Navi Work Done

   Well, I have managed to glue down the last section of track and solder all the feeds. All that is left for track work is turntables, some enginehouse trackage and a couple of garden tracks. I won't get to these until the turntables are installed. I also have to solder a few joints between the tracks and that will be that.

   The Hat River Yard is soldered and ready to go. All switches in. I have to say, after having installed the Caboose Industries ground throws, I don't really like them. Too big and eye sore like, I think. I remembered reading a thread somewhere ( http://www.nscale.net/forums/modeling/trackage/2008/03/02/ultra-simple-switch-spring, by ScottL)
about making switch springs out of .020" piano wire. Well, can't find and of that but I was able to get my hands on some .040" music wire, much the same as piano wire. Well, I was able to make the spring according to the instruction and even drill the holes with little or no difficulty. However, it was a flop. The wire is just too heavy. So I have been considering other alternatives. I read an article about using a counter weight system for switches in a 1968 MR issue and looked at a hydrolic system using old needles and rubber hose to power any number of things in a 1970 issue. It all looks good, but I am leaning towards some interesting undertable, lever operated switches made by Hump Yard ( http://www.humpyard.com/ ). I think that they might be just the ticket.

My next step is to look at some turntables so that I can complete the track work altogether. I don't want to start on scenery before that is complete. Besides, I need to make a few integral buildings that will affect the 'lay of the land,' so to speak. Specifically, I want to build a coal mine head using plans set out in the October, November and December issues of MR, 1959, by the great scratchbuilder, Jack Work.

Lastly, I had many kind offers and tidbits of advice regarding my poor little 2-8-0. Oddly enough, after tinkering with it and becomeing completely discouraged with it, deciding that it would become a static display of some kind, perhaps a wreck, I put it away and vowed never to cast a kind eye on it again. I ordered another one with the decoder installed by someone who isn't me and who will test it to ensure that it works. Anyway, today, after surveying all my newly completed trackwork, and after giving the track a good cleaning, I decided to put my current 2-8-0 on and putter around. At first, I go the same response and was quickly losing interest and poked at a few buttons on my DCC throttle. Quite suddenly, the little 2-8-0 lurched to life and began to run. Having said that, it still occasionally stutters and stops here and there, but the improvment is rather spectacular. I have begun to feel that perhaps there is hop yet. I have also begun to wonder, not knowing if this is possible, could it be that I need a booster to boost power to the track? Would that resolve and issues? I tested the track at every section and it is powered, but I wonder, for the amount of track I'm powering, if a booster would be necessary to even out the 2-8-0's operation. It runs smoothly, and at times at very low speeds. Backward better than frontwards. It will stop occasionally, however, it is as likely to stop on a regular section of track as it will when going through a switch.

Anyway, I will post pictures, but only after I have cleaned up the disaster area that my train room has become in the last few weeks....

Cheers,

Jim R