I have a question regarding the possible use of jumpers on Shinohara switches. It appears that positive ground throws have solved most of the electrical contact problems. However, thre are several switches where engines stall when crossing. I tried the "pushing the blade tighter against the stock rail" trick with my bamboo uncoupler, but with no results.

It looks like the stall occurs just past the frog, but it is hard to determine as the drivers block the view.

Developing the String Lines

On my layout there are 3 stations on line with major industrial switching, Birdsboro, Coatesville and Montchanin.  Under the previous timetable, the locals worked Birdsboro and Montchanin.  Coatesville is brand new.  Eventually it will have its own switch engine, but I don't have enough cars to support full operation.  So I need to figure out how to work Coatesville. 

After putting and painting the complete background I have started to build benchwork.I had a cabinet maker rip 20 sheets of 3/4" birch plywood into 3 1/2" wide strips. It didn't cost much more than buying dimensional lumber but it has the advantage of not warping as much. 

Just a question especially for those who were railroaders as a career and those who have more experience than I.  I've only got a few months in the hobby since I started on a new layout with a large yard and a roundhouse.

After all of the cardboard, taping and paint, it is time to apply the thin coat of plaster. I estimated I had about 30 square feet of area to cover and was not looking forward to slowly applying the thin coat of plaster by hand. I decided to try using a wall texture spray gun. It worked great!

I applied three layers of my plaster mix allowing each layer to set up before adding the next layer. The plaster was still wet, but solid to the touch. 

Here are my pros and cons to the technique.

Cons:

I suppose I should start with an introduction?  I started with trains more years ago than I care to remember, when around age 5 I received an 0 Gauge Hornby clockwork tank engine.  A couple of years later this became a Hornby 00 gauge 3 rail layout, then a 2 rail, until I had around age 15, a roster of around a dozen locomotives, all UK outline.

G'daye all, 

 This is the first video I have ever shot.So its a test.I used a Signet DV micro cam that is similar to the one you guys are using.It is warts an all railroadin but we had fun doin it, includin the oops at the end of the second half.I had to split it to get it to load to you tube.The cam mounted in a gon wouldn't fit under the area I call Elgin so we had to move it in the begining of the first half