Test uncouplers.
Start ballasting track.
Laurence still on family leave, so just two again this week.
This would be a full loco-powered test rather than a hand shunt exercise, so the layout needed to be set up for running. The first transition board (Quarry line tunnel mouth) would also be required for access to the engine shed siding. Once set up, a loco, two wagons and a van were used to successfully test the magnets without any adjustment. The movement wasn't excessive, but it was more than enough to uncouple. The exercise did highlight the need for an overhaul of some couplers - one of those 'Roundtuit' projects.
It was then decided that ballasting the track was probably the next task - why not. Three tubs of different coloured ballast were retrieved from a storage box. The original Cottesmore trackwork was ballasted with a material used by British Airways to soak up oil spillages in their workshops (care of John). Cat litter had been tried, but (according to collective memory), it wasn't quite as good. The three tubs we had were different colours, possibly down to Stephen, who had experimented with colouring and blending ballast for a project. As the ballast would be dirtied/over-sprayed later, colour wasn't an issue. Size was, and we needed to sieve them first, but without a sieve, we improvised. Stephen's yoghurt pots to the rescue. A pot had holes drilled in the bottom for the maximum size required. Another with smaller holes - minimum size - and the 'fines' were also separated. It took some time, but the sound was pure Caribbean and we had quite a collection in the end.
Geoff mixed Screwfix PVA with water and filled a small applicator bottle. Instead of adding washing-up liquid to counteract surface tension, he now uses IPA Isopropyl alcohol, delivered via an atomiser. We started off with one tub of ballast, then sieved another tub and used that, and ended up using the third tub. The ballasting was completed on all three boards except for the tie-bar areas, which will be ballasted with care, in due course.
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| Dry ballast adjusted by brush. |
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| IPA applied before diluted PVA. |
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| A finger comes in handy as well. |
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| Gaps left around tie bars where more careful application is required. |
The photo below looks odd, but it's just those curved tracks tricking the eyes. This transition board will never be seen at an exhibition, as it will only be used in the workshop. The handed version (The second engine shed) will need ballasting as well, if we can scrape any together from somewhere!
