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22 Stories up - OPS Session - testing the three troubled turnouts Journals/Blogs
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Prolific poster 2,152 posts Scarpia Prolific poster 2,152 posts
Scarpia

At long last, Norman W and I were able to get together for an afternoon (it's been quite a few months!), an exciting development for me, as I wanted a "real" ops session over the replaced curved turnout sets of module 3.

Norman happened to also choose NCE for his DCC system controller, so he came with a throttle, and a bag of goodies. Inside? Two Dash-9s (one DRGW, one CN), a couple of 50' covered Canadian grain hoppers, and decoders. He was unsure where they plugged in, so together we got those sorted out fast.

Naturally, we had to get them on the track.

Oh ho! That poor CV GP9 looks a bit small in comparison...

We (mostly I) was pleased to see that they handled the trackage pretty well - no problems on the turnouts, etc., other than the 18-20 radius inside curve. They actually navigated those tight curves solo, but the long frame pulled the cars off track. The whole string was happy on the 24"r outside curve though.

Here's the proud father running them around the yard tracks. Nothing like doing some local switching work with a Dash 9.

Once we got those running, I provided Norman with the switch list, and we got started.

This would be a limited operation, one train meet, local switching, and building the branch line run to Barre.

Southbound train 210 pulls into Montpelier Jct for a car swap

The track work proved to be solid, no issues, which is great news as this the final test before finishing that module.

The one major component failure we had was with workhorse switcher 7917, an Alco S2, that broke a coupler knuckle.  Fortunately, that occurred right next to the engine house, so after a fair bit of teasing, the mechanics sorted it out pretty quick.

For those that don't know, the Sergent couplers use a ball bearing that drops into place, locking the coupler. I've seen a couple do this now, and the ball bearing jams in place and won't drop - meaning the knuckle won't stay closed. The jamming is due to either poor assembly of the coupler (my error), and or repeated ramming - ie if the loco is charged into contact with something, coupler first, it can jam the ball up. I'm not sure which was the culprit, but broken couplers are prototypical, and it was a fast repair (coupler swap)

Over all it was great to see Norman, his new locos, and run the trackage. Inspiring even, enough to get me motivated to finish up the third module, and start constructing the fifth!
HO, early transition erahttp://www.garbo.org/MRRlocal time PST
On30, circa 1900  

 
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NormanW Active Member 84 posts
NormanW

First operating experience

Thanks for a great afternoon .  First time I have ever had to try and sort out a set of cars from a switch list.  The English equivalent was the "pickup-freight", a feature of rural branch lines until they died away in the 1970's.

The "Pickup" would meander along from a busy station along often single line branches, leaving a single coal wagon over the coal drops at a rural station (Station Masters had the concession to sell coal) there, picking up an empty 16t goods wagon from the goods depot here, may be some barley, if the time of year was right from the Maltings, stopping for tea and scones at a rural idyll and finishing back at the depot.  J39's 0-6-0's http://www.lner.info/locos/J/j39.shtmlwere a mainstay in the North East with similar locomotives used in other regions.  But all had gone by the mid 1970's.

Somewhat different to a CN C44-9W, however the excellent level of scenery, 22 stories up, really sets it off.

n_c44-9w.jpg 

Seems 2601 has just come out from the paint shop and is running in after a Major.  Won't be long before the road dirt starts to dull the gleaming paint job.

Did the supervisor ever notice the car that got left behind at the flour mill and will have to go on the next branch line run to Barre?  

A defining feature of the British rural Stationmaster, was his ability to hide an odd wagon out of sight , together with a large supply of Railway Co. sacks, just in case a local needed to move goods urgently!
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ChrisNH Super User 1,277 posts
ChrisNH

Looking good

I especially like the shot of the big loco with the cylindrical hoppers against that backdrop. Nice!

Sounds like a good time. I need to get my ass in gear so I can do some switching. Did finally get my bridge track in.

btw- still working on an HO plan I can use all that stuff I salvaged but have decided i need to work on the 1:1 scale stuff first. Hoping to frame the room this summer, kids work and financing allowing.

Chris

“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.”           My modest progress Blog
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Scarpia Prolific poster 2,152 posts
Scarpia

The extra car

Norman, I'm glad you were able to make it, and had a good time. We forgot to consist those dash-9s!

The crew at the mill were not pleased having to unload that other car in the wrong spot, so our dispatcher got an earful.

Chris,

nice to "see" you again! 1:1 work would probably be the wisest move - but with the bridge up on the N scale, are you running trains?
HO, early transition erahttp://www.garbo.org/MRRlocal time PST
On30, circa 1900  

 
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ChrisNH Super User 1,277 posts
ChrisNH

Yes!

Yes! A train made the complete circuit. I upgraded my DCC command station too.. so it was a double test.

Ended up being a bit of a pain. The profile of Peco code 55 is so different then the ME Bridge track that I ended up having to solder them together while I held the track in place with my third arm.

btw- I ended up gluing that strip of ties you had on homasote to a 1x3 and laying some code 55 track on it as my first attempt at hand laying. Worked pretty well for that purpose. You can watch the technique get better and better as you get farther down the track. Only problem I had was driving the little proto87 spikes completely past the rail and into the tie.

Chris

“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.”           My modest progress Blog
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fecbill Frequent poster 614 posts
fecbill

Good Job

Looks great. I enjoy following the progress of your layout. The photos are great and show what a narrow shelf, good track work and good scenery can do. I am a bit biased but I prefer the GP7 to the GE. Of course I like first generation diesels and 60s railroading much better than modern.

Bill Michael

Bill Michael

Florida East Coast Railway fan

Modeling FEC 5th District in 1960 

 
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