usually say when we're cleaning - we'll hang on the memories but get rid of (most of) the stuff.
On to DCC!
Jan 9, 2011
In a decaling mood -
So, after lots of research, I sort of decide DigiTrax is probably the way to go for a DCC system, but then a bunch of other friends weigh in for NCE. I'm going to have to dig out all my O-27 Lionel stuff and put them up on eBay to raise funds, so there's no rush I suppose. More researching...
In the meantime, I decided to work on decaling a number of hoppers I've had sitting around. I managed to get them all painted before the cold weather set in, and this week found myself in a mood to start decaling them. Modeling a freelance (proto-lance?) version of the RGS is fun, but it does lead to lots of custom decaling of std-gauge equipment. But it'll be a nice hopper fleet when I'm done.
This week - a set of 10 Accurail 55-ton composite hoppers lettered for the RGS, another 4 34' steel hoppers lettered for the D&RGW, and 4 more 34' steel lettered for the SP. They'll join a couple steel RGS hoppers, and some C&S steel hoppers I finished earlier.
I also got some minor updates posted on the website; there's more updates waiting than I have time for, and w/ my new job I don't have the ability to work on that during breaks in the early morning anymore. And at home... somehow spending time on the computer usually doesn't appeal so much. But, the updates are coming, just more slowly these days.
In the meantime, I decided to work on decaling a number of hoppers I've had sitting around. I managed to get them all painted before the cold weather set in, and this week found myself in a mood to start decaling them. Modeling a freelance (proto-lance?) version of the RGS is fun, but it does lead to lots of custom decaling of std-gauge equipment. But it'll be a nice hopper fleet when I'm done.
This week - a set of 10 Accurail 55-ton composite hoppers lettered for the RGS, another 4 34' steel hoppers lettered for the D&RGW, and 4 more 34' steel lettered for the SP. They'll join a couple steel RGS hoppers, and some C&S steel hoppers I finished earlier.
I also got some minor updates posted on the website; there's more updates waiting than I have time for, and w/ my new job I don't have the ability to work on that during breaks in the early morning anymore. And at home... somehow spending time on the computer usually doesn't appeal so much. But, the updates are coming, just more slowly these days.
Dec 28, 2010
Bummed. The end of Keller OnBoard for me? And on to DCC?
Well, perhaps the day has come. When I started my layout about 2004, I designed the wiring to easily be upgraded from my old Keller OnBoard control system, to a DCC system. I've withheld actually doing that because I've already got (and paid for!) the Keller system, and (until now) it's done everything I needed.
However, that has changed. To date, I've actually only installed decoders (Keller called them throttles, but in this DCC-age I just call them decoders) in diesel locomotives, mostly Athearn's I've remotored w/ Sagami can motors. The Keller decoders work well w/ these motors, albeit with a very slight buzzing at low speeds (due to the pulse-modulation used by Keller to help start older / cheaper motors).
But now came time to install decoders into my Spectrum 2-8-0 Consolidation steam locomotive. The wiring was simple enough - removed the built-in circuit board, hard-wired the connections between tender and loco w/ super-flex wire (pulled from old computer mice, btw), and added the decoder in the tender. Then came testing - and a very loud buzz in the lower 1/3 of the speed range. That pulse-modulation doesn't work well w/ these much newer, and much smaller motors.
I tried everything I could think of - different versions of the Keller decoders, adding the Bachmann circuit board back in, etc, but nothing fixed it. I guess this is a limitation of these old decoders, and one of many reasons the system isn't used much today.
SO - where does that leave me? Time to upgrade to DCC, I suppose. I like the idea of more control, more features, current technology, all that stuff, but I'm not happy about the re-wiring needed to locos and control panels, nor the cost.
Any suggestions on which brand, folks? I'm probably leaning toward either DigiTrax or NCE, and it seems at a least a couple of radio cabs make the most sense.
However, that has changed. To date, I've actually only installed decoders (Keller called them throttles, but in this DCC-age I just call them decoders) in diesel locomotives, mostly Athearn's I've remotored w/ Sagami can motors. The Keller decoders work well w/ these motors, albeit with a very slight buzzing at low speeds (due to the pulse-modulation used by Keller to help start older / cheaper motors).
But now came time to install decoders into my Spectrum 2-8-0 Consolidation steam locomotive. The wiring was simple enough - removed the built-in circuit board, hard-wired the connections between tender and loco w/ super-flex wire (pulled from old computer mice, btw), and added the decoder in the tender. Then came testing - and a very loud buzz in the lower 1/3 of the speed range. That pulse-modulation doesn't work well w/ these much newer, and much smaller motors.
I tried everything I could think of - different versions of the Keller decoders, adding the Bachmann circuit board back in, etc, but nothing fixed it. I guess this is a limitation of these old decoders, and one of many reasons the system isn't used much today.
SO - where does that leave me? Time to upgrade to DCC, I suppose. I like the idea of more control, more features, current technology, all that stuff, but I'm not happy about the re-wiring needed to locos and control panels, nor the cost.
Any suggestions on which brand, folks? I'm probably leaning toward either DigiTrax or NCE, and it seems at a least a couple of radio cabs make the most sense.
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