As I planned my version of CN's Pine Street spur, I started thinking about how I wanted to throw the turnouts.  I definitely wanted to avoid just pressing a button to throw a switch, hoping that I could find something closer to what is done on the prototype.  There are many mechanical switch machines out there, but I wasn't quite satisfied with the type of actuator that they require, namely pushing/pulling on some type of knob that is mounted against the fascia and in most instances connected via a music wire to the switch machine.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of giving my first clinic, at the Quinte Train Show in Belleville, ON.  That's a pretty big deal in and of itself, but what made it even more special was that the clinic was among several that were recorded for Trainmasters.tv by Barry Silverthorn and his crew.

A move this summer effectively halted work on my recreation of CN's Waterloo spur running between Kitchener and Elmira, ON.  Since the basement in our new home would require some finishing, I started thinking about building an Inglenook switching layout to practice techniques and to hopefully retain the interest of my eldest son.  Somehow he doesn't understand how it can take months/years to build a layout.  Go figure.

We are fortunate enough to be able to spend a couple of weeks as a family at a cottage near Parry Sound, ON. With that much free time ahead of me, I seized the opportunity for some major catch-up on track laying. Into the car went tie strips and switch kits from Proto 87 Stores, as well as a supply of paints and basic tools.