Wednesday 28th May 2025

Worklist: Scenery, track ballasting and the Edwards board extensions.

Stephen started work on the scenery, applying plaster coloured with brown powder paint laid on a coat of PVA. He then moved on to the station road extension, infilling voids with foam and making a panel to extend the wall. 

Meanwhile, Geoff sourced wood to make the front extensions for Edwards Yard. Instead of 9mm ply, some offcuts of 9mm MDF came to hand. As another change, rather than a full ladder, the attachments to the existing boards would be bespoke wooden brackets. The shape of the extended 'pond' was also agreed so that the edge profile could be cut out.

When the plaster had dried, we both started laying proprietary ballast. Isopropyl alcohol was sprayed over the ballast which then had diluted PVA dribbled over it. Extra care was taken around the critical areas of the pointwork.

Wednesday 21st May 2025

Worklist:  

Continue with electrics - test all track sections and servos.

Update diagram on control panel.

Track sections were generally ok, and it became a useful exercise to a reinforce our knowledge of the wiring system and track breaks. This was especially true of the area around the signals and the switching for the 'no-mans-land' between the station and Edwards yard. However, the servo test failed 'unusually'. Investigation found that power to the two station-board servos had been taken off the station platform lighting rather than a common supply. Having to turn these lights on before operating the magnets would have been a talking point, but ultimately a 'right nuisance'. This was easily corrected. 

Testing of the uncouplers and sections by 'playing trains' took place, which went well and gave us a good idea of future running operations. Markers for the three magnets will be a priority.

Stephen still had some of the vinyl from previous panel work and made the required additions. At the same time, alterations were made to the existing mainline section to more accurately reflect the section positions. Hopefully, it will all make sense to all operators.

A rewarding days work. What became evident was that Geoff's original assertion that the station needed a siding that could take a whole train of quarry wagons without clogging-up the station area, works well. It does change the overall appearance of the station, hopefully, for the better.

Wednesday 14th May 2025

Worklist: Continue to wire-up the new track and points to the control panel.

Geoff had made a start on the work as a diversion from his "big project", but things weren't going to plan and investigations were required. We had a few initial problems with the section switches and a few un-gapped PCB sleepers on the new points didn't help. Strangely, we found an existing track section that had been modified in connection with the fitting of the signals, which required re-wiring. After correcting the anomalies and completing the wiring, it all slowly fell into place and we were able to successfully test everything.

Wednesday 7th May 2025

Electrics:  

Add outstanding track wires.

Review required switches and check availability: Illuminated, latching, push-button section switches - 3 required and found. Point switches and knobs - 1 required. We didn't have the exact rotary switch used previously, but we found something suitable. Point knob - we had previously used guitar-tuning knobs, but there were none left so another knob was found. Uncoupling servo toggle switches - 3 required and 3 left-overs found.

We added track feed and common-return wires to the new track sections.

The new track layout was sketched on masking tape and the component positions agreed. Holes were drilled and the switches fitted.

We then had to add wires to the loom for the new items.

New wiring loom section being made to add onto the existing loom. (2 more needed for the other boards).

We needed a shell for the new 20-way connector. Geoff discovered that the American company had sub-let the manufacture of the range to a company based in Kiev. Assuming a long wait, he drew and 3D printed his own shell.

Stephen had painted the garage, but it didn't meet Geoff's minimum standard for rust colour authenticity (it's too red). We'll have to see which mellows first the rust or Geoff.....

Wednesday 30th April 2025

Worklist: 

Install 2 server control units.
Complete track feed wiring.

Check plug/sockets/loom capacity for new components.

The fault in the servo programmer had been repaired, requiring just a wire to be resoldered.

The station board was tackled first, which has 2 servos for uncoupling magnets. Positions for the servo controller and voltage regulator unit were agreed. The main accessories power feed (19v DC) was located and a feed taken to the voltage regulator and then to the servo controller position. The servo controller was fixed in place and the servo connector cables fitted. The voltage regulator was adjusted to 11v. Using the programmer, each servo was setup and tested.

The bridge board has 3 servos - 1 point and 2 uncoupling magnets. The same procedure was carried out.

Feeds to track sections were also completed. Fortunately, we were able to accommodate all extra wiring on the existing board connectors. It was quite a long slog, but completing this work was very satisfying and a great relief.