Daley Train Log
Page 16
I placed the yellow wheel stops on my layout this morning. This took a little longer than I expected as I moved a few sections of track around at the same time in order to maximize the use of different lengths. But I think the net result is a definite improvement to the layout. The yellow wheel stops simply look better than the end bumpers from Atlas.
I received a couple of replies from my posting asking about the proper way to determine if a car is "free rolling". The answer was that it should roll naturally on a 2% grade. I noticed that the Woodland Scenics incline foam pieces are a 2% grade, so that was easy to set up for testing my cars. The first three cars I tested were: one excellent (CN 552942), one bad (CN 539027), and one so-so (CN 524270). I changed the wheels on CN 539027 and I would now rate it as so-so. I am disappointed that it is not excellent. I think I have to work more on the trucks.
While going through my boxes of stuff, I noticed that I have 2 Caboose Industries 204S High Level switch stands. This will be enough to get me started and verify how this is going to work.
I have found a superb web site ( http://home.cogeco.ca/~trains/rrhome.htm ). This is created by a retired mathematics professor in Ontario. There was a link on that site to another excellent web site ( http://www.housatonicrr.com/yard_des.html ). This can be time consuming! I am getting some ideas for my web site as well as learning more about model trains.
I decided to try my first realistic operation: Coaldale to Black Diamond to pickup gondola car 44700 (loaded with coal), then drop the car on the unloading platform at CoaldCash Heating in Prairie Dog. The loco then returns to the Coaldale yard.
This was so much fun that I ran a sequel: Coaldale to Black Diamond to pickup gondola car 44810 and an unmarked gondola car (both loaded with coal), and return to the Coaldale yard, dropping the cars off on the arriving track.
Each operating session took about an hour. The hardest part for me, is making the switching of the turnouts realistic. This means dropping off and picking up a Trainman every time that I need to throw a switch.
I then assembled a kit of trees: 18 decidious and 9 pine trees. This took about 2 hours. But I am pleased with the results.