July Update

The activities during July did not go to plan, I was unable to complete the planning for the ops session so it has to be deferred. I conducted some more maintenance, continued with the planning for the operating changes in main yard, renamed the tracks in the classification area, reset the operations strategy, developed Session 1 Version 4, had my Granddaughters stay and hosted a Trainmasters TV session.

           

Maintenance

QSI V7 decoders seem to be playing up.....    Two sets of locos had issues.

Ore Consist

The consist decided not to run properly resulting in cancellation of an ore train.  The Proto 2000 F7A 6315, F7B 8215 & F7A 6320 consist all with QSi V7 Decoders decided that they would only move very slowly even at speed step 28 and pull virtually no load! 

After removal from the layout and being taken to the workshop for attention one of them had to be factory reset before any CV changes would be accepted.  They all initially would not respond to being "programmed on the main" so I resorted my Sprog III and the programming track to implement changes.

One by one they were put on the dyno and speed steps reset using DecoderPro to get matched performance again.   Both forward and reverse were matched as the set operates in both directions between the mine and steelworks.

The acceleration & braking adjustment was completed on the layout, and then the fun of tweaking each loco began.  

SP Passenger Consist

I have a consist of two Atlas Fairbanks Morse Train Master Phase 1b's.  One Atlas with QSI V7 Sound Decoder and the other is non sound with a ESU LokPilot V3 DCC Decoder.  During testing they would be running then suddenly stop after throwing the circuit breaker then restart after a second or two.  This was a mystery and was happening in more than one power district.  I took them to the workshop and put them on the dyno and they worked flawlessly and were both within tolerance of the speed curve.

Given other QSI V7 decoders have been "giving issues" I factory reset the decoder and did a total rewrite of all CV's using Decoderpro,  Now the cut out problem seems to have disappeared and despite an hour or so of test running the glitch seems to have gone.

Not sure why these QSI decoders over time keep playing up!

Troublesome Coaches

For some reason the SP passenger coaches have been troublesome ever since purchased.  I have encountered our of gauge wheel sets, fouling bogies and incorrect coupler alignment.  I thought I would try using some draw bars in lieu of couplers firstly in evergreen plastic as a proof of concept then fashioned from brass strip.

The plastic ones worked well.

The brass ones are still to be "finessed" but the biggest issue seems to be sticky swivelling of the bogies.  Well, I've been tinkering with these for a few years but haven't cracked great operation yet!

Control Panel Update

The Classification Tracks and car card boxes have been renamed consistent with the current changes to the way the Hornertown Yard operates.

Hornertown Yard Ops

I produced some more process maps and shared them with the current operators.

There full set can be seen on my website here

See the examples below:

Yardmaster Through Train Arr E Dep W On-Offs

Yardmaster Transfer Caboose Arr & Dep West

Express Goods West Shunt

Assistant Yardmaster

Yardmaster

Hornertown Coal or Oil Shunt

Assistant Yardmaster

Yardmaster

New Session 1 - Version 4

I reported last month that things didn’t go how I expected so I have made a division of duties in the main yard whereby the assistant yardmaster, still being under control of the yardmaster, but operating independently, should now eventuate.

A new strategy has been devised for my next session.

More details can be found here

Now I will have to start planning for Session 2 V4!

Granddaughters Visit

During the school holidays our two granddaughters came to stay for a few days and wanted to run some trains...

Ops Sessions 

My Ops Session was cancelled, Wayne decided to address a problem area resulting in changes to his layout which will return to service in September.  I had family commitments and medical stuff that caused me to miss Chris's sessions, so I didn't get to any ops sessions this month.

Trainmasters TV 

In lieu of my cancelled Ops Session I offered a session and Peter S and Dennis attended.  We had a pleasant afternoon with some nice Shiraz, soft drinks and nibbles.

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

-ooOOOoo-

 

June Update

          

The activities during June included my Ops Session which did not go to plan, more maintenance issues, operating changes in main yard, yet another reset of the operations strategy, local exhibition and some operating sessions.  Due to sickness, I will be unable to complete the planning for the next session so it has been deferred.

Maintenance

Another locomotive started squeaking during my latest op session, a couple of troublesome freight cars and some coaches kept uncoupling.

U50 Locomotive

Started squeaking like the GP38-2 4812 did last month so to the workbench, body off and lubricated the moving parts, returned to track and tested and sqeaking all gone!

Freight Cars

1st Hopper car - This one missed getting metal wheels and screws to hold coupler covers.

New trucks with metal wheels fitted, coupler height adjusted with one red washer each end and 2-56 screws to hold coupler covers in place fitted.

2nd Hopper car - This one kept derailing

I discovered three of the four axles were right on the minimum back to back tolerance - they are have been adjusted to be in the middle of the tolerance so hopefully the car will perform better.

Coaches

The grey Athearn SP Coaches have given trouble since I got them and despite tweaking I have been unable to make them operate reliably.  For now they will be removed.

Hornertown Yard Ops

After having problems of conflict on track usage by the Yardmaster and Assistant Yardmaster a thorough review of how the operations are conducted was undertaken.  I produced some process maps and shared them with the current operators.  Following our interactions, I have formalised the processes so hopefully a better solution will persist as we go forward.

See the examples below:

Assistant Yardmaster - Local Freights Shunt

Yardmaster Local Freight Consists & Caboose

Express Goods East Shunt

Assistant Yardmaster

Yardmaster

New Sessions - Version 4

I have resorted to getting the whiteboard out and jotting notes on flashcards in order to develop a better system for operations in and around the main yard and through the system.

I have modelled yard movements to streamline tasks and division of duties between the yardmaster and the assistant.

Thanks to Wayne, Peter S and Peter R for providing feedback along the way as I shared my ideas.

AMRE Exhibition

Don's new exhibition layout I was supposed to work on but my son contracted COVID and I had been in contact during the previous seven days so out of abundance of caution it was decided I should stay away.

From Don's Facebook page (and published with permission) "Running a AMRE Exhibition Layout today by yourself due to health issues from two operators doesn't give you a chance to look around, did that yesterday, so some views of my Alamosa & Western O scale, narrow gauge layout based in New Mexico."

4-4-0 #7 on the local passenger

The Galloping Goose School Bus

Stockyard area, Pedro the stock man coralling the cattle for loading

Cattle and pigs waiting for loading

3D printed ram

3 D printed goat with beard

The General Store

The mine transfer point

Shovelling salt from the salt lake to ship by rail

A&W 2-6-6-2 #10 passes La Jarra station

The local 2 car rail bus

School Bus Galloping Goose arrives to pick up school kids

The back area

Rio Grande 2-8-0 #268 passes the salt lake with a goods train

Over view of a busy station

Some operating trains..

That's the last two I have missed - I am hoping for better luck next time!

Darren has put some footage of the exhibition on his youtube channel

Ops Sessions

There were three sessions this month and I made two of them.

HCS Session 2 V3 on 6 June

Barry, Dennis, John, Peter J, Peter S, Ross & Wayne joined Me for the session.

L-R Sitting Peter S, Dennis, Ross & Barry. Standing Wayne, Joen & Me.  Photographer Peter J.

Well things didn’t go how I expected I was disappointed that I failed to foresee a scheduling conflict in the main yard which derailed the start of the session, and we did not recover.  We ran overtime and some members missed afternoon tea maybe I should have pulled the pin a bit earlier.   Note to self watch the actual time too!

The division of duties in the main yard whereby the assistant yardmaster, being under control of the yardmaster, but operating independently, did not to eventuate.

A new strategy will be required to ensure the separation of these duties occur.

My manually produced waybills were also out of balance which saw layout industries lacking cars and Hornertown Yard being way too full.  I will need to work on this over the coming sessions.

Unfortunately, no action photos were taken this session.

Afterwards most of us enjoyed afternoon tea however other had to leave due to time constraints.

Wayne's on 8 June

Alan, Hugh, Murray, Des & Me joined Wayne for good session.  I was assigned Lowood Crossing again and the workload was "not as intense" and last session. I even got time to take some video and photos!

L-R Murray, Wayne, Des, Hugh & Alan

Des & Alan at Forrest Gully

Hugh at Red Rock

Wayne & Murray at Stokers Siding

Hugh at Dunkleigh Towers

Murray at Eden Park

Des at Mulga Ridge

Wayne & Alan at Valley Junction

Hugh and Murray at Dunkleigh Towers

Afterwards we enjoyed a chat and afternoon tea

Some running action

Wayne's on 23 June

I was sick, so I missed out, but Peter J sent me a few photos and I had a chat to Wayne.

Wayne

Des with his Job Card

Peter J

Wayne, Peter S and Darren

Barry & Des

Reports were that Peter S did did really well for his first time managing Lowood Crossing, I might loose my job!  They were a few gremlins in the hidden areas but they also had some fun.

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

-ooOOOoo-