Signal Up Productions, seeking to offer a higher quality and more diverse selection of Prototype and Model Railroading videos and content. I travel all over the United States to railfan, attend model train shows, clubs, and museums.
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Is there a more comprehensive set-up instruction out there. I think you have jumped to many basics.
At 24 minutes long, I feel I was pretty thorough. Programming DCC decoders is not a task most new model railroaders should attempt. Are you needing a video on the setup and basic use of a DCC system? I can get something together that focuses more on the fundamentals.
I'm wondering if digitrax is for me. I'm trying to get 3 trains running on my setup but I can't work out how to get the first train to move. I really need help from an expert. My end goal is to have 3 trains running back and forth between my 4 metro stations and switching between tracks as each train passes through.
If you're wanting these trains to operate back and forth automatically, then the DCC system isn't going to handle this on its own. You would need some external computer control like JMRI connected to whatever DCC system you get. Or a completely separate point to point controller. I believe Iowa Scaled Engineering makes a device to do this. Getting a train to move with Digitrax requires the following steps: Turn the power supply on that feeds the command station. Turn the Op Switch (for DCS210+, DB150, DCS100 etc) to Run. Zephyr style systems do not need that step. Using the throttle, turn track power On. The track status light on the throttle and command station should light up. Acquire the address of the locomotive you want to use. Each throttle is a little different, so refer to the users manual. Set the direction and turn the knob. If that doesn't work, then a step wasn't followed, or the locomotive has a different address.
Cool video and enjoyed watching once again. Have a wonderful rest of your evening.
Thank you! You too!
Very impressive dash 9 locomotive models, Athearn has really improved their locomotive quality over the past 5 years from my view and the Genesis 2.0 series has produced many incredible locomotive models and these dash 9 models fit that category.
Where is this located. It would be neat to see as I am located in Streator Illinois
Curt lives near Belleville, IL. The railroad prototype modelers meet was this weekend, and his layout was once again open for tours.
Phenomenally beautiful layout, in every way possible, and probably one of the most captivating - large layouts - that I've ever seen on KZread.
I was just over at Steve's house tonight, and the layout is still pleasing crowds! Thanks for the comment.
Thanks for making this video, as I am about to order my first HO loco - Athearn SW1500 - with Loksound 5 decoder installation, and had no idea that I needed to request to have the dealer install the sound files for that railroad specific locomotive. And I also want to thank you for mentioning those Smokebox safety reflectors.
Hope the video gave you good insight. Yes, ESU has WAY too many soundfiles to offer them already on the decoder. If the dealer does not have a lokprogrammer at their shop, they can still request the project file you choose to be loaded on by ESU before they ship it to the dealer!
@@signalupproductions Appreciate those insights, and suggestions. * subscribed *
Thanks for making this video. Can I change my engine default address of "3" to the 4 digit address on the Mainline or do I need to set up a designated programming track to do that?
I personally would not try to change an address on the main. But if you're going to, then write CV 17 & 18 first, THEN change CV 29 to switch it to to the 4 digit address. CV 29 toggles the decoder between 2 and 4 digit (among other settings), and the decoder will respond to what's in CV 1 or 17/18 based on CV 29. By doing the address on the main, there's always the risk of accidentally changing ALL the addresses on the layout! Big oops. For those people with an older command station like the DB150, they could run the track wires through a toggle switch, with one output going to the layout for normal running, the other going to a programming track that is isolated from the layout.
Thanks for your reply. I’m going to go ahead and make a designated programming track, stub ended, in my staging yard.
turned out nice, but why not leave the parts on the sprue until you need them...save the tape, save the christmas wrap, save the time, came out great thou...
As I mention in the description, it's more efficient to focus on a single task, cut everything out, then sand it all down. Cut a part, sand a part, glue a part, the repeat takes a little longer. Also, I have noticed the parts for the whole kit are molded together despite their order of assembly. By cutting them out, they can be arranged on the paper in the order that they will be used in the build process.
@@signalupproductions In that ol green belt management theory on efficiency Id agree with you on mass production levels, but definitely not with a single kit build....the time you took to cut paper, tape parts down , write the sprue numbers down then untape them and remove tape residue and organize them is a big wash on time and efficiency in my opinion... but to each his own...bridge came out great..
That was very interesting concept with the parts to the paper. Good pointers in this one, the printed parts looked great! Nice project! (Dave).
This resin printer has been a real game changer for the hobby. Affordable and easy to use.
@@signalupproductions great to hear for sure.
nice job, to bad they don't give you long enough parts for the base, but really turned out nice with the ones you printed off.
Yeah the bridge sections are modular. It can be in 50ft increments up to 200ft scale. Hopefully they will consider including various lengths of piers in the future.
I ❤️ my ho scale trains
I love the abandoned track!
It's actual abandoned track too. We had a design change after all the track was laid and ballasted. We rerouted the main track through a different part of the layout, leaving this original section in place!
@@signalupproductions that makes it even better!
This didgitrax stuff is completely obtuse, or maybe it’s me, but this stuff drives me nuts. All I want to do is make a 4 digit address, I give up. Good gosh I just wanna play trains ugh
Another great video. Really cool Caboose/ Shoving Platform .
Show us a prototype photo
Nice boxcar. To bad paint job is not accurate to the prototype.
Interesting. Looking at the pictures I have of these cars, what's the difference?
The Athearn boxcar is a 20 plus year old Gunderson design. The new UP cars are newer NSC design I believe. Count the stiffening post and size. The atlas 7538 Bnsf version would be almost correct if it had two doors.
Interesting! Thanks for the info. Not sure I would have ever caught the differences!
I thought Soundfcar includes brake squeel ?
Awesome video, and I dont even have a dcc system yet. Still doing my homework 😏
There's several main brands of systems out there. I use Digitrax, just because that was what other people in my area were already using. NCE, Digitrax, ESU, and MRC all seem like common systems people use. They all have pros and cons.
Incrediable scenery blending
Track warrants are fun to keep up with on a 1:87 scale layout.
Excellent Video and very informative.
One of the reasons 7 1/2" gauge steam is hard, the engineer has to do it all. At least on these bigger trains, there can be an actual fireman to focus on the water!
Congratulations. Wonderful smart layout. Thank you for sharing.
Simple and Scenic is a way to go. You could go to a upper deck too.
The only space my wife will let me have is a 38" x 82" layout in our spare bedroom. That means my O gauge Lionel world is a figure eight, with 4 interior spurs. Believe me, you have a fabulous layout.
Looks ok to me whatever works for you.. Cool video and have a wonderful rest of your weekend.(Steve)
I was wondering, what's the purpose of removing the ties from the track? I've seen it in other videos also.
All the brands of flex track I'm familiar with, the ties come right up to the ends of the rail. This doesn't leave any room to slide on rail joiners. Most people cut off the first couple of ties, and save them for later. Once the track is installed, I cut a notch in the tie to make room for the rail joiner, then slip it under the rail filling the gap. I'll show this in detail in a later video covering the construction of the layout!
Something is definitely better than nothing! Looks great!
Although you have used 2 nuts and bolts to connect the sections together, I also use a couple of 10mm or 3/8inch location dowels either side, that go all the way though both ends of the sections, so there can be no twisting (which can happen with just bolts). Just a suggestion to consider, and I suppose it also depends on your humidity changes.
Nice video, Steven! I really enjoyed it! Given the realities of having to work with a confined area and still wanting to operate both continuous running and industrial switching, I think you have hit a home run with your track plan. Using plywood to insure that you have as straight of lumber as possible is something I learned years ago... I still screw and glue, but in reality nails should work just fine. Looking forward to seeing more as this progresses, keep me in the loop as you work on the Walthers Turntable. I have built a couple of them years ago and sometimes they can be a bear to power and make functional. Mine were both early versions with the built-in drive, but if you have any issues, be sure to hit me up at Lee's and I'll be more than happy to help. Bruno
Great idea love the layout for temporary until you build your dream layout but how about this idea you may have to backtrack cut out the staging track back to the switch and build an a ramp going down under the layout and build your staging on the back wall under the layout at least maybe four tracks at least you have a place to park like Amtrak train and you don’t have to put it on the layout. Once the other train leaves track. It’ll be parked on the track already, that’s an idea if you want to try, but like I said, it’s more work
We All Are Different in Our Way But we ❤️ the Hobby. We Put a Great Deal Of Pride And Passion That’s Our Story and we Are Sticking To it.
Very nice video Steven this is Zane I’m wanting too get a Safety Green Union Pacific Safety Vest Regular Size from the Mount Vernon Subdivision or any Union Pacific Subdivision at there Yard Office Maintenance Shop a Regular Size one I have Autism ADHD and OCD Anxiety and Depression and I’m 23 years old and I’m so obsessed with Union Pacific and Union Pacific Safety Vests
Beautiful layout, just hit the 1K likes👍 Not surprised
Steve does good work!
Thanks for sharing this function in JMRI. 👍👍 I was thinking about buying a device to measure loco speed to help with speed matching. I can just use IR sensors and Arduino to do this.
Nice video! I remember when it was a busy piece of railroad. Back then, you could go trackside in the afternoon/early evening and catch a half a dozen trains in a few hours. You forgot to mention my cameo at 5:28 to 5:37. 😂😂😂
I love a good railfan guide! Well done, Steven!
STOP! no former, modeler otbrail enthusiasts wants to see the same old stack train over and over and over again! We care about about history of the line, topography of the area, branch lines, locals and short lines in the area, HEP, DPU's if they have them. Not the same old stack train or manifest train that we can see over and over again in any state in America.
Thanks for the feedback. With all due respect, it is titled Railfan Guide, not History Guide. So the information contained naturally would be focused on the same old stack train that the majority of railfans want to see. For history of the line: former C&EI from Chicago to Joppa. Later the line became the Mopac Chicago Sub. Topography is easy. Mostly flat until Murphysboro, where the line drops down into the Mississippi river valley.
I really dislike the 602 and am having a very hard time getting used to it. The DT500 was far more intuitive and comfortable in my opinion... it's still my go-to and the 602 sits unused most of the time.
In my discussions with people about Digitrax, I find that most who have used the 400/500 throttles for MUing and throwing switches find it hard to wrap their head around the different method the 602 uses. But people who have never used DCC or Digitrax have caught on to the new throttles much easier.
I love the sounds and the cornfield scenes. Turned out so good! Underneath the bridges is awesome too.
Great work. Don't know what you charge, but it even if it's reasonable, I think in this situation it would have been better to sell this to a DC only guy and buy one with DCC and sound.
I actually co-own a hobby shop. We got a bunch of these from our wholesaler on clearance (go figure, because no one was buying them). So to cut our loses we decided we would be more likely to sell all the ones we were stuck with if we did the modification. I definitely wouldn't take on any as a side job!
We had a steam engine go through our backyard in noble years ago. Also a couple circus trains. Leta
I have seen photos of when the steam engine came through the area. I didn't live around here then so I missed out.
Illinois Terminal was a famous interurban electric railroad until around 1955 when passenger service was abandoned and freight was converted to diesel power. Sadly this model is dated in the diesel era and I didn't see ANY TRACE of the previous all-electric era!
Steve modeled this line from photos dating to the era he's modeling. Nearly every detail that should be there is!
Nice layout Steve.
Great layout. UP Locomotives by Walthers have great pulling power on the coal train and also look great on the Pass train. Mike HO from Australia
Update. I can not get my locomotive to respond when switched to the cab number. If I set to AD4 and CV17 and 18 it won't work. If I reset it to factory its fine. It's a ESU Decoder. Any ideas?
Unfortunately, no sorry. Keep in mind, that ESU is different when it comes to "factory default". There really isnt one. I guess an original file form ESU's download page could be considered a default. But when you use a lokprogrammer to change CV's, THAT becomes the default. So if you try to use CV8 to 8, that's what it will be reset to. You may want to download a fresh file from ESU, then use a lokprogrammer to write it to the decoder.
Nice!
Well done! We were near Shannon, IL
I purchased the DC version for the New Haven railroad. Although the locomotive looks great (however the green is more of an olive drab which seems incorrect to me), the performance of the engine on the slightest incline is poor at best. Pulling a consist of three Walthers Mainline PS1 boxcars, one Atlas Trainman PS1 cover hopper and one 50 foot open hopper (Trainman as well) along with a caboose, caused the speed to drop by at least 50%. The engine seems way to light and I regret my purchase. I do not recommend the DC version to anyone. Please note, none of my other Walthers , Bowser or Atlas engines have this issue.
Good thoughts. I'll give mine a test working the yard on my friend's layout tomorrow. Was that on flat track or a grade?
This video helped me a lot to program my first DCC locomotive. Your videos on the digitrax system are great. I found a CV calculator on the Digitrax website. Just plug your cab number in, and it gives you CV17 and 18.