02-29-2016, 04:31 PM
So, this weekend I managed to run the first operating session on my layout now that the scenery is nearly completed. Definitely time for a celebratory beer!
Nearly everything ran without any faults (not that surprising given the very simple electrics!) However, three cars had some issues - two have coupler issues, and one has a wheel gauge problem. They are now on the workbench to look at repairing. Overall, running the layout as an inglenook puzzle switcher was really good fun, and a full operating session took over an hour to complete at prototypical speeds with consideration of basic safety practices as well. That is pretty good going for a 4 foot x 18 inch layout! (plus 4 foot hidden staging) In the future I will run the layout in a more prototypical fashion, switching corn syrup cars, but I will need to get more corn syrup cars to do that...which is expensive given that I have to import most of them from the USA/ Canada.
Nearly everything ran without any faults (not that surprising given the very simple electrics!) However, three cars had some issues - two have coupler issues, and one has a wheel gauge problem. They are now on the workbench to look at repairing. Overall, running the layout as an inglenook puzzle switcher was really good fun, and a full operating session took over an hour to complete at prototypical speeds with consideration of basic safety practices as well. That is pretty good going for a 4 foot x 18 inch layout! (plus 4 foot hidden staging) In the future I will run the layout in a more prototypical fashion, switching corn syrup cars, but I will need to get more corn syrup cars to do that...which is expensive given that I have to import most of them from the USA/ Canada.