A quiet month activities have included: Interstate trip, Visiting Layouts, Ops Session, Tasks Completed & Scheduled.
*** Updated - approx 5 hrs after initial posting ***
Interstate Trip
I flew to Melbourne then caught the Velocity to Traralgon to catch up with Peter R.
Just after take off
Platform for train to Traralgon
Visit to Derek's
Some of you will remember Derek who used to be part of our Monday round robin group. Unfortunately he moved to Melbourne Victoria for his retirement. Whist staying with Peter R in Sale for a week or so I was fortunate to catch up with Derek whilst we were travelling around.
I didn't realise it had been over four years since I last visited him and at that time he was in the planning phase for his new N scale layout.
I am pleased to report construction has started and he has been doing some fancy Arduino work for block occupancy detection and yard ladder control of tortoise switch machines.
Peter, Me and Derek
Construction underway
Plans including cutting schedules
Lower staging yard
Staging with occupancy LED's in ties
Island oval helix
The curves in the helix are super elevated
Here is a video of a couple of trains running
Block Detection & Track Selection
Derek has build his own current detectors to work with an Arduino nano
Three block current detectors and their nano
Track occupancy LEDS Green available & Red occupied
Select desired track by pushbutton and turnouts operated by tortoises align and indicator lights and track number shown
Alternate Switch Motors
Where headroom was an issue using a tortoise he is using mtb MP5's
Animas & Lobato Southern
It has been four years since Peter and I visited Bill and this time Derek came too and I got to run a train through the system. I now have a better understanding of the layout albeit basic.
We were welcomed with a cuppa and biscuit
I chose an NCE hammerhead radio throttle like mine
Here is a video showing some of my travels around the lovely Sn3 layout
Ops Sessions at Wayne's
Two sessions this month.
Ops Session on 11th
I attended an Ops Session on 11th along with Alan, Des, Don & Murray.
We had an enjoyable afternoon I had mostly mainline work which was a nice change from being Yardmaster.
L>R Wayne, Alan, Murray, Des & Don
Don at Lowood Crossing
Wayne & Des at Red Rock
Wayne and Murray at Dunkleigh Towers
Des working Stockers Siding
Murray working Dunkleigh Towers
Alan at Eden Valley
Wayne on the prowl while I was having a crib break
Really?
Here is a link to a short video
Ops Session on 26th
I was interstate but Don sent me some pics, Those attending Waynes were Barry, Don, Dennis, Peter J & Peter S.
