Stowford (Was Hello, Yet un-named layout}

[Diane Tape]

Stowford Day 2, Lock down day 1, Stowford's boards linked together and surfaced with cork.

[Hobby]

Think you might need a rack or cog with that setup... Or Busch's H0f magnets! ;)

[Diane Tape]

Stowford day 3, Lockdown day 2 :- Layout mocked up ready to start the build.

[B.Meldon]

Is this going to be analoge DC or DCC layout?

You will need to know what one first before you start laying the track so you know where all the isolating fishplates need to be located.

[Diane Tape]

Initially DC but may switch to DCC eventually, so will wire for dc and just switch all the isolated areas on when operating in DCC mode.

[B.Meldon]

If your happy to do that then it is no problem, but it will result in many more track feeds, isolating fishplates and section switches than would be needed if it was just analogue DC.

[Graeme Dunbar]

I always understood it to be the other way round with the isolating sections needed for "parking" unused locomotive or switching between controllers on a DC layout, whereas isolating joiners are needed on a DCC layout only if there are separate boosters or power districts or if there is block detection/track circuiting. (Or if there are reverse loops/wyes where the left rail becomes the right one and vice versa.)

(I'm envious of the progress and looking forward to seeing more!)

[Diane Tape]

I always understood it to be the other way round with the isolating sections needed for "parking" unused locomotive or switching between controllers on a DC layout, whereas isolating joiners are needed on a DCC layout only if there are separate boosters or power districts or if there is block detection/track circuiting. (Or if there are reverse loops/wyes where the left rail becomes the right one and vice versa.)

I agree with GraemeD wiring for dc is much more involved than DCC and it is easy to go from DC to DCC but not the other way round.

[Hobby]

From what I've seen of the amount of wires under most DCC layouts I've seen I have my doubts! It started off simple, but nowadays looks like a bowl of spaghetti...

[Graeme Dunbar]

I suspect there is a strong element of "getting cleverer" over time in both DC and DCC wiring. The track feeds in 60 Plans type books are mostly simple.

I don't think one would go far wrong wiring for DC  regarding isolating sections if planning to change to DCC. Should mysterious electrical faults occur it makes locating them easier. It would also make adding track circuiting simpler if one decided to add some computer control or even just a mimic panel with indicator lights.

[Hobby]

My latest layout use a single wire running the length of the board for the return with droppers connecting to it. Double breaks at all the toe ends of the points. It just made the wiring simpler. DC BTW.

[Diane Tape]

Stowford day 5, lock down day 4, a little change of pace today, I have had a go at the little open wagon kit which came with my 009 Society welcome pack. It went together very well and I think compares well with the RTR van next to it.

[B.Meldon]

This is not the place to argue this! However, on a DC layout you just use the points to isolate each siding.
In Diane's track plan no, isolating sections are needed, it could all be switched using the points.
Even a simple layout with one point needs more wires connected to the track with DCC than with DC as well as extra isolating fishplates that are not needed in on a DC layout with one point.
It may take a bit more thought to work it out, but there are always less wires to the track and less isolating fishplates with DC than with DCC.
If you use common return wiring for a DC layout for the track, point motors and every other electrical item it effectively halves the wires needed. However, you cannot use common return with DCC the two wires to the track have to be kept separate.
So if you have a DC layout with common return wireing it can not be converted to DCC without a lot of work.

[Graeme Dunbar]

The open wagon looks great. Is the lettering decals, and if so, who makes them?

[Diane Tape]

The open wagon looks great. Is the lettering decals, and if so, who makes them?

http://www.oldtimeworkshop.co.uk/