Author Topic: Helix with location sensing  (Read 31964 times)

Alan

  • Conductor
  • ****
  • Posts: 1073
    • LK&O Railroad
Helix with location sensing
« on: March 25, 2022, 09:40:42 AM »
My helix is finally finished. Gets installed on the layout today. If you are interested in the details there are a series of posts on the LKO blog.

Building the helix starts here: http://www.lkorailroad.com/south-helix-part-i/

Building the location detector system starts here: http://www.lkorailroad.com/helix-sense-part-i/



Train location sensors:

Alan

LK&O Railroad website

When I was a kid... no wait, I still do that. HO, 28x32, double deck, 1969, RailPro

G8B4Life

  • Signalman (Global Mod)
  • Conductor
  • *****
  • Posts: 1241
  • I'll think of a catchy tag line one day
Re: Helix with location sensing
« Reply #1 on: March 26, 2022, 10:09:49 AM »
The helix only took a year, and given how long the layout has been in construction I don't have any worries of you tiring of model railroading. Impressive engineering and electrical as usual.

- Tim

William Brillinger

  • Dispatcher (Admin)
  • Conductor
  • *****
  • Posts: 1345
    • Precision Design Co.
Re: Helix with location sensing
« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2022, 10:42:20 AM »
Quote
Impressive engineering and electrical as usual.

I'll second that!!
- Bill Brillinger, RPUG Admin

Modeling the BNML in HO Scale, owner of Precision Design Co., and RailPro Dealer.


Alan

  • Conductor
  • ****
  • Posts: 1073
    • LK&O Railroad
Re: Helix with location sensing
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2022, 10:43:07 AM »
The helix only took a year, and given how long the layout has been in construction I don't have any worries of you tiring of model railroading. Impressive engineering and electrical as usual.

- Tim

Layout construction is what I enjoy most about the hobby. I operate the layout on occasion but don't get the thrill I get from building it. If all goes to plan my layout will never be finished. That would kill the fun.
Alan

LK&O Railroad website

When I was a kid... no wait, I still do that. HO, 28x32, double deck, 1969, RailPro

Espeelark

  • Engineer
  • ***
  • Posts: 60
Re: Helix with location sensing
« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2022, 11:51:27 AM »
Alan - have been following your LK&O blog for quite some time!
You have given me some pointers/ideas along the way as I build my multi-deck SP Lordsburg Sub.
https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/sp-lordsburg-sub-construction-12214626?&trail=200
Thank you!
Espeelark (Paul Mac)
Modeling the SP in Ohio
"Bad is never good until worse happens...."

KB02

  • Engineer
  • ***
  • Posts: 86
Re: Helix with location sensing
« Reply #5 on: March 27, 2022, 06:25:56 AM »
I just read through the entire blog of building the helix. The construction I understood. On the electrics, you lost me on the first IR diagram. Fantastic work. Would love to see a video of the whole thing in action!

ON28

  • Conductor
  • ****
  • Posts: 262
Re: Helix with location sensing
« Reply #6 on: March 29, 2022, 09:23:06 AM »
Quality materials and construction, well done! I also used straight roadbed segments for my helix, less waste and labor.

nodcc4me

  • Conductor
  • ****
  • Posts: 689
  • RailPro Fan
Re: Helix with location sensing
« Reply #7 on: March 29, 2022, 12:37:52 PM »
Alan, very nice work on the helix. The electronics of the sensors is also beyond my understanding, but all of what you've done is exceptionally well-described in print. I got a laugh out of your reference to the Haldron Collider.
« Last Edit: March 29, 2022, 03:48:12 PM by nodcc4me »
Al

Run your train, not your brain. Get RailPro. It's a no-brainer.

gregeusa

  • Engineer
  • ***
  • Posts: 98
    • Greg's web site
Re: Helix with location sensing
« Reply #8 on: March 29, 2022, 03:37:16 PM »
Could you make that text a bit smaller? then I can get out my electron microscope to read it.
Lots of tips and techniques on my site: www.elmassian.com contact me greg@elmassian.com

nodcc4me

  • Conductor
  • ****
  • Posts: 689
  • RailPro Fan
Re: Helix with location sensing
« Reply #9 on: March 29, 2022, 03:50:22 PM »
Well, that was strange. Gremlins. I fixed it...I think.  :o  Thanks for the heads up.
Al

Run your train, not your brain. Get RailPro. It's a no-brainer.

Alan

  • Conductor
  • ****
  • Posts: 1073
    • LK&O Railroad
Re: Helix with location sensing
« Reply #10 on: March 29, 2022, 04:52:16 PM »
Al must have thought he was posting on an N scale forum.  ;D

Thanks for the compliments guys. I'll make a video after the fascia panel is built. Nothing to see right now but a train winding around an inclined plane.
Alan

LK&O Railroad website

When I was a kid... no wait, I still do that. HO, 28x32, double deck, 1969, RailPro

Alan

  • Conductor
  • ****
  • Posts: 1073
    • LK&O Railroad
Re: Helix with location sensing
« Reply #11 on: April 14, 2022, 07:16:40 AM »
How about that. The helix fits!

Alan

LK&O Railroad website

When I was a kid... no wait, I still do that. HO, 28x32, double deck, 1969, RailPro

nodcc4me

  • Conductor
  • ****
  • Posts: 689
  • RailPro Fan
Re: Helix with location sensing
« Reply #12 on: April 14, 2022, 11:06:58 AM »
Looks good.  :D
Al

Run your train, not your brain. Get RailPro. It's a no-brainer.

KB02

  • Engineer
  • ***
  • Posts: 86
Re: Helix with location sensing
« Reply #13 on: April 16, 2022, 06:02:11 AM »
Had to do a double take. For a second I thought you had cut it in half!  Ha, ha!!   ;D ;D ;D