Time to run!

Keith Mar 11, 2015

  1. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Have not done too much lately.
    Been testing out my narrow gauge cars the last couple of days.
    Made some changes to cars that were causing constant trouble!
    Have 3 reefers and 6 tank cars that cause trouble, by derailing almost
    everywhere!! Removed a spring from the truck bolster. Giving car a 3 point suspension.
    Made a BIG difference, in that cars run without derailing now!! Not sure about all tanks
    yet though. Only 2 cars out and readily available.

    Train looks a bit od,d, since I'm using my NW2 for power!!
    With matching Aristo or USAT caboose!!
    Never happened, but looks good,mans works!!
    GP40's too big, and the K27 down, because of driver problems, and something catching.
    Needs major help!

    Might look into starting the track work for the wye I'm planning to include.
    Have a pile of dirt to move, and a few tracks that have to be cut to fit.
    Not quite sure yet. mom has me down for a river rock trip shortly.
    My sister needs the rock for her yard.
    And I'm the one with the truck, so.........Guess who??
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hoping to see a few recent photos soon!
     
  3. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Started some track work Thursday evening. Started laying out the track
    for the eventual wye. Cut curve to fit and laid straight track out. before I
    can do much more with track, I have to level out the sub grade first! Have
    a few high spots that will be guaranteed to cause problems if not fixed!

    Wye can then be finished. Just have to cut a section of track, where turnout goes.
    Once that track is in, and clamped, I can ballast the track, and start doing scenery work!
    Have a pile of rock to sort through, for another section of hill.

    I'm hoping, this year, to at least get enough track started to the back, that I can use the
    wye for turning train, and/or locomotives. Will probably wire in a toggle switch for the time being.
    and maybe get rest of the track to the back connected, so I know how to plan my reverse loop in back!
    And maybe where I want to add the last of my bridges. Again, have plenty of time for that though!
    Want to get front as close to finished as possible! So far, so good.

    Maybe photos Friday at some point. With train running. Maybe a video as well.
    Shall see.......
     
  4. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Until the first snows surprise, and it's back indoors again. :(
     
  5. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Then maybe, I can get more done with the N Scale layout!
    That's been on the back burner, since it's been warm enough
    to work out doors.
     
  6. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hmmm. It has indeed been a while since news on your N scale. Time to make some progress!
     
  7. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nothing new on the N Scale front at the moment!
    Other than the addition of a few Lowell Smith AFT cars.
     
  8. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Maintenance crews report today, that the wye track is in!!
    They also report that ballasting is next, and with a quick wiring
    job, the wye should be ready to use!!

    Next, is bridge crew needs to look at a couple of possible locations
    to install a 48" wooden bridge, and work on installing a couple of 12"
    deck girder bridges in a couple of other locations. Once that is done, the
    front should be just about complete, track wise. Then, landscape in that
    area can be started.

    If I do NOT use rail clamps, and just use the rail joiners and screws, I might
    actually be able to get track connected all the way to the backyard this year yet!!
    If I go slow and easy, I should have too many problems finishing.

    Next, I'm gonna wire in a toggle switch for now, to control the reversing section of
    my wye. At least I'll be able to use it for now, manually. Still need to find an auto reverser, or two.
    Track game did get a few photos. Those will be uploaded and posted a bit later.
    Have to use the big, game computer for that! Tablets don't like uploading photos to RailImages
     
  9. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Photos of newly installed wye. Track not yet ballasted. Should happen over the next couple of days.

    Looking toward back yard.
    [​IMG]


    One view of wye
    [​IMG]

    Another angle
    [​IMG]

    Another view
    [​IMG]

    Wye newly installed. Needs to be ballasted and leveled. Removing dirt as needed, to keep track
    as level as possible. Ballasted track is original loop, and most recently added loop. A bit longer
    than the original loop. Ballasting to newest track will begin Sunday sometime. Just need to add
    temporary toggle switch so track can be put in service!! Then, I can start connecting track to the
    back, so I know what goes where and what changes I need to make, if any. So far, so good!
     
  10. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Looks good. I hope the coming winter(s) are kind to it. All this work needs to survive and thrive.
     
  11. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks!
    Think it should hold up pretty good, after its been watered in a couple of times.
    Or soaked in, from watering the rest of the yard, or a good rain that gets through the tree!!
    Usual maintenance may be required, but hopefully, nothing major! Gotta work water drainage next.
    This way, nothing washes out when it rains, too hard!
     
  12. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Track crews decided to show up to work Sunday!!
    They got the remaining legs of the newly installed wye
    ballasted. Right up to the switch. Switch will be finished Monday.
    Then any other track work will be on hold until fence project is
    complete, on Aug 24.

    But, track crew will be working on another section of main line
    that has been causing some trouble. Seems a 2 foot section of track
    was stepped on, before installation,many has a nasty vertical kink
    that has been a constant source of trouble!! Most for narrow gauge
    equipment derailing, as well as a heavy weight 6 axle Pullman passenger car.

    So crews will be pulling out the troubled sections and replacing.
    When done, then they will have to rebuild that section of track, and
    HOPE there's no more trouble at the switch!!

    Also hope to maybe get the lumber I need, to get bridges built and installed.
    Big wooden bridge is gonna have to be placed elsewhere now.
    One spot I had in mind, would require a fair amount of excavation!!
    The other spot, would have been too close to the fence, and would have
    interfered with the new gate Dad is having put in.

    A toggle switch and 2-3 pieces of lumber, and I can work on getting most of
    my other necessary projects started and hopefully, finished!!
    Updated photos of track work Monday sometime. Was too late by the time I was finished.
     
  13. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Track crews showed up and did some more track work!
    Had to pull up a section of track and replace. Rails were bent, as if stepped on.
    replaced with new section of track. Pulled out a switch, and moved insulated joiners to new location.
    Discovered, during testing, that my original reverse section was gonna be WAY to short!!
    Could have changed polarity, with 2 locomotives, no problem. However, a PA with 3 lighted passenger cars
    would have shorted out everything!! So, I was forced to make a necessary change!

    Track then put back in place, leveled as needed and ballast touched up as needed.
    A bit more landscaping to complete, and I can finish ballasting the wye.
    Hope to also maybe get track to back screwed together, and lined up to the back.
    This way, I'll have a much better idea of what I'm up against yet!

    Might try some test running again tomorrow, to see how stuff handles!
    Narrow gauge in particular!! Updated photos then I hope! Maybe a video as well.
    Shall see what happens.
     
  14. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well, pulled out my passenger equipment, for a test run.
    Of the 3 cars I have, only 1 ran without problems!!
    Streamlined coach, ran great yesterday. Put in on the track last night, and
    a bridge rectifier blew up, started smoking real bad!!
    Owner, before me, added an LED to one end of car. Some of his work, which was
    questionable at best, gave up!! Something started burning, as I had a big cloud of smoke
    pouring from car!! Heavyweight Pullman wouldn't run either. Derailed just about any/everywhere!
    Filed down the truck frames, where it showed evidence of rubbing, and tried again. It worked!!
    Pulled burnt up coach apart, pulled ALL unnecessary wires and started trying to figure out
    how the original wiring was connected and where. Took maybe 15 minutes figuring out where wires
    went and where they connected. Runs once again, with lights! Still gotta make a couple of minor
    modifications I think, before passenger equipment runs without trouble.
    Passenger consist looks good, just wish it ran as good as it looked!!
    Maybe a change in wheels? Not sure if cars have 33 or 36 inch wheels.
    Could explain why coupler height is off.

    Hoping to maybe start work on bridges Friday.
    And maybe dig out where I want them to go!!
    Should be an interesting day.
     
  15. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Lucky that one car was not ruined by the electrical fire. That would have been my luck!
     
  16. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Don't know if there wa actually fire.
    Was plenty of smoke though! Might not
    Have done too much to the car, since it's
    an aluminum car, steel floor. Mar the paint
    slightly, if it had been severe enough!
    Wanked out everything, added some needed
    wire length, soldered the connections and wrapped
    everything with electrical tape!! Half the original connections
    looked as if solder joints wee made, but didn't hold.
    Had 2-3 that looked to have made contact!! And with about
    24 volts DC on track.......
     
  17. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yup. BZZZZZZZTTTTT! :cry::cry::cry:
     
  18. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    So, instead of doing some work on the railroad, I spent
    some time, before it started raining, working on bridges.
    Using a couple of Cedar fence planks, I built one bridge abutment
    so far. Well, the parts anyway! Gotta assemble it, maybe Saturday.
    Then, I gotta build a second one, identical to the first! When those
    are done, I can dig up under my track, and plant them!! Then, I get to
    do yet another identical set up, only twice as long! 24" long, instead of 12" long.
    Should have the short bridges done tomorrow, if all goes well. And IF I have the
    wood to finish! Might be close!
     
  19. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nothing done the last couple of days. Actually rained today.
    At least it was when I came upstairs for the day!
    All I did yesterday, was bring the K27 down for repair related inspection.
    Supposed to start cooling down over the next 3-4 days or so. With temps
    dropping to the 70's during the day!! Perfect weather to do possible work!!
     
  20. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    C'mon Fall weather! Days in teh 65-70 degree range. Comfortable, pleasant and can actually be enjoyed!
     

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