May Update

This month has seen a significant proportion of my time taken up with family matters but some hobby time was found and I did some work on: Card Cards, Car Card Implementation, Track and Car Maintenance, Farewell Derek, WiFi Fast Clock, Ops Session at Ross's and Wayne's.

Car Cards

The work continued on implementation however only a few things got done this month and the sorting racks are still to be finished.

Card Card Box Labels

The labelling has been completed.

Additional Car Cards

Two missing Loco cards and two missing reefer cards plus six new hopper cards were made.

Troublesome Track

Some time ago the section of track between Helix Junction and Hornertown Yard was replaced due to differential movement (the back track in the photo) between benchwork sections and "all the problems went away".  The track from Helix Junction to Hornertown Passenger had similar but far less problems however even those problems became annoying as derailments had been occurring too often.

So track replacement was the only option so a similar fix to the other track is being applied.

Replacement track will be installed in June.  This will be followed by restoring the scenery removed during the process.

Santa Fe Coach Tune Up

My older Santa Fe coaches were the ones causing most problems together with the troublesome track so Don put his magical fingers to work and inspected each coach with some "fine tuning" undertaken.  The final test will be after the section of track has been replaced and trials recommence.

Farewell to Derek

It is with a heavy heart that we fare welled Derek over a dinner at a local Chinese restaurant as he is retiring to Berwick in Victoria.  He will be missed by our Monday round robin group.

I look forward to spending some time in 2019 at his new residence helping to build part of his new layout.

We wish you all the very best in your retirement and hope you get great enjoyment building your new layout.

WiFi Fast Clocks

Following on from the prototype build last month I continued to make more of the four slave units.

Ops Session at Ross's

Barry, Chris, Derek, Rosslyn and I enjoyed an evening at Ross's followed by supper.

Ross, Barry & Derek watching a cross at Hallett Cove.

Rosslyn & Chris at Yarrara.

Ross watches on as Derek's train arrives in Adelaide.

Rosslyn operates Birkenhead while Chris is operates Yarrara and Ross watches a movement coming out of Willunga.

Crib break for me!

Ops Sessions at Wayne's

This month we had the pleasure of "the boys from Port Augusta" joining us for our usual 4th Thursday run.

Barry, Chris, Jock, Peter S, Rosslyn, Spacky and I joined Wayne for an enjoyable session.

Don & Spacky at Lowood Crossing, Me & Jock at Dunkley Towers and Barry & Chris at Mulga Ridge.

Don explaining how Lowood Crossing "works" to Spacky.

Jock enjoying the long run between Dunkley Towers and Waverly.

We enjoyed afternoon tea whilst having our "hot debrief" of the session.

Till the end of June.....

-ooOOOoo-