Tuesday July 04, 2006 5:45 am Lethbridge Alberta

A. Morning Musings

5:45 am There are a few high clouds this morning. The temperature is +10 C with a forecast high of +30 C and a 40% chance of showers in the afternoon.

I pulled something in my back while pulling out weeds in the driveway yesterday afternoon and it is still bothering me this morning. It looks like I may have to stay away from any activities that involves lifting or bending over for a few days.

I have coffee scheduled for 8:30 this morning and I must remember to attend the meeting this evening of the Lethbridge model train club.

 

B. Plan

Immediate
Health	Walk & exercise	1 hr
Technology	Install drivers for scanner and printer on MacBook	1 hr
Literature	Continue reading "The Time In Between" by David Bergen	1 hr
Model Trains	Visit Lethbridge Model Train club at 7 PM on Tues	2 hr
Later
Chores	Take cement blocks to landfill	2 hr
	Take stuff to Salvation Army	1 hr
	Take 5th wheel in for maintenance	2 hr
	Investigate water softeners for home	2 hr
	Parge area around rear step to garage	1 hr
Technology	Read manual for cell phone	1 hr
	Read manual for MacBook	2 hr
	Transfer music to iPod
	Install Skype on MacBook	1 hr
	digital photography
	try using extender lens and monopod	2 hr
Mathematics	Larson "Calculus"
	Read "The Computational Beauty of Nature" Chap 2	1 hr
	Gardner "The Colossal Book of Short Puzzles"
History	Continue reading "Citizens"
	Watson "Ideas"
Model Trains	Add blue backdrop to layout	2 hr
	Review layout for under the table turnouts
	Wire lower mainline track for a power block
	Fasten lower mainline track to layout
	Draw schematic diagram of track layout	2 hr

C. Actual/Notes

Previous	Model Trains 10	Next
Model Trains Chronology
9:45 PM I am back from my first meeting with the people at the Lethbridge Model Train Club. Here are a few points that I made note of: go slow it might be a good idea to start with 2 terminal track sections on the lower mainline and see how this goes. Then add a few more as I get more comfortable with this. begin by tacking down the track and test this for awhile try running a train on the mainline and get used to switching to the sidings. focus on running one train well. Don't worry about running more than one locomotive at a time until much later do more reading about using DCC to control switches. This may be too much of a power drain or too expensive. It may make sense to control all switches with a control panel and use DCC for the trains. I could then have a control panel for each yard or siding. I want to think more about this and look for additional information on using DCC to control turnouts. buy an NRMA gauge the next time I am in Calgary. See what they say about terminal strips. Now that I am home, I can google a few sites. Here is a very useful web site for wiring: http://www.wiringfordcc.com/track.htm#a7 Here is a web ring for DCC: http://n.webring.com/hub?ring=modelrailroading Here is the site for NCE DCC systems: http://www.ncedcc.com/ncetest/nce2.htm Here is the site for MRC DCC systems: http://www.modelrectifier.com/ I really want to read as much as I can about terminal strips. I want to be crystal clear in my own mind about exactly what my wiring will look like. 10:40 PM

 

D. Reflection