Hog Waller Junction

I think I need to rename the layout to the Frustration Central. Should have been a simple morning consisting of opening another access portal in the rear and right side rear corner. First mistake was getting out of bed. Second mistake was attempting to cut the access portals. First off I drilled out the areas to connect with the jig saw and define the area. Had previous markings to go by so no issue there. Took the jig saw and cut everything out. Knew I had wires on the end I had to avoid but considering I had them routed to one side and thus clear of where I was going to cut I ASSUMED that I would miss them. Well you know what happens when you assume too much. Yup I did it. Cut the danged wires which in effect killed the power to the upper main and to the mine spur. Thought well I could just splice the cut wires. Hah no way. Ends were too short. So into my track box for another set of Atlas power feed wires. Next big problem was trying to hook up the new wires to the end of the upper track with my thick old arthritic meat hooks. No room for these old thick fingers. Okay take out trees again. Fortunately the track ended in a piece of 5 inch Atlas sectional track so wet it down to get it out of the ballast.

Meanwhile while taking a short break I started fishing some things out of the tunnel from the derailment. I thought I had retrieved all the cars but there was yet another ore car in there laying on its' side, plus it was completely de-trucked, and one coupler knuckle was broke clean off. Still haven't found the missing headlight housing but I have just cleaned out my small vacuum so I am about ready to do a good vacuum and then dump the contents on a piece of paper to see if I find the headlight, plus the truck pins and whatever else is still in there.

I don't just have derailments like other modelers I have prototype derailments right down to trucks off and broken couplers. I currently have three ore cars awaiting repairs also.

I went back and finished the rewiring, having to break out the meter to check polarity, but the upper line and mine spur is back in service. Now I need to solder the new wiring to the old wiring and then tuck everything back into place. And I haven't even tried to think about replacing the turnouts at the end of the crossover yet. So after a break for a brief bit of nourishment I will come back up solder the wires, vacuum out the tunnel and secure the new wiring section. Reforestation at the upper main can wait.

And of course the whole time I was using some choice terms to describe the situation and vent my frustrations I had more than enough supervision and little if any help. The Big Guy and his sister Deekus the Cat doing some serious supervising.

100_4642-1 by John Moore posted Aug 17, 2015 at 11:05 AM

 

Looks like one is hiding and saying "Sounds like dads upset !" The other looking back and saying "Ya Think ?!!!!!!!!!" LOL

 

More like the lowly serf hired help messed up our mini meeces chase game again. Think we should fire him?
Well the vacuuming was a success in that not only did I get out the debris from the new access portal creation but I retrieved my missing headlight, another truck that is missing a wheel axle, and four truck pins. Especially wanted that headlight assembly because it is one of the old wartime type hooded headlamps. Wires soldered up and cleaned up my mess in the room. Tested a loco to see if the circuits were still functioning and slid the layout back in place.

I don't think I will even start the turnout replacement track work today, almost senior nap time. And I am still thinking about whether it would be worth messing with those tunnel portals or not to widen them for larger locos. I do have some molds for some masonry double portals so would just need to break out the molds and plaster and overlay it on the timber cribbing that is to the sides. I am not a big fan of tunnels anyhow but the design of this layout section forced me to have to utilize one much longer than I would have preferred.

 

Years ago, a wise mentor advised "Don't worry about being correct 51% of the time, just be able to recover at least 51% of the time."

 

Tunnel portals:
In the overall scheme connecting to other modules, is there a place to go or a reason for something the size of an S-2 to use that tunnel? It would always be nice, but I can see bigger power just sticking to the main line if that tunnel is not it. "No problem is so big or so complicated that it can't be run away from." - Charlie Brown.

My brain may be off-kilter, but from the overhead blimp view, it looks like the portals are not absolutely perpendicular to the track. You might check clearances with cardboard templates traced from portals to see if slightly repositioning the existing portals would do the trick, maybe pulling the portals slightly toward the outside of the curves. I have an S-2 and it cleared single portals okay with similar curve radii; close clearance but no hang-up. Then again, a double portal would give you more reach-in room, if Mr. Murphy hasn't mucked up the tunnel itself.

 

The testing with the S-2 was just done on a whim and really no intention to ever use it. I have gravitated toward the smaller power and testing has found that the smaller driver steam with not over 6 wheels works fairly good with little issues if any. And the slow speed seems to be the solution to better operation. The best performers on my tight curvature though are any of the four wheel trucked diesels and the geared steam. In fact my little 44 tonners are flawless in their operation. I have one of three Class A Climaxes that continually wants to stub it toe coming of the incline onto the main while the other two navigate it flawlessly. All three use the 70 tonner mechanism so there may be something that is messing with the truck swivel slightly. Once I am done messing with the layout and track I will probably take it in hand to see what the issue is. And if I can't solve it then it will become a parts donor to keep the other two running.

I only have one 8 drivered loco that handles the track well and that is the, I believe Athearn, old time 2-8-0 with the small drivers. But given the finicky quirks of steam I am leaning more to having an all diesel operation with the geared steam being confine to yard, logging, and other operations while the diesels hold down the main line. In my old age and declining eyesight the diesels will be easier to maintain.

And yes the portal are both on a curve and I should have gone with doubles rather than the singles. And if I decide to replace them it will be so I can get my big track cleaning car through them which is a bit over width and longer so it hangs up. Everything else I am going to use clear them fine. Right now my little self propelled home made track cleaner gets through fine with the Masonite pad.

 

Into each life some rain must fall but in my case it is usually hurricanes and himmacanes. After putting away my first cup of Java this AM I decided to get started on replacing that turnout. Should have been a fairly easy job. West down the scenic material and let it soften then gently remove any track spikes and ever so gently pry it up, Not. Removing the turnout was easy but finding out that due to the angle of departure difference I had to adjust the track separation distance. So the track is out on the outer line all the way from the rail bridge to the end of the spur. Which means the grade crossings are out and I will be cutting and fitting track again in a major way instead of just fitting a piece or two on the one line. Nottafinga. No supervision this AM after the assault their hearing took yesterday they have left me on my own and are busy napping in their favorite spots.

All traffic on the TCC stopped again for major track work.

100_4643=1 by John Moore posted Aug 18, 2015 at 11:16 AM

 

And you were wondering what you were going to do for the rest of the week....

Though the new switch looks good.....

 

Well the work went rather smoothly for a change but did consume most of the morning, but hey I am retired and it is hot outside and muggier than the bottom of an aquarium. Traffic is restored on the TCC but under slow orders through Hog Wallow Junction. And with the new installation of the ST turnouts I have full control of the passing track and both spurs at either ends and the wires reversed on the front track like they should have been. No more electrons butting heads. I can still operate the front track while a slow train travels through the station although everything now goes in the same direction as the controller is set. Have a lot of scenic restoration to do and the grade crossings to put back in and the right water column to be replaced along with the crossing gates and crossbucks. but I am happy for now. Still thinking about those tunnel portals. And the supervision present yesterday showed up at the testing just in time to take credit for the successful job.

100_4644-2 by John Moore posted Aug 18, 2015 at 1:33 PM

The Big Guy just strolled in and loudly informed me that it is time for my senior nap so time to put things away for now and clean up.

 

Happy to hear the electrons are performing as advertised. Just remember, "If at first you Do Succeed, Try to Hide your Astonishment...."

 

This AM I got an early start, without supervision, and replaced the ballast and the grade crossing wood. Also I had gotten rid of the rerailer on the outer track in front of the station and then reconfigured the between tracks platform and reinstalled that. The grade crossing for the bottom track on the right was extended a bit also in the work. When I do my ballast I will wet it after it is been smoothed out with a detergent and water fine mist. Then I use a diluted Elmer's White Glue that will seep through the wetted ballast. Takes about three to four hours to dry reasonably well enough to use the vac to pick up any loose stuff. Should be set well enough after my usual senior nap, with the Big Guy watching my back, that I can then re-install the dirt road and apply some foliage in between the track spaces. I have already checked all my turnout throws to make sure I haven't managed to get any ballast or glue in the works. Hope to make enough progress today to just have to reset the trees and clean track tomorrow. Then I can get back to testing locomotives on the layout to determine which can handle it and which can't. If they will run on this module they will run on future modules as I expand and I can winnow down my loco collection further.

The changes from an aerial perspective.

100_4645-1 by John Moore posted Aug 19, 2015 at 12:26 PM

 

Lookin' Good, My Man...

 

Pardon me if you already know this but you could have trains going in opposite directions if you add a second pack to the bottom side of the selectors.

Doug

 

Something I am aware of with these Atlas selector switches but this section of what is hoped to be a larger layout eventually is just too small for that. Eventually with the final mainline at somewhere around thirty feet and having separate cabs for sections it will be possible for the 3:10 to Yuma to meet the Quarry local at a passing siding going in opposite direction.

 

Good to see it back up and running John

 

Well still not running until the scenic stuff sets up and I can clean the track well including any flangeways that might have a grain of ballast that can cause a hop and derailment. And I took a deep breathe and decided to go ahead with the tunnel widening project while it is down for the sole purpose of being able to get that wide track cleaning car through it. This is the big powered rig with vacuum, abrasive disc, and wet cleaning reservoir and rotary pads. But the rig does need more clearance than a big loco or car especially on a curve. It also is hefty enough to need at least one good puller like an FA or two other locos to get it around the track, but it does a heck of a job and will save me from having to move out the layout every time I want to clean the track until the time comes when the other modules come into being and this tunnel gets abandoned permanently. So some plaster is setting up in my double tunnel portal mold.

 

I was mistaken then. Cleared flangeways certainly are important.
Have any pictures of your cleaning rig? Sounds far more impressive than a ho hum CMX, ha!

Sent from the magical mystery box

 

This is the Atlas car which I believe is made by Tomix.

Untitled by John Moore posted Aug 19, 2015 at 8:01 PM