Digitrax Electronics Nearly Finished

The Digitrax electronics are nearing complete installation. Those working with Digitrax will recognize the device pictured here as the PM 42, an auto-reversing circuit board. This circuit board allows for up to four reversing loops, which will handle the loops on the P&LE. Note the labels on the left side of the board, designating the reversing loops: "Heyl" is Heyl Junction, an interlocking on the lower level, "Yard" is a "wye" track into a storage yard, and "Mine" is a double crossover coming out of the helix on the upper level. The fourth reversing loop will be the turntable at the engine facility when installed. The main line leads are in. Next comes the four-track classification Attica Yard on the lower level, and hooking up the Tortoise turnout motors to DPDT switches.

Dean Freytag, 1924 - 2010

Model railroading lost a friend and an icon Christmas evening with the passing of Dean Freytag in an assisted living home in Ashland, Ohio. Dean, 86, was well known for his scratch building and kit bashing, particularly of steel mills. He was published widely in the model press, with more than 50 articles in Model Railroader alone. He was also the author of two popular modeling books, one about using styrene and Plastruct, the other about the history and modeling of steel mills. Many of us have Dean Freytag structures on our model railroads. The Paducah & Lake Erie has a Freytag kit bashed nine-stall engine house and a scratch built refueling and sanding facility, as well as a series of covered hoppers from his South Ridge Lines. Dean was preceded in death by his wife Ann (1999) and is survived by a sister, Carol, brother-in-law Jim, and a niece and nephew. Rest in peace.

Leads Going In

The lower level leads are going in on the Paducah & Lake Erie. I have also finished connecting the long siding to the main line on the lower level. It's an interesting process; since we hooked the leads to the buss wires prior to fastening down the plywood sub-roadbed, I now look underneath to see where the leads are attached, drill the holes for the leads, drop foam roadbed pins (about 3" long) down the holes to make it easier to find the holes, and then follow the pins out of the holes with the lead wire up to the track, rather than the normal solder-to-the-track and fish down to the buss wires ... a long explanation for a relatively simple task. As soon as I get the remainder of the leads in, I plan to build Attica (my hometown in Indiana) Yard on the lower level. The four-track yard will be about 17 feet long and will have on/off switches to each track. Then it's back to wiring the Tortoise switches to power the turnouts.

Happy Thanksgiving

To all of you, Sue and I wish you a great Thanksgiving and the very best of holiday seasons.

Rolling Stock Appears on P&LE

Rolling stock is slowly starting to appear on the Paducah & Lake Erie. First to show up is the Peabody coal train, shown here crossing from the helix to the ramp that will take it to the lower level. Not all play today, as I put in the loooong passing siding on the lower level. Next is hooking up the lower level power leads as there is a significant decrease in power on the new trackage.

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.