Layout Update - September 2018: Trains Running! Mainline Complete, Block Detection Operational...

Hey everybody! Here's what we have been up to over the past month. We reached a major milestone of completing the mainline track laying in between the reverse loops. Trains can now travel across the entire layout and back. The "Golden Spike" happened at MP 82.2, there will be a ceremony in the next couple of weeks with the executives from the railroad in attendance. The first revenue train, CP 112 - 9510 east, passed over the completed mainline on September 15th, 2018 at 23:55. It's a 5 1/2 minute trip from one loop to the other at 20 scale MPH, to complete one complete lap around the entire layout is 14:40 at 20 scale MPH. New rolling stock; Rapido Trains Inc. Budd Mid-Train Domes. Intermountain Railway "Value Line" Trinity Aluminator rotary coal gondolas Wiring continues with some feeders and connections to the bus left to do at Lake Louise on the south track and Banff yard trackage. Block detection is operational. All 12 current detecting blocks have been tested and are functioning as designed. Next steps will be to connect my laptop and get the CTC panel operational using JMRI panel pro. Power for the Banff section and points east loop reverse section commissioned. To power my DB200+ booster, I used a MeanWell LRS-200 from Mouser Electronics. It meets all the requirements of the Digitrax booster and is very affordable around $30.00. I used a broken MacBook charging cord as the 120VAC plug. I still plan on getting a small metal box to keep kids out of it as there are holes in the side. Installed 4 Tam Valley Depot dual frog juicers throughout the layout. One is set up a circuit breaker to protect the mainline booster, one as an auto reverser to protect the Banff booster and take care of the reversing duties. Each loop track on the points west loop will also have a dedicated dual frog juicer, 2 have been installed so far. I am very happy with this product from Tam Valley Depot. They are super fast, so much so that one set up as a circuit breaker would kill the power before the digitrax booster a couple inches away had a chance to reverse polarity. Using 35 mm DIN rail from Mouser Electronics as splitters to break out multiple bus sections where required. Thanks for watching!