During my pre-session briefing, I ask all operators to handle cars carefully, and couple with care.
HO scale frieght cars are beautifully detailed these days, but all those great looking details are fragile, and subject to damage.
I show you an example of what happens when cars aren't treated gently.
One of the joys about operating sessions is having problems discovered by your crew.
During the previous session, an operator let me know about poor performance by one of the diesel switchers in Acca yard. This is a MP15 model by Atlas that I have had for many years. It has a standard TCS decoder installed, as it was a DC locomotive from the factory.
After taking it off the layout and putting a note on it, I also added it to my list of gripes.
This week, I took a look at it and noticed it was on the list from the February session.
Some troubleshooting during the session suggested that this loco had a low fuel tank, and I thought the plastic cover had just loosened, so should be an easy fix.
You can see where the tank has been rubbing on the trackwork:
After some additional investigation, I realized the frame on this engine has warped. I assume this has zinc pest, like many other engines from this time period. Very disappointing.
It will go into the case; maybe someday I will be about to source a replacement frame.
After multiple operating sessions, I decided that the track layout inside of Doswell wasn't what I wanted.
So, I ripped up all the track and roadbed, to start afresh.
After a bunch of measuring and test fitting, I realized that I needed to revamp the benchwork as well.
Here's the benchwork re-completed:
As most readers know, the freight car fleet on the Richmond Terminal is equiped with resistor wheelsets to make sure that all cars are detected on the line, and that the signal system reflects that fact.
To do that, I've used Intermountain axles that I prepared and installed.
Some freight car truck designs do not support the IM axles and require a different approach.
These are Athearn coal cars - the bathtub style cars, BTW.
Glue a 10K 1206 size resistor, and then paint to the wheels with conductive paint or glue. Problem solved.
We had a full house for the operating session in September.
I tore up the trackage in Doswell in late February, and it wasn't put back together yet, so trains in and out of Bremo staging were annulled, and other trains modified.
Other than that, trains ran and the crew enjoyed themselves.
Crew Assignments
Dick M - Acca YM
Mike B - Acca AYM
John V- Acca AYM
Scott L - Traffic Manager
Road Crew:
Bryce L
Bob S
Bill W
Bob R
Jerry R
The crew identified a couple of issues for remediation during the session that I will be working on before the next session. I will do a separate blog post about the cars that ended up on the RIP track, as that is interesting in its own right.
Now, onto the pictures:
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| Bob has Amtrak well in hand as he approaches Acca yard. |
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| Bill plans his next move in Doswell, as Jerry surveys the south side of Acca. |
