Dawson Station
Simple yet interesting and highly scenicked, the 1′×4′ layout provides a challenge for operators. A computerized version of the layout (right) can be operated by visiting the author’s website. The map (below right) shows the mill and the portion of it that has been modeled. The railway shares the nar- row valley with Dawson Road (bottom right).
Whereas Wright used OO scale rolling stock, I chose N scale since the prototypi- cal centerbeams and gondolas servicing the mill were significantly longer than the British rolling stock Wright used. Even in N, I needed to scale back
from Wright’s original puzzle formula, reducing the capacities of the spurs as well as the number of cars. Only five pieces of rolling stock are required to keep the puzzle interesting. This al- lows for the caboose, two loaded cars, and two empty cars. There is only enough track for the engine to pull two cars past the first switch. Two of the spurs can hold three cars, and the load- ing shed spur holds only two. Adding an additional empty gondola at the chip loader increases both the difficul- ty and satisfaction upon completion. Another deviation from
Wright’s
puzzle was requiring specific cars be spotted at designated areas instead of making up the train in a specific order (he used tiddlywinks to randomly se- lect cars). This seems logical given the layout and operation of the mill. Once an operator completes the puzzle, the removable loads for the chip cars and centerbeams are switched to fast for- ward the time a couple of days for the next operating session. The layout is operated by a custom programmed Arduino micro-controller. A Nintendo Wii nunchuk has been re- purposed to provide a familiar and easy-to-use interface for operating both the throttle and the turnouts. The d.c. pulse-width modulation generated by the micro-controller allows for reliable slow-speed operation and has been pro- grammed to provide realistic rates of acceleration and braking. Light sensor inputs at the ends of the spurs and un- der the turnouts help limit derailments.
58 Area modeled LIBRARY OF CONGRESS: HAER ORE,2-MONR,1
HTTP://WWW.LOC.GOV/PICTURES/ITEM/OR0449.SHEET.00002A/RESOURCE/
Hull-Oakes sawmill Dawson, Oregon
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JANUARY 2014
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