This week a really nice "Golden loaf" flour hopper arrived. So, it is time for a test ride and a line up with all the other hoppers. This PS-2 Weaver hopper was available local and for some reason most European zero-scale modellers still do not appreciate the quality of Weaver cars, so I got it for a bargain. And because hoppers seldomly ride single, it is nice to have it here.
On the web, there is even a photo of the original hopper and although the original was shaped a bit differently, I do not mind Weaver to have improved the overall appearrance. Furthermore, this hopper was the Weaver club car of 2008. So without being an official member, the hopper is here to stay.

WRS had another Ops Session on Monday night. I forgot to check if it was a full moon, but many strange things happened. It all started when cars began derailing on one section of the railroad. Then the train will break in half. Requiring the train had to stop and go back to pick them up. The Control System decided to take a break. Yard crew not lining up switches for incoming trains. And there are two pictures at the bottom.

Here's a fellow who restored a Lionel 840 Power Station...what a project!

After the Show finished on Saturday, the Crew departed for supper at a local resturant which has a train theme. The Crew include David T, David M, and myself from the Show, and Scott and Derwin who made the trip over from PEI to go to the Show and to do the Tour.

After Supper, we all head up the hill to visit Wayne's Nottingham Sub. (Wayne's blog is listed on the side bar). Pierre also joined the Crew at Wayne's. After a tour of the layout, it was time to operate a few trains.
Then Wayne discussed with us his future plans for his Railroad.


Derwin standing in the middle of the Nottingham Sub, wondering where to start.

Now the Crew, with its new additions, departed Wayne's and headed for David M's Fall River and Eastern. Once arriving at FR&E, David have everyone a tour of the Railroad and discussed his plans for it. Then it was time to operate a few trains. Sorry no pictures, too busy.

Now it was time to head to the WRS for an operating session. The two Davids had to bow out do to other committments. Apon arriving, it was time for a quick tour for Derwin and Scott, who had not seen the layout since the last changes. Then it was down to operations. Scott headed for the paper mill, Derwin ran 302L which services Bartown and Riverside, Pierre headed for Dogwood to operate the local switcher and Wayne ran the mainline trains. After Derwin finished the 302L, he departed with the revised 203S/204N train now servicing Roseton and Greenfield. Pierre after finishing in Dogwood, headed for Roseton to operate the local switching jobs there. Around 11pm the Crews began logging off and heading home.

It was a very busy night for all of us and we had to return to the Show the next day.



Derwin passing thru Dogwood with 203S

Huge collection of images. I can spend hours with this site.

Oh this is huge! Now, how about a 400?

Flyer from Fox Valley Models

I've FINALLY finished wiring all the detector and force-red circuits, and panel LEDs for them, all that stuff. My dwarf signals are complete and ready to install, but aren't in yet.

But - one of the panels also needs to control some of the turnouts for a wye remotely, and since I wired all the LEDs and switches for that, I thought it was finally time to tackle a Tortoise install - for a code 75 small-radius Peco wye turnout.

I used a method from Rich's methods, using some metal tubing and spring wire. I like this because I got to lay track w/o worrying about drilling large holes under each turnout as I went.

So - I've got the first one done now, but not wired; it seemed to go pretty well. I underestimated how difficult it'd be to actually get it screwed into place upside down - and this was the probably the easiest of the places I need these!

Oh well - challenges are good, right? I'll try and get a photo posted eventually.