PLAY TRAINS!
It's been a while and we needed a 'fix'. We'd also decided that the layout needed to be used, so we could identify any issues and get an overall feel for it.
We'd all been to Tolworth Showtrain the previous weekend and Stephen was interested to review things like baseboard colours and backscene construction.
We always set the layout up straddling our three work-benches, which requires several lumps and lengths of wood. We decided that it was high-time we produced permanent fittings to make this much easier. We assessed the requirements and Stephen will purchase the necessary timber, in due course. We'd long-ago upgraded the bolts from 6mm to 8mm, but never put a set together. 8mm nuts and bolts, purchased for the purpose were 'dug out' and fitted. Some would need adapting - Geoff to sort out. We also decided that free-nuts were a nuisance, so tee nuts would be fitted. Stephen to source.
After we finally assembled the layout, Stephen produced a second-hand loco he'd purchased at ExpoNG, Swanley. It was a long wheelbase 0-4-0 Piko (East German) loco. A test run showed it to be a superb runner and after checking/adjusting the back-to-back, it was soon showing up issues with trackwork all over the layout, which took until lunchtime to rectify. Post lunch, a major problem with trackwork over the electromagnet could not be resolved, so we decided to replace the track completely. One for another week. Let's play trains!
More stock was added - John's Hunslet loco, coach and GVT brake van are always to hand, together with a rake of ore wagons and verandah brake van. These were joined by several of Laurences loco's - including some small IC's and a Deceauville on a Fleischman chassis.
The session threw up some issues with the control:-
We'd changed the AC/DC supplies to the controller to eliminate a shorting problem due to John's unusual point manufacture, but this did not solve the problem, so a policy of never switching points while a loco is running, will have to be employed.
Power lights would be useful to confirm both supplies were working.
A space to 'park' the hand held unit on the top could be useful for one-handed operation.
And general realignment of switches and features on the panel to reflect the actual layout.
All-in-all it was a very positive and enjoyable session.
