D&RGW • C&S • CB&Q • UP • AT&SF • CRI&P + SP • MP • WP

Daily Progress & Error Blog

Recording the progress of building the Denver’s RailRoads N Scale layout

All genuine posts are welcomed and will be acknowledged. Please submit your first post by email to: dennis@denversrailroads.com

Daily Progress & Error Blog

Actioned tonight:

  1. Installed wiring from the Command Station to the two PD4 control panels.
  2. Installed 40% of the PD4 BUS.

Immediate Action:

  1. Finish laying the PD4 BUS.
  2. Need to investigate stalling problems at P266 & P303 turnouts
  3. Solve “short” problem running lighted passenger cars.

Ongoing Action:

  1. Wire track feeders from Winter Park to Bond to the PD4 BUS.
  2. Wire PD4 turnouts to temporary connections on the control panels.
  3. When complete lay track from Bond to Craig and temporarily wire.
  4. Lay all of the Grand Junction return loop tracks.

Daily Progress & Error Blog

Actioned tonight:

  1. Cleaned Grand Jct. loop track with just Scotties micro clothes – no liquids – then ran tests.
  2. Two locos (5644 & 6001) ran well except both stalled at P266 & P303.
  3. Need to investigate problems at these two turnouts and to solve “short” problem running lighted passenger cars.
  4. Otherwise looking good for the next phase.

On going Action:

  1. Wire track & turnouts from Winter Park to Bond to temp connections in the control panels.
  2. When complete lay track from Bond to Craig and temporarily wire.
  3. Lay all of the Grand Junction return loop tracks.

Daily Progress & Error Blog

Actioned tonight:

  1. Continued testing locomotives on small circle of track (aka Denver Union Stockyards).
  2. Found loss of power fault and fixed.
  3. Reset Atlas S2 #117 to factory settings – it is now working ok.
  4. Found problem re capital letter to start phases of groups, etc.

Immediate Action:

  1. Continue testing locomotives, creating consists and speed matching.
  2. Clean Grand Jct. loop track and run tests.
  3. Investigate and solve “short” problem running lighted passenger cars.

On going Action:

  1. Wire track & turnouts from Winter Park to Bond to temp connections in the control panels.
  2. When complete lay track from Bond to Craig and temporarily wire.
  3. Lay all of the Grand Junction return loop tracks.

Daily Progress & Error Blog

Actioned since 16th April:

  1. NMRA WA Group painted all of the undersides of the layout Mat Black last Sunday week.
  2. Installed rubber mat flooring ($9.95 per sq. meter from Bunnings) in all of the corridor passageways.
  3. Installed plywood base above tunnel to Grand Jct. loop for Edna mine and tracks. Plywood can be unscrewed in the event of problems with the track below.

Actioned tonight:

  1. Started testing locomotives on small circle of track (aka Denver Union Stockyards).
  2. Going ok until track lost its power.
  3. Atlas S2 #117 is problematic and needs to be factory reset.

Immediate Action:

  1. Find fault in power routing to Denver Union Stockyards.
  2. Investigate and solve problems with Atlas S2 #117.
  3. Continue testing locomotives, creating consists and speed matching.
  4. Clean Grand Jct. loop track and run tests.
  5. Investigate and solve “short” problem running lighted passenger cars.

On going Action:

  1. Wire track & turnouts from Winter Park to Bond to temp connections in the control panels.
  2. When complete lay track from Bond to Craig and temporarily wire.
  3. Lay all of the Grand Junction return loop tracks.

Daily Progress & Error Blog

Actioned over the last 3 days:

  1. Vacuumed entire garage and dusted all surfaces ahead of painting on Sunday.
  2. Have 3L of Black Mat Paint in stock. Purchased an extra 2L as backup.
  3. Purchased paintbrushes and miscellaneous supplies for the NMRA working bee on Sunday.

Actioned tonight:

  1. Cleaned small test circle track – only used Scotties micro cloths, no liquid.
  2. Started testing/speed matching switching locomotives on the small circle of track.
  3. Walthers locos performed very well.
  4. Interesting results for Micro-Trains locos.

On going Action:

  1. Wire track & turnouts from Winter Park to Bond to temp connections in the control panels.
  2. When complete lay track from Bond to Craig and temporarily wire.
  3. Lay all of the Grand Junction return loop tracks.

Daily Progress & Error Blog

Actioned tonight:

  1. Finished wiring turnouts P265-P267.
  2. Sticky track over P264 & P267 seems ok now.
  3. Reinstalled turnouts P311 & P312. Had to solder in place – seems ok. Had to use a Bronze tie strip in order to use a large amount of solder over one of the joins. Need to test the electrical contacts of the turnouts now that they have been reinstalled. This can wait until after Sunday’s NMRA visit.

Outstanding Actions for current phase:

  1. Test UP/CBQ loop for freight running and run test trains on both the UP and DRGW trackage ahead of NMRA meeting on Sunday.
  2. Plan to show trains running to NMRA group before painting bee.
  3. Vacuum entire garage and dust all surfaces ahead of painting. All stuff needs to be above layout.
  4. Buy Black Mat Paint and other supplies for the NMRA working bee on Sunday.

Daily Progress & Error Blog

Actioned tonight:

  1. Wired T503 & T504 with Loops to the BD20s. Tested ok.
  2. Replaced screw terminals for P264-P267 with a solder terminal strip. Easier to access.
  3. Wired 24vDC CDU to local control panel.
  4. Wired P264 – tested ok.

Outstanding Actions for current phase:

  1. Finish wiring turnouts P265-P267.
  2. Find fault of sticky track over P264 & P267.
  3. Reinstall turnouts P311 & P312.
  4. Test UP/CBQ loop for freight running and run test trains on both the UP and DRGW trackage ahead of NMRA meeting on Sunday.
  5. Buy Black Mat Paint and other supplies for the NMRA working bee on Sunday.

Daily Progress & Error Blog

Actioned tonight:

  1. Wired T505 and tested ok.
  2. Connected 9vDC power to solder board for T503 & T504. Only loop wiring and testing still to be done.
  3. Added Brother Labels as required.
  4. Installed screw terminals for P264-P267.

See yesterdays blog for lists of outstanding actions.

Daily Progress & Error Blog

Tonight’s ActionWorking on Power District (PD) 3 being the RG main line from Denver to the Moffat Tunnel on Module 8+7

  1. BD-20 for T407 defective. Negative lead #2 to external LED failed – zero volts. Swapped for a new BD-20 and all is ok now.
  2. Replaced 4 x AAA batteries in CAB 02.
  3. Track cleaned with ACT-6006 on 6th April needed cleaning again. Used CRC-26 this time. We shall see.
  4. Ran the 3 test locos (2110; 3008; 5654) over T505 to T412. Ran ok after a fashion. I think the locos need more running in.

Action Problems:

  1. Wire T505
  2. Connect BD-20s to T504 & T503
  3. Connect turnouts group starting with P264 to control panel
  4. Check sticky power to P264 & P267
  5. Test UP/CBQ loop for freight running (passenger running requires significant changes in wiring) and run test trains on both the UP and DRGW trackage

On going Action:

  1. Clean small test circle track and commence formal running-in of locomotives
  2. Maybe Speed Match
  3. Wire track & turnouts from Winter Park to Bond to temp connections in the control panels
  4. When complete lay track from Bond to Craig and temporarily wire
  5. Lay all of the Grand Junction return loop tracks

Daily Progress & Error Blog

Tonight’s Action: Working on Power District (PD) 3 being the RG main line from Denver to the Moffat Tunnel on Module 8+7

Wired all 6 of the block occupancy LEDs on control panel that are linked to the BD20s.

All worked except T407.

Battery in CAB 02 appears to have failed.

Going forward: The clear yellow LEDs display much better than at first thought. Clear yellow LEDs should be swapped for all of the normal yellow LEDs used for turnout direction in the control panel for Module 8+7.