Model Train Activities
The following table indicates each section within the Daily pages when I focused on my Model Train layout. The oldest event is at the bottom and the most recent is at the top of the table. One has a choice of whether to link to the page or the specific heading within the page.
Goals
1. Set up Ship It! on a separate PC.
2. Run operational trains on layout.
3. Explore PC software (both MRC and JMRI) for DCC operations.
Table of Specific Activities
| Date | Time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2011.12.24 | 8:00 am | Painted wheel stops, adding ballast to mainline track, running session 2 |
| 2011.12.23 | 5:15 am | Notes on early boxcars |
| 2011.12.22 | 5:10 am | Notes on early boxcars |
| 2011.12.21 | 11:00 am | Reading about early rolling stock |
| 2011.12.16 | 11:30 am | Visit Trains & Such in Calgary, buy weathering powders |
| 2011.12.15 | 8:20 am | Weathering rolling stock |
| 2011.12.13 | 9:00 PM | Complete session 2: 7 am - 8 am. |
| 2011.12.12 | 2:30 PM | Buy 2 cars at Model Baron + 16 magazines, begin history timeline |
| 2011.12.11 | 4:00 PM | Complete session 2: 6 am. |
| 2011.12.10 | 4:00 PM | Complete 5 spans for first viaduct kit. Complete session 2: 4 am - 5 am. |
| 2011.12.08 | 4:00 PM | Begin session 2: 4 am. |
| 2011.12.07 | 7:00 PM | Complete session 2: 3 am. Begin building viaduct kits (2) |
| 2011.12.05 | 8:00 am | A few thoughts on next steps |
| 2011.12.04 | 4:00 PM | Begin session 2: 1 am to 2 am. Extend track on two spurs at Wild Rose. |
| 2011.12.02 | 4:00 PM | Update database and Ship It! files to include gondola car, delete 3 old gondola cars |
| 2011.12.01 | 5:30 PM | Bought 1 gondola car at Model Baron + some magazines |
| 2011.11.27 | 2:00 PM | Create operating session orders and run trains for period 9:00 PM to 11:59 PM |
| 2011.11.26 | 9:00 PM | Create operating session orders and run trains for period 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM |
| 2011.11.25 | 4:00 PM | Create operating session orders and run trains for period 6:00 PM |
| 2011.11.24 | 4:00 PM | Create operating session orders and run trains for period 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM |
| 2011.11.22 | 5:00 PM | Create operating session orders and run trains for period 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM |
| 2011.11.21 | 5:00 PM | Create operating session orders and run trains for period 8:00 am to 12:00 PM |
| 2011.11.20 | 7:30 PM | Create operating session orders and run trains for 7:00 am |
| 2011.11.19 | 5:40 am | Display operating session orders for 3:00 am; Run all trains for 5:00 am and 6:00 am |
| 2011.11.18 | 8:00 PM | Run all trains for the 4:00 am period |
| 2011.11.16 | 5:00 PM | Run all trains for the period 1:00 am to 3:00 am |
| 2011.11.15 | 11:30 am | Form consist for Train #601 in the Coaldale Yard |
| 2011.11.14 | 7:15 am | Rerun Ship It for a new operating session, place cars in starting location |
| 2011.11.12 | 11:00 am | Continue creating instructions using new system |
| 2011.11.11 | 3:00 PM | Create instructions for 1:00 am to 5:00 am using a new notational system |
| 2011.11.10 | 4:00 PM | Continue playing with format for detailed intstructions |
| 2011.11.09 | 10:00 PM | Renumber switches on layout. Begin detailed instructions using new numbers |
| 2011.11.07 | 9:00 am | Prepared detail instructions for engineers (1:00 am to 9:00 am) & ran trains |
| 2011.11.03 | 2:00 PM | Complete setup for Jan 2, 1950 operations |
| 2011.11.01 | 2:00 PM | Review Ship It settings |
| 2011.10.28 | 3:00 PM | Clean track, review Ship It settings |
| 2011.10.14 | 11:20 am | Track cleaner tank car arrived. |
| 2011.07.21 | 2:00 PM | Set up Ship It! parameters for better balancing |
| 2011.07.18 | 1:00 PM | Receive MRC wireless computer/Prodigy interface dongle |
| 2011.07.04 | 10:30 am | Session 1: Train #701 from Coaldale to Jasper; Train #400 from Jasper to Coaldale |
| 2011.07.03 | 11:00 am | Session 1: Train #101 from Coaldale to Jasper; Train #100 from Jasper to Coaldale |
| 2011.07.02 | 8:30 PM | Session 1: Train #401 from Prairie Dog to Coaldale; Train #201 heading west from Coaldale to Black Diamond |
| 2011.07.01 | 10:00 am | Session 1: Train #401 heading west from Coaldale to Distillery Row; Train #600 heading east from Jasper (stopped at Prairie Dog) |
| 2011.06.30 | 12:30 PM | Session 1: Trains #200 and #700 heading east from Jasper to Coaldale |
| 2011.06.29 | 12:30 PM | Session 1: Train #601 heading west from Coaldale to Jasper |
| 2011.06.28 | 8:00 am | Download MRC-DCC software onto Dell laptop. |
| 2011.06.26 | 5:15 PM | Complete Ship It! parameters. Place rolling stock on layout, form consist for Train #601 in Coaldale Yard. |
| 2011.06.24 | 3:00 PM | Begin using Balancer program to adjust Ship It! parameters |
| 9:30 PM | Data for all 10 trains is complete. The next step is to "balance" the parameters. | |
| 2011.06.17 | 8:00 am | Trains added to database, some timetables still need to be created |
| 2011.06.01 | 7:00 am | Industries, consignees and shippers added to database. |
| 2011.05.28 | 9:00 am | Databases for rolling stock, locomotives and cabooses now complete. |
| 2011.05.27 | 5:00 PM | Install Ship It! software on Dell Inspiron laptop. Begin creating databases. |
| 2011.05.07 | 2:00 PM | Throttle and base station work fine. Ship It files are missing! Decide to set these files up on a separate PC laptop. |
| 2011.05.05 | 5:30 PM | Receive updated throttle & base station from MRC |
| 2011.04.06 | 5:40 am | Update on sending MRC DCC components to MRC |