New Update to the Engine Terminal

Greetings followers of the Atlantic Pacific Railroad! We're making progress slowly but surely as the NMRA / NER Convention is less than 3 months away.

On the last update I showed some photos of the Richmond Hill Engine Terminal and how the tracks should line up from the turntable. Since it was a slow work day, I decided to head to the train room just before dinner and start to work on the 3 remaining tracks that needed to be aligned to the turntable. 

Two of them went in fairly quick and aligned to the turntable as well. The last track, which is on the east side of the engine building, wasn't cooperating the way the others went in. Took a break and went back at it after dinner. The last track is installed. 

All that is left is to add the wire drops, then make the panel as each track will be able to be turned off when not being used. 

The engine terminal has its own power booster, which is 5 AMPS. In the world of DCC, depending on the engine, and if it has sound or not, the power drain can add up. The engines are always lit up, but not moving, so there is some current going to the engines. Based on a rough count, the engine capacity on the lower level is as follows:

Turntable tracks - 6 engines
Engine house - 5 tracks, 3 engines max on a track = 15 engines
Diesel service tracks - 2 tracks 4 engines max = 8 engines
Diesel service track - 1 track 2 engines
Tracks opposite service tracks - 2 tracks hold 3 engines each = 6 engines. 

That's a grand total of 37 engines at full capacity, PLUS one on the turntable for a grand total of 38 engines! There's a handful of engines currently parked down below with sound. That's why EVERY track where an engine can be parked will have a cut off switch to shut down the power to that section. The service tracks are currently set up to do that.

That's all for today. Please keep checking back for more updates leading up to the convention, new arrivals, and of course, the P.C.C.M. virtual op train movements!