16
Jun
What’s New?
The other day I was down in the layout room and I decided on some changes. Basically the changes are minor to make future expansion more feasible and looking at a couple of industries. It is something we all do if we have layout. Something does not look just right and something better will fit here instead of there. So I will have a few more things to to do over the summer.
I also have a modeling project. I picked up two brass ALCO Models ALCO T-6 Switchers. The motors are tiny open frame and I just can’t get them to run. I disassembled them cleaned them and lubed the gears. The mechanisms were not that great so I am going to switch out the chassis and drives and just leave the shells. I have an old Proto 2000 SW 9 switcher which I thought would be a good candidate. It will work but there will have to be some serious grinding. The couple pockets will have to be removed and some minor grinding of the motor cradle will also be needed.
This is what I observed:
1. The circuit board or DCC decoder would have to be changed to a smaller one.
2. The coupler pockets on the chassis of the SW9 would have to be ground off
3. The sides of the motor cradle would have to be ground down a little.
4. The cab floor in the T-6 would have to be partially removed
5. The length of the chassis is correct.
6. As with any grinding the motor would have to be removed first.
So in the meantime I am going to look for an Atlas or Athearn switcher underframe and see how they will work.
A.J.
28
Feb
DCC Problems
Just a quick update. After discussion with some friends and local experts on DCC. It was decided that my power supply may be going bad. So for $40 I went out and purchased a new supply and hope to get it installed this weekend or first time I get some time.
My old power supply was about 9 years old and was purchased fron Tony’s Train Exchange via mail order. Tony’s is in Vermont. These first power supplies did not come with and enclosure and so you had to buy one for it. Over the years, I understand that there could have been problems with them. But hey, I had mine for at least 9 years. I don’t know if that is normal shelf life or not, but no complaints from me.
A.J.
16
Feb
The Fun With DCC
Have you ever had one of those days where nothing goes right. Or you have a project you are working on and one glitch leads to another. You end up spending som much time trying to take the easy way out, you end up spending more time than what you would have done if you had done it right in the first place.
What I am talking about here is my test track. I cheaped out on the wiring and used 20 gauge wires. This worked well until I put a locomotive on it that was equipped with a QSI decoder. It programmed well but then when I flipped the switch to have the test track get mainline power, the locomotive did not respond. Frustration sets in.
So I go get my handy voltage detector and start testing everything. Well this story is not over. I replaced all the wiring except for the last foot, with 16 gauge stranded. This did the trick in that all my locomotives worked again, except this one with the QSI decoder. It is not the locomotive as it runs perfectly on the test track. So the problem has to be the last couple of feet of 20 – 22 gauge wire. So next weekend I plan to take out this wire and solder the 16 gauge wire to the track. I hope it works.
I knew that QSI locomotives drew some power, but I never ran into this problem before as the rest of my layout is wired with 14 gauge stranded bus and and 18 gauge drops. You live and learn and waste time in the process. I will let you know how it goes once I solder the 16 gauge to the track.
5
Jan
Updates
Hi all. I have been busy through the holidays both with model railroad and issues not related to railroading and model railroading. What I have done is manage to get the test track under way. I am about 80 percent completed with it. I will have a new programming track, a DCC and a DC test track. Basically it is two tracks that are 10 feet long. The tracks are straight with no turnouts. I am also working on putting in a speedometer so I can balance out locomotive consists. I will have more later. A.J.
