Back in December 2006 I decided to build a model railway. I decided as things had moved on som much since I last did model railways I would build a test track. A single bench about a meter high was built to test out DCC and the like. Subsequently in March 2009 I expanded that to a circuit on three benches and integrated that over the following year with block detection, computer control, automatic signalling etc. etc.

But it has outlived its usefulness and this photo was taken at the start of the week before I salvaged what I could from it in components and wood. It has now gone completely.

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One_of_the_main_things_I_(re)learnt_was_that_if_you_want_to_do_occupancy_detection_and_so_on_the_wiring_becomes_and_absolute_mess_unless_you_work_really_really_hard_to_get_control_of_it._As_I_knew_the_test_layout_was_never_long_term_I_made_no_real_effort_to_control_it_and_as_a_result_it_became_quite_a_shameful_pickle.

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The new layout is much bigger - consuming a room of 7.5m by 4.5m and has over 40 points - a number of which are slips requiring two point motors. Accordingly the wiring needs much more thought.

I have decided that each of the major areas will have one or two control boards on which PCBs etc. are mounted. With connectors back to a main power distribution board which distributes DCC track power (via a Digitrax PM42) and also other power supplies required for running the various circuit boards.

My first control board is now finished, it has no signalling element on it as it is for a non-scenic part of the layout. It has been tested and operates correctly showing track occupancy and operating point motors. I wanted to get this working before I tore up the test layout in case that contained any lessons on how to wire the various devices.

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The control boards (I think there will be 6 or so) are designed to hang underneath the layout, on two simple hooks.

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Part of the plan is never to have to do the dangerous sport of upside down soldering!!

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