This month has seen things happening on Control System, Maintenance, Ops Sessions, Tasks completed & scheduled.

Control System Failure

I was in preparation mode for the session and fired up all systems a couple of hours before the session was due to start and JMRI reported no Com Port to communicate with!

The USB port was working when I plugged in an Arduino Nano as a test so I re-seated the plug on the Power Pro Box and still nothing.

I immediately went online to Model Railroad Craftsman and ordered a replacement and at the same time a spare booster.

Given this was a similar issue to when I first purchased the system I sent an email to their service technician asking if there was anything I could do to the existing box to try resurrect it. Later he rang me to discuss and basically nothing can be done as all spare boards for the Power Pro are exhausted and the only option was to obtain a new Command Station, a PH5, which is now being sold. He then pointed out I would not need another booster, as the Power Pro can be used as a standalone booster. He suggested I discuss with the shop owner which I did and was given a credit.

After comparing the manuals two major differences in connections Power input now DC, USB connection for the serial connection and a ground stud on the rear. After powering up. my existing throttles connected and I could operate a loco.

The USB connection finally came alive after a Windows reboot, as when I went to load the drivers from the NCE website prior to the reboot, the system said I had the most up to date drivers already. Connection came up on COM 6 so the JMRI Preferences were updated when JMRI was restarted the accessory decoders came to life as usual.

Paul came to give me a hand to renter the 18 consists, covering 40 odd locos, as the existing backup file could not be used. It was interesting when two consists started moving at once - one old & one new obviously the same address so had to kill them and only ended up with one "confused" loco that needed a decoder reset and re-programming as usual it was a QSI.

Maintenance

There a couple of loco issues addressed since my last update.

Locos

SP GP9 5634

Shunter 5634 had dislodged handrails following brushing some cars in Hornertown. These have been reinstated.

SP SD40-2 8393

Mainline Loco 8393 was part of the consist hauling Train #236 Express Goods West and the consist was not performing evenly. It was narrowed down to 8393 and on the workbench it operated intermittently.

I reset the decoder and re-programmed it, but the problem persisted. I took the loco lid off and continuity tested the pickup wires, but all seemed ok.

I asked our Guru Don to have a look, so he took it away and found that Athearn had changed how things were done in this new range. Upon complete disassemble the rear truck pickup wires had been poorly soldered under heat shrink and one wire has broken away from the solder tab and the other did likewise when checked. He resoldered and new heat shrink applied to the wires and all seems good now.

Thanks Don!

Ops Sessions

I held two sessions since my last update.

HCS 12th October- Cancelled

Following the Control System Failure I SMSed the operators with a cancellation advice then followed up those who did not answer with a phone call.

The rest of the story was above.

HCS 22ndOctober- Session #90

Barry, Denis, Paul & Peter S joined me for the session being a reduced crew we ran movements to keep car movements "in sync" and it turned out that all three operators got jobs they had not either done before or was a long time ago.

I spent my entire time mentoring Hornertown Yard movements and didn't take any photos.

Afterwards most of us enjoyed afternoon tea and a good chat.

L>R Denis, Peter S, Paul & Barry

HCS 28th October - Session #91

Alex, Denis, Graham, Hugh, John and Paul joined me.

L>R Alex, Paul, Denis, Hugh, Graham & John

We ran session 3 and I continued my education of operators working Hornertown Yard.

I discovered all the ProCab setting from the old system had disappeared, so we had some operators asking what has happened with my throttle? I need to restrict what is available to operators again.

One loco derailed a number of times so was removed from consist and put in the maintenance heap.