February Update

             

This month's activities have included JMRI, New Initiatives, Maintenance, Fleet Cameras, Planning for Paolo, Control Panel Training, Ops Session, Tasks Completed in last 30 days & Scheduled Tasks for next 90 days.

Upgraded JMRI

I had been using Version 4.26 for some time and decided to upgrade to the current version 5.6.  Luckily I read the notes for upgrading and learnt that apart from must be running Java 11, any upgrade from version 4.x must be upgraded to version 5.0 before going to a later version 5.x.

I successfully upgraded my three laptops used for various tasks.

Update on New Initiative

I held our first 3rd Wednesday session this month and the topic was "Where do all those tracks go?"

Alex, Dennis, John, Peter J, Peter S and Ross attended.

I had pre-prepared some laminated handouts detailing the layout concept, layout showing actual trackage and the "track section naming conventions".

I sensed there was some trepidations about what needed to be learned. Learning "new stuff"  when you get older is not as easy as it used to be!  Retention is another issue so we will have to see how that goes too!

I started on the bottom Level and we just ran around the Outer Loop calling the names of each track section and after a few rounds we were all on the same page!  So then the Inner Loop, then the turning loops of Lewiston and Fleet.  I stepped it up by switching tracks at junctions and not telling anyone and asked them to call the track section names after a few misses people we engaged and it was a bit like a game.  I did the school teacher bit and asked the quiet ones to have a go and name the section and we all ended up getting quite involved.

I moved on to the hidden staging tracks and how the cameras worked to track the train movements and showed how to check trains were in and clear.

After a break we moved on to the top level which is much simpler.

I thought the session was engaging and we all learnt a few things that will help during operations down the track.

Thanks to all those who participated.

We enjoyed afternoon tea afterwards.

Hornertown Maintenance

During the Ops Session on the 5th we had a problem with intermittent turnout operation on the crossover between the staging tracks and the main arrival departure area point number 41 and corresponding 40 & 13.  A quick inspection during the session showed that the point motor base was loose and the solenoid slug movement a bit sluggish so during the session some manual resetting was required.

Following the session I pulled the stored stuff under the layout out, moved the three staged trains under the solenoids to allow access.

Getting on my creeper and getting under the layout I tighten the mounting screws the applied some silicon to the solenoid slug and all seemed to operate ok.  However when I got up from the floor (a bit of a struggle sometimes) after managing to nock my head quite hard  on the way I tried the control panel and the turnouts were still intermittent in operation.

Further investigation showed the push button switch that completes the circuit to throw the solenoids was faulty.  The search through the containers failed to turn up a replacement.  I remembered I purchased some momentary contact centre off single pole switches to replace the spdt and normally open push button switch combination.  Time had come to bite the bullet and put the first one in.

I unsoldered the wires and removed the old switches then discovered the barrel of the new switch was larger than the old so I had to drill out the existing spdt switch hole to accept the replacement.

I re-terminated the wires and blanked off the hole for the push button switch.

Watch a brief video on the process.

Cameras to Hidden Tracks at Fleet Loop

I purchased some new cameras and LCD screen to cover this area to make operations earlier. I found on ebay some reversing cameras and 7" LCD screen similar to what I already have except the have "reversing grids".

So, I had a seniors moment and connected the power leads the wrong way around, of course there was no reverse polarity protection, after the power leads got hot I realised what I had done but the damage had been done!  A replacement set was ordered, second time I was more careful.

No more peering through a tunnel portal...

Staged trains now easy to see

Arrival tracks can now be monitored too!

Planning for Paolo

We had a productive get together where we discussed principles of what he wants to achieve and avoid.  These will influence the track plan electrical design including operator locations, manual and remote turnout methods, power districts, circuit breakers, 12V & 5V accessory power & simple signalling.

I have drawn up all the support framework as Paolo provides the info we are about 90% done.

Top Level Benchwork

Bottom Level Benchwork

The track design has commenced and is being laid out so turnout locations with under bench activation will avoid support members.

Top Level Trackwork

Nolix Tracks

This will be a work in progress for sometime to come.

Control Panel Training

During the last training session Barry got to see what the Upper Level Control Panel does for the first time.  I realised that I had not put the track section name labels on like we did for the Lower Level.  This has now been done. 

Unfortunately the training session we had scheduled for 13th got cancelled as I was unwell.

We managed to get together on 20th where Barry practiced movements on the Upper Level and had a revision on staging at Stirling.

My Ops Sessions

The first session for the year was had on Monday 5th and despite three of seven operators not able to attend at the last minute I decided to go ahead with the session.  I hastily assessed the running schedule and decided which trains would be cancelled.  Two of the locals that take most of the session (Jimtown Turn and Huntington Local) were cancelled and then some local passenger trains and express goods trains were cancelled.

Barry, Denis, Peter J and Wayne attended, and it was obvious the two-month break over Christmas made us all a bit rusty so the less intense schedule in a way was a god send as we had time for mentoring and dealing with a couple of maintenance issues that arose.

I forgot to take some photos but can report we had some fun and enjoyed afternoon tea afterwards.

EVNGR Ops Session

The first session for the year due on 19th was cancelled due to very hot conditions.

Tasks Completed in last 30 days 

Scheduled Tasks for next 90 days

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

-ooOOOoo-