Hi Bob and all -- Isn’t it interesting that no matter how well we think we have laid a section of track, it still eventually requires a bit of maintenance. I finally gave up on one of the dual gauge turnouts that is constantly in use at Tomkins Junction when one of the points came unsoldered from the throwbar AGAIN. A major overhaul has, I think, finally cured its ills, but it seems like there is ALWAYS one that is perennial trouble on every layout. I also had the unusual situation where ONE truck on ONE passenger car would derail at ONE joint where nothing else has ever caused trouble. I did some fine tuning on the track (it was virtually perfect to start with), and same on the truck, but finally added about a 1/2 ounce of weight over the truck to convince it to stay on the track.
I got the PBL sound system hooked up this week, too. It was the LAST PBL system to have 5 amp power capability – something my 4 motor lighted passenger train needs. The infra-red remote comes in handy, as well. Still, the ultimate situation on the SLE&P / CCC will be DCC (still in the box until all the de-bugging is finished)... Lastly, I got some more of the subgrade on the narrow gauge in place coming down the hill from Coal Creek. Not a bad week... Have fun! Bill Winans From: shabbona_rr Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 11:23 AM To: [email protected] Subject: {S-Scale List} FNF - Week of Jan. 1 - 6, 2012 Among the projects completed this week was assembling an American Models SOUTHERN PACIFIC boxcar from which I have been raiding parts,beginning with the floor that I used for an AM VIRGINIA WESTERN boxcar body that I received from the late "Wes" Westendorf twenty some years ago. I used a styrene floor that Ed L. had built (at least I guess he did, he sold it to me a few years ago), and parts from a couple of detail sprues I obtained from American Models.The car still needs underbody brake details, (Stewart), but is a good "five-footer" right now. Also, after trying to repair the track between the diamond at MZ and into the curve to Mt. Zion, I finally "bit the bullet" and tore it out and completely relaid it. Since my benchwork building and track laying skills leave a little "meat on the bone", I will use fine sifted Iowa "Durght" as a grade to hold the track in place as it now lays across the low spots, along with some loosely place shims, but no more trying to "force" track into compliance with spikes, etc., except at rail joints on curves, where I use small nails to support the soldered rail joiners that hold the rail ends in alignment. I also repaired the trouble spot at the bridge at Bonaparte, but a final solution will be to rebuild the Shinohara #6 switch at that location with a new tie section under the points, built using the same techniques I use for building styrene switch blocks for other switches. The West Siding Switch is also on the schedule for major rebuilding. There is (was) nothing wrong with these switches, they have simply suffered from abuse and ineptitude over the years. There is an article out there on building the switch blocks I use, but I don't know when it will appear. The SHRB decals for the SHABBONA Plug door boxcar fleet are "in house" but I don't know when I will get to apply them at this writing. Bob Nicholson _______________________________________________
