This month our Monday round robin group got together twice, I participated in Model Rail Radio show 205, Tried DecoderPro with NCE, prepared a Throttle Guide, Did some Maintenace, got to three operations sessions and continued to work on op session paperwork.
Model Rail Radio
Tom recorded two shows this month and I was lucky to be included on Show #205.
Don't forget to subscribe, check his website for future show times and join in if you are able.
NCE & DecoderPro
I purchased a DTECH 3m FTDI USB to RS232 DB9 Male Serial Adapter Cable COM Port with FT232 Chipset Supports Windows 10 8 7 Mac Linux (10 Feet, FT232 Chip) from Amazon thinking it would work Ok..... Fail....
So after consulting the NCE-DCC @ Groups.io I have ordered an ESU - Cable forLokProgrammer which is on the recommended list by Dave Heap. If you are a member here is the link to the article. I hope that this one will work as the other one would not.
Well thye new one arrived and I installed the drivers and guess what - still not working then I read to the last line finding this link. Well I missed that, bugger, my original cable may of been ok anyway..... Looks like I may have come across the firsy NCE design fault and sunk $70 in the process....
I removed the hexagon Head screws and still did not get a proper connection....
Further investigation showed that the Drivers are not loading correctly or Windows is not doing what it should do - so I posted the issue in the JMRIUSERS Group. I will wait to she what those who know lots more than me have to say.
Throttle Guide
I printed and laminated an A5 sheet and they are placed around the layout for reference by operators.
I love the consisting functions it makes life so much esier for operators when they can select the lead or last loco by loco number (when consisted) instead of the consist muber where they required to remember what the lead loco was to remember the direction of travel forward.
Maintenance Issues
A number of things arose during my ops session that need to be aaddressed.
Hornertown East Plant No.4 Turnout no power
Huntington Point to Siding Power Issue
Fault LED Lights Flintston - This has been traced to a blown power supply which needs replacement.
Fault LED Lights Hornertown - After initial tests problem is no re-occuring
Jimtown Siding Turnout Not throwing reliably
I hope to get to these within a couple of weeks.
Ops Sessions
I was lucky to be involved in three sessions this month, mine and two at Wayne's.
Hallett Cove Southern 11th
Nine of us got together and this was the first formal session using the new NCE systtem and the first using the new operating regime as outlined last month.
It was nice for everyone to have a radio throttle so no long cables to get caught up on anymore!
Controller - Jim and Crews: Don & Chris, Barry & Darren , Peter J & Ross P and John & Alan
We ran all but one of the 50 movements - I mixed up the cards and I was wondering howcome Don & Chris got a 10 minute break - I did the job after the session to keep things in sync.
It certainly showed up how rusty we were - the last successful ops session was held on 1 April 2019 - I have been asked to prepare a "how to read the switchlist" training session.
Darren & Me
Darren and Barry
Alan & Barry
Ross
Peter and Me
Don, Chris and John
Alan commencing "Icing the PFE" at Hornertown
Don & Chris at Flintston
Some serious discussions at Jimtown with John at Hornertown with Alan having a break
Peter intently watching his train
Loco LeMaistre Local arriving
Barry & Darren intently following their train at Lewiston Loop
Afterwards we had our usual debrief and afternoon tea.
Wayne's 13th
Alan, Des, Don, John, Murray & I joined Wayne for the session.
We are all enjoying Wayne's new schedule and running tasks.
L>R Murray, Des, Don, Wayne, Alan & John
Don at Dunkley Towers
Alan & Wayne at Waverly
John at Lowood Crossing
Murray & Don at Dunkley Towers
Don & Des at Dunkley Towers
Alan at Dunkley Towers with Wayne watching on
Wayne's 28th
Barry, Chris, Des, Don& I joined Wayne for the session.
Once again we are all enjoying Wayne's new schedule and running tasks however the Superintendent and adminstration staff had a few adminstrative errors to overcome.
L > R Chris, Barry, Wayne, Des & Don
Don at Red Rock getting ready for shunting
Barry ensuring the direction of travel was correct
Ready to go...
Barry and Chris shunting at Forrest Gully
Don working the livestock cars at Stokers Siding
Chris running the cement train through Forrest Gully
Wayen appears to be instructing Des at Red Rock
Des intently watching at Dunkleigh Towers
A derailement in the "worst place" so Des being the most nimble of all of us went to the rescue.
Here are a few short videos stiched together of trains running.
Afterwards we enjoyed some afternoon tea during the mandatory debrief.
Revised Session 2
Session 2 now has a new Timetable, Schedule, Job cards and YardMaster Tasks can be viewed in the links below should you have the time:
This month our Monday round robin group go together 3 times, we tested the new control system, I participated in Model Rail Radio show 204, continued work on op session paperwork, completed Roco firmware updates, got to two operations sessions and hosted a Trainmasters TV session.
Fun Run aka "Test the new system..."
I held a fun run on 13th September to trial the new NCE control system and we had a nice time just running things here and there. Thanks to Alex, Barry, Chris, Don, Peter S and Ross for coming to help me test the new system which functioned well.
We enjoyed some afternoon tea and stories after the session.
I forgot to take any pictures....
Medel Rail Radio
Tom is back! He has recorded two shows this month and I was lucky to be included on Show #204.
Don't forget to subscribe, check his website for future show times and join in if you are able.
Revised Ops Sessions
Back In May I outlined the Future Operations Strategy following an "operator survey". In June I started the new paperwork and that has continued this month.
Session 1 now has a new schedule, Job cards and Switch lists which can be viewed in the links below:
These will be tested on 11th October at the next ops session.
Roco Firmware Changes
A while back I updated Don's, Wayne's & My multiMAUSPRO's to Version 1.06 and multiZENTRALEPRO's to Version 1.0C - the latest versions which were compatible with the Z21 system. This resulted in all our locos gradually being reset to 14 speed steps from 28/128 for some unknown reason.
I have reloaded the firmware to the previous versions, multiMAUSPRO's to Version 1.05 and multiZENTRALEPRO's to Version 1.0A. Don has been doing some serious testing and this version would appear to be working OK.
I also upgraded the firmware in the multiMAUS's to Version 1.05 - the latest version which allows for 28 function use.
Ops Sessions
I was lucky to get to two sessions this month.
Ross's 6th - Picardy
Barry, Chris, Don, Peter S and I joined Ross for his ops session and we had fun for about one and a hlf hours then Ross somehow put his throttle into programming mode and every loco (approximately 20 of them) ended up on the same address - a big Ooops. All throttle are now set to programming on the main mode to eliminate a reoccurance!
So we had an early afternoon tea! - I forgot to take pictures again....
Ross has let us know that all has been fixed ready for the next session.
Wayne's 11th
Alan, Des, Don, Hugh and Ross join me at Wayne's to operate using Wayne's new running schedule. We found a few bugs however we had an enjoyable afternoon and we kept occupied for longer periods with the new schedule.
L to R Des, Wayne, Hugh, Ross, Alan & Don
Don at Lowood Crossing - Alan and Hugh at Forrest Gully
Ross having a break while Wayne & Des in discussion
Hugh and Alan at Red Rock
Ross at Dunkleigh Towers
Hugh at Valley Junction
Afterwards we had our usual debrief over afternoon tea.
TrainMasters TV Session
I hosted a session on 27th that Barry, Chris, Don, Peter S attended and we watched a selection of stuff. This was accompanied by the usual afternoon tea and discussion.
This month we have been dealing with some more family matters however I made it to one Monday round robin session, received the first delivery of the new control system, completed two more speedometers and got to two opserations sessions at Wayne's.
Control System Replacement
The first delivery hyas been received.
Two more Boosters are on back order. In the meantime I will use the command station booster to power up one section before it eventually is assigned to accessories.
I didn't get the RS232 to USB cable as they were out of stock so I have ordered one from Amazon so it shoukd be here in around a week - even express post is slow these days.
I need to set the track voltage on each of the boosters to the same as my old system 17V - By doing this I will not have to adjust the speed of all my locos.
Planning for final locations of the new items is underway. Some of the existing wiring such as the throttle LAN is the same configuration in both systems so connections will be made. Removal of the old Roco System will take place prior to installation and setup of all the components.
I need to install a chassis ground between boosters which did not exist with the old system and I will change the route of the Control Bus to by-pass an area I have not been happy with in the past.
This week I have connected the Command Station Booster to Power District C and a short video below shows the first operation of a switcher at Jimtown.
I was lucky to get to Wayne's twice this month after being a "reserve operator" for one session.
11th August
This was the first Ops Session for the month with Alan, Don, Hugh, Murray & Ross we had a good session. It was the last session of the old timetable being retired after a number of years.
Wayne issuing instructions
Don at Lowood Crossing
Des at Dunkleigh Towers
Wayne, Murray and Hugh at Dunkleigh Towers
Murray & Ross at Forrest Gully with Don in the background
Ross at Red Rock
Afterwards we had the usual debrief and refreashments.
26th August
The second session for the month with Chris, Don, Des, Peter J and Peter S. I was initially third reserve but as others could not attend got an invite. It was the first session of Wayne's revamped timetable consisting of 5 Operations Sessions per cycle. He generally operates two sessions a month.
I scored Yardmaster at Lowood Crossing for the whole session that lasted around 2 1/2 hours.
L-R Don, Des, Wayne, Peter S, Peter J and Chris
Peter J at Mulga Ridge
Don at Dunkleigh Towers
Wayne and Des closely watching Peter J
Peter S at Troubridge Point
Peter J
Des and Don Studying some movements
Chris at Waverly
Des at Mulga Ridge
Afterwards we enjoyed the debrief over afternoon tea as per usual. Overall we thought Wayne had done a good job with the redesigned session.
