Set up 6 board layout and play trains.
Discuss and issues and develop answers.
It was good to have Laurence back with us this week. He'd digested last weeks post and now watched Geoff and Stephen put the layout up for another 6 board running session.
After a quick track-clean, everyone put some stock on the layout and Laurence had some basic training on the Masons control panel. There are no track lines or labels on switches yet, and the just-visible pencil lines weren't much help, but it eased him into some operating. He and Geoff then operated both ends of the layout - it felt just like old Cottesmore West days.
Stephen had been working on the cottages at home and wanted to check the required height of the rainwater downpipes. Afterwards, he started to introduce some of the other mocked-up card buildings, as a reminder of how the buildings had progressed, but also to check visibility of the track/operating areas from behind.
Suddenly, the servos started playing up. Something was wrong, but no obvious reason or solution was forthcoming. Geoff got the programming module out and after some abortive tweaks, settled for reprogramming the 7 servo units (3 points + 4 magnets). Once complete, it was back to operating, but better than ever.
After a while, Geoff described to Laurence the idea of a new section on WC to allow Masons trains to be run right up to the signal on WC, by the Masons operator. Discussions ensued on how track breaks, wiring mods and an additional switch could be undertaken. We then discussed the possibility of having a similar section on the quarry line, which would make sense, but would require a bit more work. All would be investigated in due course.
Whilst shunting in Masons yard, a short circuit was encountered. It turned out that a parked wagon wheel was across the track break in the yard while the WC and Masons operators had control of the adjacent tracks. This was more than a nuisance and Geoff suggested that the section should be taken back to the board joint, where wagons were unlikely to be left. However, there must have been a reason for the position chosen, but as neither Geoff or Stephen could remember why, the joint will be 'moved'.
A great day and, hopefully, we'll have another running session next week...
