This month has seen things happening on Power, Structures, SSD Failure, Sounds, Fallen Log Railway, Maintenance, Ops Sessions, Tasks completed & scheduled.

Accessory Power

When I constructed the layout, I ran an18V AC accessory feed to every control panel location which resulted in numerous 12V DC and 5V DC circuit boards.

I have now decided I need as heavier duty 12V DC and 5V DC circuits to drive accessories. I will connect them to the power supplies I installed back in 2022.

I have decided to use 12 Gauge wire to reduce the voltage drop over the 10-15 meter runs.

I purchased some Dual Row 6 Positions 600V 15A Screw Terminal Block Terminal Barrier Strips that have been preassembled and terminal lugs for various gauge wires.

The backbone wiring runs will be the next step, I have asked for some help from my operators as I can't do anywhere as much as I used to. Paul & Peter S have offered to help me, for which I am very grateful.

Sounds

I have made modules for Daveyston, Flintston, Iron Hill and Jimtown Farm.

The sound file for Flintston was prepared ages ago but the mix for Daveyston and Iron Hill are still to be put together in Audacity from free sound downloads.

The will be installed following the accessory power circuits being installed.

Iron Hill Sounds

I reported last month on farm sounds I am also going to install conveyor and ore loading sounds to operate when an ore train is being loaded. I am going to use an Arduino controlled module the same as I made for Peter J.

I needed to hide the Ultrasonic detector so I bought a trackside models tractor shed to cover the detector and it will be placed behind the loading bins.

Some photos of the build...

Proposed location

I think I might ask Peter J if he can put some "age" on the wood!!

Ramp for Flintston Engineering

Another trackside kit for this.

JMRI Laptop SSD Failure

I had been doing my usual things with my laptop went away for a while and returned to the screen below

After entering the correct code, the laptop announced to me it could not self-repair.

I took it to the IT guys I have been using for a couple of decades for diagnosis. They reinstalled Windows then the laptop destroyed itself again so I was told we don't know yet whether it is the SSD or the motherboard!

After further diagnosis it turned out the SSD had failed. Part of the operating system and user data was gone... Thank God for my regular backups of every PC to my server!

The only thing I lost that caused grief was my local JMRI configuration preference file (got overwritten with the new software install - my error) so none of my scripts or panels would load/run. These control power to my 13 staging tracks, other circuits and NCE clock startup! I had forgotten how to set it up so took some research before I could get it all functioning again. I think I will screenshot the start up page in JMRI preferences to remind me should I ever suffer the same fate!

Maintenance

There was just one issue addressed since my last update.

Loco

During Session #84 Loco 5333 on the Oil Train was acting up. It was jerky and not running nicely in consist with 5334 & 5365.

The loco was removed from the consist and the layout for maintenance.

Upon inspection there was a small amount of build-up in the wheels and fluff on the rear face of the wheels. Both were cleaned and electro lube applied, placed on the layout and test run with no issues found.

It was placed back in service and included in the consist, tested and all back to normal.

Fallen Log Railway

Wayne and I were invited to Dazzy Jay's Fallen Log Railway to chat about setting up operations. Daz is an operator on our layouts whenever his shiftwork allows. After a tour and an overview of Train Controller Configuration we spent around an hour talking about how to develop and test a strategy. I will follow with interest how he gets along.

Daz is the owner of Model Railroad Techniques YouTube Channel and has a Facebook page too.

Ops Sessions

I intended to host Session #85 but I was unwell leading to cancel it but I did attend Wayne's since my last update.

HCS 6th July - Session #85

Cancelled due to illness.

Wayne's

Barry, Denis and Peter S joined me on 23rd where we had fun, found some scheduling issues that will challenge Wayne to fix up! There was plenty of crib time as Lowood Crossing had not returned to service, so a number of movements were cancelled.

L>R Wayne, Barry, Denis & Peter S

I had to leave just before the end of session due to family commitments.

Tasks Completed in last 30 days

Scheduled Tasks for next 30 days

That's it for now so until next time.....

-ooOOOoo-

This month has seen things happening on Scenery, Structures, Sounds, Maintenance, Ops Sessions, Tasks completed & scheduled.

Flintston Cold Stores

Work has commenced on detailing the surfaces of the platform areas. We downloaded some clever models concrete textures, got them printed on paper and card, sprayed them with Dull Coat and Peter J has been experimenting with additional surface treatments and the best method to define the expansion joints. Here are the results.

Platform glue setting

The building signage being added.

Placed in position

Flintston Warehouse

When Peter J brought the Cold Stores Platform back, he stayed on to do some work on the Warehouse Platform using another Clever Models printed concrete texture.

Reinstated for the next Ops Session and we will plan another work session soon.

Forklifts

Loading and unloading at Flintston will need a forklift or two so...

Jimtown West Turnout

Sometimes Operators at the Eastern end of Hornertown Yard and Jimtown compete for space especially when both are undertaking simultaneous shunting operations even though these are usually scheduled not to clash.

At the end of Session #84 John suggested that if I install a marker, maybe a tree or pole, then the need for the Jimtown Operator to move to check the movement is clear of the point would be negated.

I installed a tree, now if the vehicles are past the tree they are well clear of the turnout.

The tree next to the track in the foreground

The view from Jimtown

Thanks for the suggestion, John!

Control Panel Training

I have been thinking for a while about some more depth in people able to run the control panel. Barry has been stepping up for a fair while now and missing out on operating, So I asked Paul if he would like to give it a go to which he said yes.

We had our first training day where I discovered he had worked panels at other smaller layouts before so for me the education process was easier. A day later he filled in for a late withdrawal of an operator and was able to practice the most complicated movement "The Jimtown Turn" and did an admirable job.

I have put the training materials up on my website if you would like to look.

In the meantime, Paul has completed two additional training sessions, so he has had around 7 hours training.

I have assigned him to work the Panels for the next 6 sessions so he get to cycle through

Sounds Modules

I have put my first module together and it will be a background sound at Jimtown which is adjacent to a farm.

Sounds for EVNGR

Peter J has installed the three modules I put together for his layout and he has reported they are working ok. Here are a couple of photos.

Installed on the fascia below the Township

Power (Top), Volume (Left) and Movement Detection (Bottom Right)

Maintenance

There was a number of issues addressed since my last update.

Rolling Stock

During session #83 there were two troublesome trucks derailing more than once. They were removed and sent to the workshop.

Discovered crud on the wheels of one which was cleaned off and the other had Kadee Delrin axles that were out of gauge so they were replaced with new wheel sets. Both cars have been returned to service.

Hornertown Yard West LED Lights

Working fine during control panel training with Paul on Sunday 31st May and when powered up for the ops session on 1st June they were dead.

The cause was a dead 12V battery in the remote controller.

The yellow pages walk (google search) was interesting Woolworths $3.50ea, Bunnings, $3.37ea, Officeworks $6.00ea & Amazon next day delivery $12.98 for 10 - $1.30ea. Amazon won! I have 5 remotes so I can expect the rest to die at some point.

Fully operational again now.

Throttle Batteries Died

During Session #84 Wayne brought me a throttle saying "it keep turning off" - gave him a spare to use.

The batteries need replacing so this was done before the session #84.

Lights on Loco 7600

During Session #83 they were reported as not functioning correctly. Re-wrote data from DecoderPro before Session #84 and they are now working correctly.

Ops Sessions

I hosted two sessions; Session #83 & Session #84 and I attended Wayne's since my last update.

HCS 1st June - Session #83

Three operators who planned to be at the session did not make it! Thanks to those that filled in some at very short notice.

Barry, John, Paul, Peter J & Wayne joined me for the session.

Being an operator short I offered Barry the opportunity to operate rather than work the control panel and he accepted. So I worked the control panel and tired to do some concurrent mentoring - caused a few glitches with me not doing what I should in a timely manner!

We ran Session 1 (of Version 7). We all seemed to enjoy the sessions and had some fun despite the glitches.

I was so.o.o.o busy I forgot to take any photos and also forgot to ask others do do so too.

Afterwards we enjoyed afternoon tea - I was very tired and even forgot the usual photo.

HCS 17th June - Session #84

Paul, Wayne, John, Alex, Darren and Graham joined me and whilst some had their favourite Jobs Darren & Alex undertook Jobs that they had not previously exposed to. Paul had his first session on the Control Panels and did a good job. We ran Session 2 (of Version 7).

L>R Wayne, Paul, Graham, Darren, Alex & John

Paul also had time to rest!

Alex & Darren determining how they could both work at Huntington

Alex had his first Major Job in Hornertown Yard

Wayne making up time by quickly building two consists ready for next session

Afterwards we enjoyed afternoon tea and a good chat.

Wayne's 25th June

Darren, Denis & Peter S joined me for the session. We had fun running the program and found a few improvements for the "paperwork" for Wayne to follow up on.