Setting Up Modules

1

Unpack the trailer. Don’t undo the straps too much so they can be easily reinstalled later. Straps are labeled for easy pack-up when we are done.

2

Unload the bridge first and move it to where it needs to be. Unload what is inside the bridge enclosure. Lift the bridge off the cart. Level the bridge and set the height of the track to 40”.

3

Unload the yard entrance modules and place them next to the bridge. Level and Clamp to the bridge.

4

Unload the yard (if part of the show) and put in place so the cart can be returned to the trailer. Remember to connect the rail joiners before clamping the first section to the mainline modules.

NOTE: Remember to lift the sections straight out of the cart (parallel to the floor). Don’t forget the end board. (There are no rail joiners between the yard modules.)

5

Unload and set up the four corners and place them near where they will ultimately be.

NOTE: The ends of the corners should be placed on the cart used for the corners so they can be stored on the trailer

6

Unload and set-up the rest of the modules. Place the cement plant next to the yard entrance modules. Place the tank farm corner next to the bridge. Level and connect the two front (by the bridge) corners.

7

Return the empty carts to the trailer. Leave the removed end boards under the modules on the floor. While the modules are on their sides, unhook the cables from the “cup hooks.” While the modules are lying on the table go ahead and disconnect (release) the track power wires. (Red, black, yellow, white). NOTE: 120 volt AC wire released later.

End boards ?

8

Place the modules in their relative positions.

9

Place sets of clamps under each module and around the layout.

10

The leveling, connecting of modules and clamping process should begin at the two corner modules already connected to the bridge and proceed down both sides, meeting at the legless middle module of the logging section.

NOTE: Before the mods are clamped together each module must be checked to be sure that there are rail joiners on the individual tracks.

11

The middle module in the forestry sections needs to be carefully inserted into the joining modules via the small PVC pipes because it has no legs of its own.

NOTE: It should be the last module inserted, as the other two adjoining modules are being connected up.

12

The 120 volt AC cables under each module can now be removed from their holder and then be connected moving counterclockwise from the tank farm toward the packing plant. There are a couple of modules that are without a power strip wire. The wire next to them is normally long enough to reach the next mod. One person on the creeper can do all the wiring connections, moving on the creeper, methodically around the layout.

NOTE: Sensors for the RR crossing signals need to be carefully inserted. They are located ……………………

13

Need to check and insure that all the rail joiners are properly connected EXCEPT for the two spots on the mods where there must not be any rail joiners!!! NOTE: These two spots are

Where

14

Place building and vehicles around the layout:

• The tank cars and grain cars are at the Methanol Plant.

• The hopper car and cattle cars at the Packing Plant..

• Loco and logging cars are at the Saw Mill

• Hopper cars are at the Mine.

• Cars or locos are placed at the countryside Repair Shop.

• Water tower placed on the yard approach module.

15

With care, remove the trees from the transport box (“coffin”) and place the individual trees on the corner module of the logging area. NOTE: The larger trees are normally placed in the back of the modules. This helps prevent the taller trees from being bumped when adding more trees.

16

Place “Blue stanchions” around the layout and attach ropes. Install the skirts and signs- including the donations bottle and membership literature.

17

Work tables, chairs, and garbage bags need to be placed inside the layout before all the mods are in place.

Wiring the Layout

Power Cabinet

1

Plug extension cord located on the right side of power cabinet into a 120 volt outlet. Tape extension cord to floor with duct tape to avoid tripping.

2

Connect track power to layout by inserting track power leads from the back of the cabinet into red - black and yellow - white power cables between any two modules. These 2 modules must not be connected by rail joiners. Pick modules with good track end alignments.

NOTE 1: There is a set of track power leads for the layout, and a set for the yard. They are clearly marked on the top of the power cabinet.

NOTE 2: There are special wiring connections for the bridge that will be covered later, so do not hook anything to the bridge module yet.

What 2 mods

3

Set up the radio receivers (UR91 and UR92) by placing the support pole in the socket on the top left corner of the power cabinet. Make sure the receivers are connected to the DCS 200 power station Loco Net outlet by the 6 lead phone style cable and the 12 volt DC lead on the support pole. These 2 black cables are located in the power cabinet.

4

Interconnect the UP5 Loco Net outlets on the tank farm and woodland corner modules (Marked A and D) to the DCS 200 using the long gray 6 lead telephone cables via the layout outlets on the back of the cabinet. These are gray cables. One is long, 30 feet or so, and the other is shorter. They are located in the power cabinet and have red tape on them.

DCS is what

5

Also connect a short gray 6 lead cable from the UP5s to hang between the skyboards of the corner and adjoining modules.

NOTE: This short lead is used to address an engine so that we don’t have to fight with the blue curtain that hides the UP5s on the outside of the layout.

6

The power cabinet is energized by turning on the right - hand power switch (standard light switch) just inside the cabinet door on the right side.

7

DCC or DC power to the red - black or the yellow - white tracks is selected by toggle switches on the back inside wall of the power cabinet. They are marked DC and DCC.

8

Use a Digitrax 400 or 402 hand controller to energize the track once all the power connections have been made. Press the power key then the yes / + key until the power dot stays on without blinking then press the power key again.

NOTE: Ask if you do not know what the power dot is.

BRIDGE

1

There are special wiring connections for the bridge to isolate it from its adjacent mods to allow for safe operation. Follow these steps for the modules adjacent (2 and 4) and distant (1 and 5) to the bridge. (Fig. 1).

2

Do not connect track joiners between adjacent modules 2 and 4 and the next distant modules, 1 and 5 (Fig. 1).

3

Connect the long track power leads from the bridge module (module 3) to the distant modules 1 and 5 (Fig. 1). Lead located on bridge.

4

Connect the short track power leads and track joiners from the bridge to the adjacent modules 2 and 4 (Fig. 1). Lead located on bridge.

5

If we have not already done so, make sure the 120 volt power is available on all power strips under the modules. This is done by connecting all of them together and then connecting one of them to the extension cord on the left side of the power cabinet.

NOTE: Check that the on - lights are lit on each power strip.

6

In order to prevent possible train destruction, (Train running off opened bridge) we must ensure power to the two adjacent modules connected to the bridge is cut when the bridge is opened. The following directions must be followed:

1. Connect bridge main track power connection to yard entrance module furthest from the bridge Caution: (Do not connect the closest yard entrance module track power to the adjacent yard entrance or any of the yard modules)

2. Connect the closest yard entrance module track power to the bridge’s switched track power connection.

3. Connect bridge’s other main track power connection to the module connected to the closest corner module.

4. Connect the corner (usually the gas station) module track power to the bridge’s other switched track power connection.