Practice assembling the layout
Continue to test the layout by playing trains
Setting up went well. We forgot to plug the loom in first, but the new supports allowed us to fit the loom with the layout down. We also re-drilled the holes for the storage board bolts and made a plywood end support.
Before we got running, Stephen suggested we fit two power lights (LED's) on the control panel, for the DC and AC power supplies. Geoff found two 5mm LED's, suitable resistors and a diode. The LED's were mounted on the panel front and wired up. A great reassurance when things weren't running.
Stephen got his £10 loco running first. Geoff was keen to test his new trackwork, but running onto the relevant section, a short occurred. Geoff had anticipated that somewhere in the old trackwork, there was a section gap and this was confirmed. A new break was cut and test running continued. We worked on until lunchtime scraping ballast, checking clearances etc. After lunch, Stephen and Laurence got more stock out and more playing ensued.
Geoff mixed up some paint and touched-up all of the unpainted and badly painted sleepers.
We came to the conclusion that some form of protection on the end of the storage cassettes was required. Our first thought was for an extension to the board, but then turned to hinged end-caps. We have some 2.5mm plastic, which Geoff will experiment with.
The siding became a problem at one point, where stock was trapped between the buffers and magnet. Stephen had proposed having an extension across the road, for interest and to alleviate the problem. Geoff countered saying that it was not a realistic solution, but proposed that a gate be provided in the wall intimating that the railway continued beyond. Proposal agreed, the buffers were removed.
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| Stephen's Peco timber bolsters with new pit props, pulled by a Laurence freelance diesel |
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| The returning empty bolsters |
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| The tunnel needs 'finishing off' |
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| A Laurence Simplex with Stephen's Peco van, scratch WD van, scratch GVT brakevan and 'Mikes' crane on a pair of Peco flat wagons |
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| Stephen's freelance 0-4-0 loco (plasticard on a Fleischman chassis), Brakevan - a stretched/converted Peco van, peco open wagons. The crane wagin pulled by a Laurence scratch diesel. |
