Progress during May

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Not heaps to report this month but things have still happened.

As stated last month "I will be helping my daughter with some house renovations which will distract me for a few weeks so progress during May / June might be a bit slow....." I also had a bottom right back tooth that decided to become infected and has since been extracted - this has set my targets personal back considerably! Nevertheless there has been some achievements to talk about.


Fleets Loop Track Wiring
I reported last month that "Chris has nearly finished .. but not quite .. two tracks have "shorts" so some detective work is still required as they all worked ok before....." Chris checked and doubled checked his work and was convinced he had not made a mistake to eventually find the ends of a bus feeder were touching causing the problem!!! - Problem was "Solvered" when these bus wires were separated.


Picard Junction Turnout Wiring
During the QA process and post Fleets Loop turnout installation it was noticed that the track power feeders between the Track Bus and frog accessory switch had been not been installed. Chris has been addressing this oversight.


Bottom Level Backdrop Painting
Barry got busy again for me on my scheduled Monday nights and he completed all of the Lower Level backdrop blue base.


Bottom Level Tracklaying
Three boxes (225 feet) of Peco code 75, 3 Double Slips, 8 No.8's, 1 Curved, 2 3-Way's and 21 No.6's have been laid with 3 No.4's and another box of track on the coach yard section outstanding.


Double Main
Well the main around the Helix was laid some 12 months ago and the time has come to extend it on the Bottom Level under Jimtown and along the back and front of Hornertown to meet the tracks emanating from Picard Junction and Lewiston Loop before traveling behind Flintston.

I asked Chris to lay on some planks placed over the coach yard supports and just put the track on to the that laid a year or so ago outside at the rear of the Helix. Well after he had been laying there trying to do this for some 20 minutes his quiet cursing started so I said "let me have a go!"  Well, after another 20 minutes, and me cursing we were both were very frustrated!  After a few minutes of "cooling down" I went back for another try and noticed a Sharpie line and "75" with and arrow facing me. The penny drops - I used up my old code 100 track in this corner on and around the Helix. Code 75 joiners and code 100 track = no go!   I said "hey Chris in the track laying box there are some stepped joiners - can I have some please".  Gee when they were fitted the track went together first time..... only too a couple of minutes as initially expected - some 90 minutes after we started!

Note my wet hair from the frustration of trying!

The whole section of the back double track coming from around the Helix with the Fleets Loop approach rising up the grade on the left side.

At the front is the double track main under Jimtown showing the junction and the branch to the Helix.


Hornertown Tack Layout
The control panel single line diagram below shows the yard schematic.

I think the arrangement addresses most (if not all) of the "Ten Commandments" by Craig Bisgeier

The double track main (left) as it enters Hornertown from the East.  The track next to the inner track of the two mains is the shunt lead (emanates from the double slip) the next three tracks are the coach yard tracks with the Commissary Building on track 3, then the industry lead for Plant No.4 and Flour Mill behind the coach yard followed by the industry tracks to Hertitage Furniture and the Meat Works and the very last is the tail of the Icing Plant track.

Closer view of the industry tracks to Hertitage Furniture and the Meat Works with the industry track to the Flour Mill in the foreground and to the right is the tail of the Icing Plant track with the double track main to the rear with the turnout for Fleets Loop approach.

Hornertown trackage (East): Passenger terminal (left), double track main, two arrival/departure tracks, three classification tracks, run around then the local industry lead and the rear double track main.

Hornertown trackage looking the other way.

Hornertown trackage (West:) Passenger Terminal with Railcar stub, double track main, two arrival/departure tracks, three classification tracks, run around and local industry lead and the rear double track main.

The double track main as it enters Hornertown from the East with the Railcar (left) in the foreground.

The Railcar stub in front of the double track main as it enters Hornertown from the West the track next to the inner track main is the shunt main followed by the Caboose track and the two container loading tracks with the industry track serving Arrowhead Ale and Buds Trucking then the rear double main at the rear.

Another view of the West end of Hornertown.

Well, no Monday or Tuesday activities this week, as my wife is down from Pt Augusta for some medical stuff and my daughter's house reno is beckoning....

Much wiring, turnout motor installation awaits....

Thanks guys for your continuing help it makes the massive task much easier.

Progress during April

April has been a busy month with my wife winning a job in Pt Augusta (330km from home) so there has been some packing up and purchasing things to furnish her new unit in Pt Augusta (this also had to be inspected). I celebrated my birthday, endured Easter, Anzac Day & Mother-In_Law's birthday.

The Monday night roster seems to be working with a few members having things rearranged for a while for various reasons. School holidays interrupted the Tuesday team as well with Chris being away and BJ having his son home.

Never the less some great things have happened and some progress made on the layout. So let's have a look at what has been achieved.


Fleets Loop Track Wiring

Well this was the first area where construction and track laying commenced and all tracks are in the same Power District so 2 power buses for 4 tracks was the go until... The introduction of block occupancy detection. As these tracks are hidden and block detection introduced it now requires a power bus per track. Chris has been modifying Bob's earlier work to add two additional buses and change the feeders accordingly.

Chris has nearly finished .. but not quite .. two tracks have "shorts" so some detective work is still required as they all worked ok before.....


Stirling Branch

This was my "first attempt" at trying the principles behind Joe Fugates scenery technique of using Vermiculite, Patching Plaster, and Portland Cement. The finish on the first batch finish left a bit to be desired but the second and third got better! think the texture will allow a better outcome than the wall plaster I have used previously.

It was in the cutting where the Branch departs inside Lewiston Loop.

Onka River Valley

Work has started on the river valley between Adamsville and Jimtown. It will be the most complicated and challenging scenery construct on the Upper Level using Joe Fugates "Vermiculite" mix. I was low on masking tape so I used some excess packing tape over shaped styrene foam to form the base for the mix. I thonk it turned out quite nicely. Have a look below.

Iron Hill

The ore storage bin that receives ore from the mine has been installed along with the conveyor house. The structures and conveyor received their final weathering once placed and secured.

The mine goods platform has also been installed. All mine supplies like machine parts, lubricants and other consumables are unloaded here.

Jimtown

Milk van and farmers truck vehicles have been added.

BJ has been constructing the cattle yards from raw materials and whilst the loading ramps and remainder of the cattle are to be installed you get a good idea of what I will end up with. I have put some thin perspex in front to protect BJ's work.

Bottom Level Backdrop Painting

Barry got busy for me on my scheduled Monday night and he completed about one third of the Lower Level backdrop.

Fascia & Throttle LAN Wiring

Chris and Bob worked on the Lower Level fascia then brought the Throttle LAN through for later termination.

Bill Hunting learns Operations at Huntington

Bill spent the night learning how to operate his namesake town. A few workers disappeared at different times to "help and advise!!"

Trestle Building

I'm building my first trestle using Joe Fugate's methods. A couple of progress photos are below.

Thanks guys for your continued help and advice it is greatly appreciated.

I will be helping my daughter with some house renovations which will distract me for a few weeks so progress during May / June might be a bit slow.....