Comment: I have finished the trip for Train 700, the Distillery Row Local, which began in Jasper and ended at Coaldale. The entire trip involved switching at 7 different towns. This morning's activities involved travelling along the outer mainline, then moving onto the inner mainline and arriving at Queenston. There was considerable switching at Queenston. Not only did I have to setout 5 cars but I had to move some cars that were on the sidings in order to place the cars in front of the required building. This can really get complicated. I love it! I then moved on to Wild Rose where I set out 4 more cars, but this turned out to be relatively easy. Fascinating. I then continued on to Coaldale where I dropped off one boxcar and the caboose.

Session 1i: Train 700 continued along the outer mainline from Pine Ridge with a consist of 10 cars plus the caboose. The consist at this time was PNR 1986 (empty boxcar), CN 242705 (empty boxcar), FGEX 36742 (empty reefer), SB 105 (empty reefer) plus a caboose - GTW 77942.

Arriving at Queenston, the train setout 4 cars at Queenston Cartage:

• SB 105 reefer (empty)
• FGEX 36742 reefer (empty)
• CN 242705 boxcar (empty)
• CN 500899 boxcar (empty).

It then set out CN 171605 stock car (loaded with cattle) at the stockyard pens adjacent to the Swift Meats packing plant.

The train then moved back onto the outer mainline and travelled to Wild Rose. Three cars loaded with grain were set out at the Alberta Pool elevator and one tank car loaded with fuel oil was setout at the Coop Fuel siding.

Finally Train 700 moved down the outer mainline evenually arriving at Coaldale where it dropped off one empty boxcar (PNR 1986) and the caboose.

Comment: This was another enjoyable session.

I am beginning to become adept at uncoupling the cars using a magnetic tool for the purpose. I think this is a much better solution than trying to place under the track magnets at strategic locations. I also find the use of the tool to be "more realistic" as it feels much like the activity a brakeman would use to uncouple the knuckles.

This was the 4th train of session 1 that has now completed its journey. The rolling stock and locomotives all ran perfectly. No maintenance is required.

This time I decided to focus on the operation and did not take any photos.

However I did uncover two problems with the actual layout. One of the passageways (a cutout through the wood barrier separating two scenes) to Queenston is too narrow for a long boxcar. The passageway is on a curve and althought the locomotives and regular 40' boxcars have no problem with the curve, one boxcar that is of a more modern vintage and thus longer length rubbed the side of the passageway. The solution will be to try moving the track about 1/8".

The second problem was overhead clearance for the locomotive at the Swift Packing Plant in Queenston. The solution here will be to insert a couple of thin sheets of cardboard under the building thus raising the roof. Both problems are minor but I had not noticed them before as that particular combination of layout and a specific car had not occurred. There may still be a few more such surprises as I continue to run the trains.

I did feel that the train with 10 cars was a bit too long for the possible use of most of the sidings. I will try specifying a maximum length of 8 cars when I rerun the Ship It program. (I think there is a parameter somewhere that does this.)