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Post by Adam on Jul 18, 2021 19:03:37 GMT
Mark, So glad to see your mum is doing well and to hear that our knee is starting to improve.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2021 20:17:26 GMT
Adam, thank you on both issues!!
Print up an award as you are the member who turned us over to page 100!!!
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Post by Adam on Jul 18, 2021 20:22:15 GMT
Wow, 100 pages on this thread, what an accomplishment!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2021 1:08:07 GMT
Finally time to get back to the layout. It seems as if we have been beset by gremlins on the right side. Three-way turnout has lost power on two rails, coaling tower has two lights out, turntable is misaligned, roundhouse roof has a place that has warped. Rich was over yesterday and we started with the turnout. Checked it with the meter and, sure enough, no power. Took it out and one rail pulled out as we did. We examined it. Have not seen another like it. A screw tightened from the bottom appeared to help hold the rail in place so that contact would be made. Our guess was that the rail was not correctly seated and was not making contact. The electrical department got right on it and added a wire under the screw. Then the rail was placed back in place, the screw and wire were tightened and the wire was soldered to the rail. Meter read full power. Reinstalled the turnout and it worked fine. So we ran the engine onto the turntable where it promptly derailed. That is when I checked the turntable alignment. One of the last things I did before going on vacation was realign he turntable. It is off the same amount for each position. We stopped. I can fix that by myself. The coaling tower had two lights not working. Something happened when moving it from the work table to the layout; all lights had been working. We removed it. Time to quit. One of four completed. Today I replaced two LEDs on the coaling tower, changed the wiring so there is separate control of the white interior lights, put it back on the layout, and hooked it up. Everything worked. It took over three hours to complete. Tomorrow I plan to complete the final install. Two of four problems solved. The tower lights look pretty good.
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Post by Country Joe on Aug 10, 2021 0:14:28 GMT
Bill, I hate those gremlins! They are very unwelcome guests.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2021 21:37:59 GMT
The last time I was on, gremlins had attacked. Well, we got those handled and then decided what to do next.
Looming like a storm in the distance were 14 turnouts that had to have Tortoise motors installed. For those who don’t know, Tortoises go under the layout and a wire comes up thru a hole and throws the mechanism. Depending upon access, they can be easy to install or quite difficult.
But that is not anything like all that is involved. We use DCS control and that requires an AIU (relays) which throw the turnout… well, almost. The DCS relays can’t handle the required power long enough (a Tortoise requirement) so a second set of relays has to be used, two per turnout. The AIU relay triggers the second relay which throws the turnout. There are lots of neat LEDs, etc and it looks like a complicated electrical wonder. Once you understand the wiring, you simply repeat the steps. I need to give credit to Stan on the other forum who was patient with me in 2019 and explained what we needed and how to do it. He and Gunrunner John have never failed to assist.
We opted to start with easy since we had last installed turnouts in 2019 and began August 9. So far we have completed 6 standard and one three-way. Another four are wired and need to be attached to the plywood. Thirty relays are wired and in place. We are well beyond simple and are now working with tight spaces where we have to go by feel. Wiring can be done by one person but actually installing the motor takes four hands. We have gotten pretty good at it.
Today I completed the three-way turnout and figured out how to get it to work. It feeds the turntable and a separate coal/sand hopper track. As soon as we can get some track/turnouts completed, we can test and fine tune everything. If Rich is here tomorrow, we should be able to complete three. No, we don’t work all day. We are usually good for 2:00 - 5:30. Anymore doing this tedious work is too much and there is plenty else to do.
When we get the other three turnouts completed, I will add some photos. It is hard to appreciate the process unless you have done it. All that you see is a turnout.
Why do we go to all this trouble. Virtually Trouble-Free is the reason. Ross and Tortoise are a fantastically reliable pair and rarely do we have a problem. That said, when the trains sit for months, the track does require cleaning and some adjustments are needed.
One other thing. Al called today to say that the Transfer Table will be a few days late. Gremlins there also. We expect it next week.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2021 12:41:55 GMT
Friday we completed three additional turnouts in the rear and yesterday installed another which will lead to the diesel service area. We need more Tortoises for the 4-way turnouts, etc and will order them from Steve. I also spent several hours making adjustments to turnouts and the turntable, mainly adjusting the heights of adjoining tracks. We have to test and adjust the additional 6 roundhouse tracks if they need it and that should be complete.
The boys and Alice came over and we all (Rich included) ran trains. Austin, age 10, handled the second level and learned how to operate the turntable, put an engine in the roundhouse, and bring it back out and onto the feeder track. Nothing derailed the entire time. One caboose came uncoupled twice and was sent to the shop. Everyone behaved quite well except Rich who decided to race with Logan. Hey guys, that is a new S P engine and a Y6B, take it easy. Paula was holding her breath.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2021 22:53:39 GMT
Yesterday Rich and I took a couple of hours to discuss where we are and where we want to go next. Do we continue laying perimeter track and work on the left side or work to complete the right side engine service area? If we complete the left side, we will be running trains on the second level and between levels probably before Christmas. There will be excitement from seeing trains run and there is an advantage to continuing in track laying mode while we are into it. Right now we are really good. OR Most of the right side track is down. We need to install 8 roundhouse stub tracks, two of which go into Roanoke Shops buildings, install a transfer table in the diesel area, complete and install the diesel shops buildings, and run track to the transfer table and 2-3 storage tracks for diesels, cabooses, etc. Ballast needs to go down, track painted, and, other structures completed. This will likely take until after Christmas to complete. Major decisions need to be made about wiring and how we intend to operate the yard, etc. These have been put off and temporary solutions used but we need to devote the time and effort to doing it right. The longer we wait, the more that has to be partially redone. Today we made a decision. I mentioned the job of ballasting track and painting. Rich said, “ Of course, you do it all at once when the rest of the track is installed.” About that time, Paula came out. She knew what we were talking about. And then Rich started thinking and a light bulb came on. “If we wait to do this all at one time, it will become totally boring and take forever. And it sure won’t be fun.” Paula agreed. She wanted the right side done and had come out to “influence” the conversation. She didn’t have to do so. Then the three of us discussed what to do, etc. And then Paula went walking and Rich and I installed three stub tracks and a fourth that enters a building on the right side of the roundhouse, discussed placement of a boiler house and accompanying stack, three stub tracks, and a second Roanoke Shops building on the left side of the Roundhouse, and got the turntable dialed in for the eight new tracks. And Rich took two work pits home to cut sections out of and glue them together. Right side it is.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2021 0:07:55 GMT
Bill, If you were building a layout the size of mine, you wouldn't have to be concerned with one aspect of building (ballasting) getting boring! Just kidding, If I had my druthers, I would be building a larger layout than the one I have been building. As to my layout, I am just getting to the point a little more than 3 months after surgery that I think I can start getting back at my layout. I did find one thing that was working in May, but now isn't! I'll look at that before picking up where I left off.
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Post by david1 on Sept 2, 2021 3:23:05 GMT
Hey guys build mine it is smaller then both of yours but still enjoying it. Btw I took two more switches out and when I did that I had to repaint the road and spread more snow. Have more lighted trees to hook up and other thing to do.
Dave
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2021 9:15:20 GMT
Mark glad to see that you are continuing to improve. Ballasting is not one of my favorite chores but it certainly does improve the layout, especially when taken in small doses.
Dave we are finding a train layout to be like a boat. There is always something to do and something is always breaking. Size is relative. There are always some larger and others that are smaller. The main thing is to have fun.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2021 14:43:13 GMT
Bill/Paula love the updates on your layout. It is great to see the daily/weekly/monthly denouement.
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Post by rcs226e on Sept 3, 2021 11:24:03 GMT
I suspect these model railroads are just like the real ones in one aspect. CONSTANT MAINTENANCE. I find I can run certain locos fine on one loop and have problems on switching to alt route. Others fine on all loops. Switch out a string of cars and all might be good, but then again, anybodies guess. Of course any problems are always hardest place to get to!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2021 13:04:34 GMT
Bingo! Trains are like boats. Something is always breaking. If you are not working on the layout, you are falling behind every hour that passes.
We have a whole (and growing) list of things to troubleshoot and repair before Christmas when lots of people will be here running trains.
Going from a 41’ Viking sport fish to trains has meant a significant reduction in maintenance and dollars that has been somewhat offset by the learning curve (we knew almost nothing). But it is fun.
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Post by Adam on Sept 3, 2021 13:13:52 GMT
But imagine if everything just worked perfectly all of the time. How boring would that be!
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