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.

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.

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.

Tonight’s Action: Working 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

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.

Tonight’s Action

Fixed P305 Turnout. Problems found:

• Yellow common wire broken
• Orange wire broken
• Push button not working – replaced

Swapped P302 yellow for clear yellow LED. Looks ok but not worth swapping any more.

PD3 on Module 8+7 Action still required

1. Install block occupancy LEDs on control panel – linked to the BD20s.
2. Extend wiring to blocks before and after T407-T412 for testing.
3. More through loco testing including real trains with consists.
4. Repeat PD3 action on PD5 (Booster #3) UP/CBQ main line.
5. Test thoroughly and then start to add scenery.

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

1. Track successfully installed for all of the track blocks T407-T412. All wired and trains run ok.
2. NCE BD-20 track detectors installed for all 6 blocks. 3 loops of solid feeder wire used.
3. After a lot of time waste due to the 9cDV polarity supply being incorrectly identified they all now correctly light on the board when the block is occupied.
4. 2 blocks overnight lost power due to inadequate solder connections. Resolved and all ok now.

Previous completed work on PD3 on Module 8+7

1. Control Panel constructed, plan drawn and all turnout DPDT switches and LED lights installed.
2. Preference would have been for SPST momentary contact switches + Gaugemaster GM500 latching relays. However GM500s failed to work after many attempts and different relays. Gave up and reverted to DPDT switches + push buttons for power from the CDU.
3. All DPDT turnout switches now installed and all working ok except P305.
4. Track cleaned on Tuesday 04/04/2023 with ACT-6006. Appeared to immediately work ok – no stalling. However locos often need a big 5 nudge to initially start.

Next Action on PD3 on Module 8+7

1. Install block occupancy LEDs on control panel – linked to the BD20s.
2. Extend wiring to blocks before and after T407-T412 for testing.
3. More through loco testing including real trains with consists.
4. Repeat PD3 action on PD5 (Booster #3) UP/CBQ main line.
5. Test thoroughly and then start to add scenery.