Test setting-up the layout
Fit locating blocks on trestle 4
Discuss control panel section switches
Play trains (test layout for problems and anomalies)
Fix joint on quarry fiddleyard/cassette
A mixed-up week with Thursday unavailable and no common alternative, so just Geoff and Stephen.
Stephen got to test the new trestles, which were laid out as G&L had done the previous week. The position of number four was adjusted so that the legs didn't stick-out beyond the fiddleyard board and the floor position re-marked. Locating blocks were glued on the bearer top, to secure the board. Although the locating pins in the board faces allowed the boards to be positioned whilst fitting the main bolts, it was agreed that additional lips/plates to further support the unbolted board would be an improvement.
The joint between the tunnel track and the fiddleyard cassette had never been properly installed. The cassettes were tight in the fixed pieces, which needed to be lifted, but the fixed pieces were already slightly higher than the tunnel rails. The fixed pieces were dismantled and trial packers inserted, which worked perfectly. Rectifying the tunnel rail height was discussed at length. Finally, the rails were un-soldered from four sleepers and re-soldered using solder as a filler/packer. It worked perfectly.
Stock was then run all over the layout and issues recorded/rectified. Platform crossing timbers fouled the Hunslet - timbers removed, ballast lowered and timbers reinstated. Several Kadees were found to be faulty, in the usual ways - droppers too high/low, centring springs failed etc. Wheels from several Peco wagons had come loose. A collection of wagons grew on Geoff's 'new' workbench.
The location of most magnets was 'obvious', but one or two were less so. Along the roadways, small 'rocks' were glued by the less obvious magnets.
The layout was finally dismantled and the storage rack came into its own, as the boards, being stored flat, could be put away with items still gluing in place.
Stephen had sourced some push-button, SPST, latching switches, with lights, being sold in three batches. However, the descriptions were not very clear/consistent. Did the light only come on when the switch was depressed? They were labelled as 'neon', but were probably led's, but the lamp voltages varied between 1.8, 3 and 5v. Questions to the seller elicited no response, but nevertheless, the switches were ordered.
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| Setting up |
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| Tunnel cassette joint |
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| The 'wonderful' storage unit. |
