Most of the hobby time this week was spent preparing for last night's op sessions. I thought I was all ready to go when disaster struck: As the first people arrived I fired up the layout and promptly learned that there was no power for the Tortoise switch machines which power 1/3rd of all switches (all of deck two and vital switches on the other decks). I was faced with having to cancel the session
I was fable to quickly determine the problem was likely the bridge rectifier in the home built power supply or less likely the step down transformer. I scrounged up 2 6V lantern batteries and wired these in...the switches ran at about half speed (and more quietly!) but the jury rigged solution held for the whole session and a good time was had by all. Wow...dodged a bullet there! 30 tense minutes from disaster to salvage. A new commercial 50 VA power supply now awaits installation but I will keep the batteries at the ready "just in case".
TRW members Gary Hinshaw, Andrew Hutchinson and Tim Horton were in attendance as well as the usual band of HO'ers. Tim brought out his sound-equipped NAR GP9 to switch Nelson Yard East and all in attendance reckoned it was the best sound they had heard from a diesel model in any scale! High praise...
Here are some shots...
Gary and Andrew with the Eastbound and Westbound wayfreights at Coykendahl.
Mike piloting an ore empty at Shields. (the open cabinet at the bottom is for the jury-rigged switch machine power supply
)
Anthony performing a caboose gravity drop at Troup.
Gary dropping cars in Castlegar yard.
Modelling-wise I painted up a Shapeways Trackmobile for the pulp mill and built a little canvas covered storage area just like the prototype mill has. I was very happy with the model even though the handrails are massive but accidentally dropped the model. On first inspection I thought there was no damage but later saw it had broken off one of the front step sets. Unfortunately I noticed this *after* vacuuming and now the I can't find the steps...arrrggghhhh.
Have a great weekend!
md