I was finally getting around to installing all my FastTracks turnouts on my North Streetsville module and hit a small technical snag.

Pembroke II officially got under way with a visit from the local Proto:87 Posse this week.  Here are stalwarts, Julian (of http://vrdays.blogspot.ca) and Andrew cutting some of the roadbed.

Last year prior to a Mid-East Region convention, those of us who were having Op Sessions gave a clinic on operating on our layouts, primarily for the guys who would be coming and had never seen it before.  I did a PowerPoint presentation, and the new crew thought it was very helpful in familiarizing themselves with the layout.

After framing a 2x4 wall down the middle of my train room I took a break to lay some switches. Since FastTracks was back ordered on PCB switch ties I butted some PC ties end to end and started soldering my recycled rail. Funny how quickly one forgets some of the basics - clean surfaces, hot iron, tin toe rail or tie, and flux helps a LOT! Anyone who has ever hamdlaid track probably knows how smooth the rails can flow if thought out a little in advance. Well not me. I hadn't quite realized that recycling old switches would fix the geometry.

I've updated my blog again - with lots more photos of the tunnel work I'm doing.  It's kinda hard to make tunnels look realistic, so I'm attempting some new ideas, and also focusing on visual separation and tricks, and on building believable terrain shapes around the tunnels.

http://rgsrr.blogspot.com/2013/03/tunneling-update.html

- Steven Haworth
RGS history - http://www.rgsrr.info/

The last few days I've spent in the train room pulling stuff apart, cleaning up and organizing in preparation for the "next one."  Its given me time to reflect on lots of lessons learned, as well as how little the chainsaw actually cost me in dollars.  

Day two and three brings solutions and more questions. I have received suggestion how to rotate the screen on Android machine in engine driver.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MlD0W4jLnuQ