EVRR Feedback

The future EVRR control panel

Much to my surprise I’ve gotten considerable offline feedback on the Elizabeth Valley RR video. There seems to be some interest in that little layout. Given the complexity of the track plan the question was raised again about whether it actually ran. Even though I’ve never seen a picture of a control panel for it I think it did run. I recall this passage from a long letter E. L. Moore wrote to Andy Anderson on 3 December 1965 where ELM hints that it did run:

“Again this fall I decided maybe I’d get rid of that 4x6 Elizabeth Valley. I turn on the lights [JDL: I assume he means the room lights, but maybe he means the layout lights], pull back the dusty plastic cover, then for no good reason at all clean up the tracks and give her a try. Once a year, I do this. Nostalgia gets me, and I decide not to bother to sell it.”

It’s just a hint, but a strong one. 

Way back when I decided that even though I didn’t know what the EVRR’s control panel looked like I’d nevertheless keep in the Moorian spirit and build a control panel based on the foundation he used for his Enskale &Hoentee RR: a Tampa Nugget cigar box! With the cigar box found I looked around the workshop and dug up the DPDT and SPDT switches I had stashed away for this project. However, they now strike me as too big and I’m going to replace them with miniature ones. I also need to figure out how to connect the wiring bundle from the control box to the layout so everything can be easily disconnected for transport.

Anyway it’s nice to see some interest in bringing this layout to life.