The Turtle Creek Central arises from the ashes of the old.

Well for a change I haven't had a feline get on the layout yet even thought there is greenery there now. With three levels in the new quarters there is much more to explore.
Installed the Silflor with straight undiluted Elmer's, and put in another grade crossing leading to the stockyards. About for more to go along with another stretch of road by the station area.

100_5379-3 by John Moore posted Mar 20, 2018 at 12:50 PM

This shot is over the end where eventually the 2nd section for the port will go. It was delibertly lightened some to bring out the foliage in the back better. The windmill is probably going to go where you just see the blades for it over the brewery. And a shot at track level where the Silflor was installed on the side of the road opposite the main line. Next up is to install a small sheep herd in the meadow, then clean track in the area and install some trees which will consist of some willows and popular or birch trees.

100_5380-4 by John Moore posted Mar 20, 2018 at 12:50 PM

 

The man cave is the portal to the great outdoors, and more important those clumps of tender catnip that can be seen emerging from the herb garden. Loss of privileges to this door would be CATrastophy.

100_5381-6 by John Moore posted Mar 20, 2018 at 1:38 PM

 

Great progress John and let's hope you don't end up with any CATzilla attacks on the layout.

 

Thanks I only have the four that visit regularly and mainly that is to go out. Only the Big Guy stays in this room regularly and when I am not in the room stays closed.

Noticed that I had made an oops and put a grain bin that was interfering with the loading dock of the brewery. So a little water spritz around the base and it was easily removed. Then I applied scenic dirt to the area and installed another grade crossing to access it. I applied more grass to the beaver pond area and when it dries in go the sheep, sheep herder, and his camp wagon.

100_5382-8 by John Moore posted Mar 20, 2018 at 4:10 PM

100_5383-9 by John Moore posted Mar 20, 2018 at 4:34 PM

I built two of these camp wagons from researches on the web. One is already on the layout in the herders camp module that is by the water tower and this is the 2nd. That module was built as part of my farm complex modules that will not be used here but may go onto a possible third part of the layout. The original self propelled camper, two horsepower version.

 

A lot of sheep, two herders, and three dogs.

100_5387-9 by John Moore posted Mar 20, 2018 at 8:43 PM

And somebody has a sense of humor that does these animals. One of the dogs is, ahem, relieving himself on the tree.

100_5392-10 by John Moore posted Mar 20, 2018 at 8:43 PM

Somewhere in my people and critter box is the graveyard scene with the woman feinting. Not until you look closely do you see the casket just cracked and the hand coming out.

 

Was cleaning up the track from excess scenic materials this morning when I encountered an Atlas turnout that had managed to get some scenic material and glue in the mechanism. So in its place I installed another Peco turnout. Had fits getting everything to line up again and as the snow fell outside I turned the air blue inside the man cave while I struggled with connecting everything. About 2 hours later I had accomplished the deed.

100_5393-1 by John Moore posted Mar 21, 2018 at 2:16 PM

Had to work carefully as I did not want to foul up the meadow and the sheep herd I had been days in getting right. The area was wet down with my alcohol water mix and after about five minutes I was able to get everything up and leave the meadow intact.

I took the Atlas to the workbench and removed the turnout mechanism. While it was off I wondered if one of the Caboose Industries throws would work with it and found that it does. One side of the bar has holes that work with the Pecos and the other side of the bar has posts on the bottom which will fit nicely in the hole in the Atlas lever. So I have an option if I cannot restore the original mechanism of the Atlas.

100_5395-2 by John Moore posted Mar 21, 2018 at 2:16 PM

Meanwhile my order of Peco turnouts has made it as far as Richmond VA this morning in the snow of this Noreaster. Further inland and up North of me they are catching it while it look like I will get off easy. I am retired, got food in the pantry, heating oil to get through to April, and I will send the Wife out with a shovel to make sure the post lady can get to the door with my turnouts.

 

Installed my last grade crossing on the plateau and installed another Caboose Industries ground throw opposite the sand tower. Tomorrow I hope to get the road in coming off the bridge and around the water tank up to the station, and then work some more on cleaning up the ground cover in that area. My turnouts are due to be delivered late tomorrow and the one replacement probably won't get installed until Friday. Then I can check conductivity from the powerpack instead of relying on a 9 volt battery.

100_5396-9 by John Moore posted Mar 21, 2018 at 7:50 PM

 

Finally got my order of Peco ST-5s in. Went to install it tonight and would you know I found another track issue on the bend around the brewery. Two sections of track had come loose from the ties and was giving me an alignment issue. No fixing that and it was where I had soldered a short section of flex onto a longer section. So out came the Dremel with cut off wheel and I cut the track past the defective point and then wet down everything to get the track out. About three sections of 9.75 will fit there so once it dries by tomorrow where I wet it to release the glue I will clean up the ballast to give a new level field and relay that track. Murphy's law coming in here that once you take something apart that requires a critical and exact alignment it never goes back right again without a lot of work.

100_5398-4 by John Moore posted Mar 22, 2018 at 7:40 PM

And I noticed in the photo that I have an unacceptable gap at one of the turnouts and my wood tanks have a bad lean on them. So more fixing.

 

Got the track on the curve re-aligned and in place coupled to the new turnout. Test running a loco revealed a minor tweak needed in the curve and it was done. Then I brought the loco around the curve and intended to run through the turnouts, around the area of the loading ramp, and on to the station. But another problem reared it's ugly head, no electrons getting through the new turnout fresh out of the box. Rigged some jumper cables and it sailed on to the station. So one of three possible problems present themselves since the turnout is power routing. Brand new and I don't think it is the points because no matter the alignment it comes to a sudden stop on the turnout but i will check them anyhow. So the next issue may be the rail joint specifically the rail joiners not letting current through so the next point to check and replace with brand new. After that it comes down to a possible new in box defective Peco turnout so replace the whole turnout. After that it is dragging the layout from the man cave into the backyard and having a nice bonfire and be done with these frustrations, sell off everything, and take up model boat building again.

100_5400-1 by John Moore posted Mar 23, 2018 at 11:42 AM

 

Cleaned and checked to points with no results so uninstalled the turnout and went to the workbench for a close inspection with my new spectacles. When I turned the turnout over and checked the only two solid wires on the bottom that route the power I noticed that one was touching to other. Now that is a no no, so I got one of my fine needle point tweezers and bent it out just a tad. Flipped it back over and added a couple of straight pieces to it, then put and loco on the track and applied power to the opposite side of the turnout. Tested it with the turnout routed both ways with success. So the issue was from the factory and the first time for having a Peco turnout failure that was not my fault.

100_5401-2 by John Moore posted Mar 23, 2018 at 12:32 PM

So with the turnout reinstalled right back at the same problem. Back to the workbench and found that the wires were back in contact again. Hum wonder if the bottom wire can be pressed further into the recess, maybe that is the issue and not the top wire. So managed to do same and came to the conclusion it was not set all the way in its recess. Back to the layout and remounted it again. Happy to say I now can get the little 44 tonner all the way into the engine shed at the station and I can get it also to the stoneworks trackage. Have a minor clearance issue at the station clearing the passenger platform canopy attached to the station. Have Dremel and sanding drum and that problem will go away. Now I have to reinstall the grade crossing that was tore out and salvaged when I realigned the curve but I may just extend the road from the stockyards crossing now that the realignment gave me a little more room. Decided to make a Voodoo doll of Mr. Murphy and stick a pin in it every time he messes with me. Gonna be a lot of pins in the doll.

 

Bedda you hang dem Gris-Gris on dat layout and around yo' neck.

 

Hey I am sitting in a former rectory, in the reverends former office, with a cross on the wall, and incense burning in a holder on the shelf unit. How could anything go possibly wrong? Well how about everything. I am so frustrated with this layout build that I am thinking seriously about trashing it. The old Turtle Creek had tight curves and grades equal to this one but it has been a total frustration. The old hands and fingers don't work as well and just trying to struggle with getting a new set of trucks on a car or fitting a set of Unimates to the coupler pocket has been an exercise in frustration, even getting cars on the tracks using a rerailer. Seriously rethinking the decision to build again, at least in N scale, or just stepping away from the hobby altogether before I get much more time and effort plus $$ in this thing.

However after some tweaking I did manage to get a lash-up of 44 tonners all the way up the grade, around the plateau. through four sets of turnouts, and all the way to the station with the lead loco in the one stall engine shed. Now If I can just get a train consist up there maybe there is hope.

 

John,persistence, frustrating as it is, still produces the best results in this hobby. Happy the lash up survived its walkabout.

 

During the runs back and forth I discovered some more issues. The first was the tendency of the Shay to derail going straight through a turnout not all just one. Some slow run thru a few times revealed the problem to be the frog and I went at it with a small file. Then I found I had a section of rail at the rail joiner right at the bridge in back raised enough that it created a bump and further derailment issues. How in the heck did I miss that. Evidently the rail joiner is not right yet I have conductivity. Some wetting will be in order to loosen the ballast, and then leaning over everything to fight with getting that right without destroying anything. Just seems like as soon as I get something right up crops another issue. On the other hand the track cleaning car is doing it's job. The magnet snared two rail spikes that must have been laying in the roadbed that I some how missed seeing.

 

Well I tackled the latest problem after I returned from a local festival this morning and warmed up. First wet down the area and let it soak for about five minutes. Then I ripped out some trees in the way and removed a structure. Then I wet the track ballast one more time and after five minutes starting the delicate process of removing the section of straight track ahead of the bridge that was only holding by one rail joiner and creating a hump. Was going to reuse it but I discovered that at one end the rail had come loose on one side from about five or six ties. So into the box for a new section of five inch code 80 Atlas sectional track and new rail joiners. Got in in place finally with all rail joiners where they were supposed to be. Now for the acid test, put two 44 tonners on the incline, and applied power. Up the incline and around the curve, and through the long bridge and onto the plateau, then through the next curve and onto the short bridge. Sailed across the bridge without a hiccup until an abrupt halt at the end of the bridge that was so violent that it derailed the lead loco. Close examination revealed that I had failed to secure the rail spike at the end holding the bridge in place. So removed the spike and back to the bottom of the incline to repeat it again. This time sailed all the way through without a hitch. So maybe, finally, the rails have been restored form the canyon line to the plateau, but not without a battle that stretched to almost two weeks, part of that time waiting on a shipment of new turnouts.

Shiny new section of track and scenic material to be replaced.

000_0146-1 by John Moore posted Mar 24, 2018 at 11:48 AM

 

John, keep working on your layout and you will overcome the challenges. That's part of the fun and a since of accomplishment when you're done. Keep up the good work.

Joe

 

Today after a senior nap with four big felines keeping me warm, and watching over me, I came back downstairs to the man cave and resumed running locos and the track cleaner cars. Straightened out a few more minor glitches and removed some excess ballast. Also trimmed the station awning overhang back on both sides using the Dremel on low speed with a sanding drum. Still have the spur to the brewery and stockyards to clean. Temperatures are due to rise to a more conducive level this week coming so the layout will just be seeing random work from now until next Fall, with mainly work being done on rainy days, or when it gets too hot and humid for this old geezer to be out in it.

Since I now have three cabinets, each with drawers and a large compartment under those, I am thinking of removing the lower cabinets where the port will go. Then a couple of rolling carts that fit under the layout and I should be good for storage. I have 34 inches high by about 5.5 feet in width and at least 30 inches in depth under the layout. The lower cabinet removal will make it possible to go with the continuation of the current backdrop although I still have to stay out from the wall by 6 inches for the hot water radiator and the AC vent and I can use the wall paper on the backdrop instead of on the cabinets.

Planning ahead for that this fall I will go with a dense pink foam for the base and then use the same foam to construct the docks and piers. That foam is 6 N sale feet thick. Some of my vessels that were bashed from kits have full hulls and I plan to recess those with full hulls in the bottom layer of foam. Other vessel built or purchased have waterline hulls. Since I have no more need of my trestle kits they will become components of the docks. I have a Campbell's wood trestle kit that is also going to contribute timber materials for the docks. Some structures have been already built to go half out over the water like the fish cannery and Wicked Wanda's.

I just need to complete scenery on the plateau and canyon lines and install the water falls while continuing to run test equipment on the rails to iron out anymore glitches.