The layout is presently disassembled waiting for a new permanent location. Please read the information below about our last layout version.
The layout was built with mostly lightweight N-Track standard modules and a combination of some non-standard types to vary the layout design. Each section of the layout is typically owned by a club member, although some odd and older modules are club owned. The layout unlike most N-trak layouts is not a simple rectangle or square, we have dedicated endloops reversing loops for the mountain lines etc. There are about 50 modules involved in the layout in a 35x60 foot area. The layout is under constant growth and change, so most likely there are always changes for returning visitors. While some modules have come and gone over the years with different members, the one constant is that the layout has been growing since the 90's. Members try to average between 3-10 new modules at the club per year. While some members own and build modules independant, others own modules built at a "build party" just like car clubs where members go in the garage and build an engine in one night.
The club layout operates with the N-trak standard modules which are 3 track as well as our club's standard of an Orange line in the front, making it 4 line mains. Most modules feature a mountain line at the back of the module, which maybe ran from an independant automated circuit or as DCC with switch tracks, from the main lines.
The club layout has historically been a mix of DC/ DCC to enable everyone's trains the ability to run. This January we will most likely create two layouts though, a small DC one as well as the main DCC one.
For DC we operate a single large transformer with all throttles powered from this. each throttle operates a "block" which is an isolated section of track.
DCC: DCC works under the principal that the throttle sends a signal to control the locomotive itself instead of powering a section of the layout. This has the advantage that multiple locomotives can be controled independant or the locomotives position on the layout, which enabled locomotives to speed match and or be turned on and off.
While the principal behind DCC is simplified wiring and the ability to wire a layout as a single large layout, some issues arrise as a result of a large club layout. First the power draw for running 10-99 locomotives is much larger than a single DCC controller can provide. At Keystone to resolve this, we have left the "block" system from DC intact and operate a single DCC brain and over 12 booster packs. this allows us to sectionalize the layout and problem solve issues on a particular section without shutting down the entire layout. When a short occurs this also means only a section powered by a particular booster will shutdown.
The DCC side of the layout is powered primarilly by Digitrax equipment but indidual power bricks are from magaforce & Digitrax. We operate tethered, Wireless on the -R simplex standard and -D Duplex at the same time, we're actually building new travel panels to include all systems in an easy to deploy system.
October 2010 update: During the redesign of the layout puzzle peices were created to allow us to configure and reconfigure the layout design, without the heavy lifting. While creating the peices we finally added up the modules instead of guessing and realized there are actually over 75 modules currently being used to create the club layout as well as travel layouts. Soon we will need to make more puzzle peices since we are now
As part of the layout design for 2010-2011 with the switching of the main layout to DCC, we also have the intention to be able to do operations. While the layout was DC/DCC mixed the center two tracks were Dc which doesn't intermingle with DCC, so trains could not switch between all the tracks. Since we'll now be DCC fully, we will most likely use one of the tracks as branch line and be able to switch between all four tracks. This will allow us to do switching with cars and have the occasional true to life accidents of real railroads which have traffic going both directions on the same lines at times.
