Main Line In, IR Receiver Installed

Wow! What a week! David James and Ken Heyl arrived last Saturday (Nov. 6), and we started working on the railroad. David had to take Sunday evening, and Monday thru Wednesday for a business meeting in Little Rock, but Ken stayed here and we put in long days. David returned Wednesday evening and worked all day Thursday and Friday and Saturday morning. Local neighbor Bob Gouirand chipped in on several occasions as well. End result? The main line -- complete with return loops to allow continuous running -- is in! The 1.67% down slope, which connects the helix with the lower level, is complete and operational. An impressive interlocking, now and forevermore to be known as Heyl Junction -- conceived and designed by Kenny Heyl and built by David James -- works like a charm and allows trains coming off the lower level loop beneath Paducah to return trains on either track up the ramp, or on either lower level main. The Digitrax electronics have been consolidated, and include the installation of the IR wireless throttle and receiver. Photos above, top to bottom: #1 - connector between the bottom of the helix and the start of the down ramp; the tracks below are the entrance and exit to the lower level return loop beneath the helix; #2 - the down ramp to the lower level; #3 - Ken Heyl (left) and David James install the interlocking, and #4 - short freight heads back up the ramp through Heyl Junction.