Isolation worked ... kinda!

I'm happy to report that isolation, as described in the previous post, worked in partially determining the power problem and preserving (after a fashion) my sanity. Simply, a different engine runs just fine on each of the throttles; the "problem" unit does not run on either. Thus, the problem - still to be determined - lies with the one unit, but now I can take it to one of a couple of Digitrax "experts" I know and get it fixed. I have called Home Depot and put the chain saw order "on hold".

Operation Lifesaver Trip

Several of us went on a UP-sponsored Operation Lifesaver trip between Pacific, MO and Washington, MO today, a trip of just under two hours. The push/pull operation had a Heritage Unit, painted for the Missouri Pacific, on one end. Weather was rainy, photography certainly not optimum, but a fun trip.

Tomorrow, it's back to the model railroad, and installation of the final 6-7 feet of track and three turnouts on the upper level main line. The saga of getting the Digitrax to work properly continues; tomorrow is "isolation" day, i.e., changing the throttle and keeping the same engine, changing the engine and keeping the same throttle, and changing both. If none of that works, there may be a chain saw in my future (just kidding ... I think).

P & LE Makes Acquisition

The Paducah & Lake Erie has made an acquisition from the defunct Buckeye Western Railroad, purchasing two engines, a GP 40 and a GP 40-2 (both Atlas), and four pieces of rolling stock, a 50' box car, a high-side gon, and two MOW cars. The engines are slotted for yard work, and the rolling stock will be integrated into the P&LE operations. Now, on to track laying.

Time Out for a trip

I've been away from the railroad the past couple of weeks on our annual trip to the Horseshoe Curve area and the Cresson PA B&B with friends Ken Heyl (Ashland, OH), Stan Swope (New Philadelphia, OH), Allen Silverberg (Lexington, KY), Jim Martin (Selkirk, NY), and Dick Perry (Corning, NY). My photos from the trip can be found at http://billlinson.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=56356. My trip started in my hometown of Attica, IN, and this photo shows a westbound NS mixed freight knocking down the signal at the east edge of Attica on what was the old Detroit-to-St. Louis Wabash line. Track laying work on the P&LE renews tomorrow (Friday).

Fuel & sanding facility

Trackwork continues on the P≤ top photo shows the turnout that will lead to a coal-loading siding; bottom photo is of the turnouts at the fuel and sanding facility at the entrance to the yard at Paducah. The middle turnout that appears to direct the track off the benchwork will lead around to a large yard on a 16-foot peninsula; the turnout coming out of the curve leads into the fuel and sanding island; the turnout at the bottom of the photo comes back into the mainline.

Back In Business

After nearly three months hiatus, I'm back in business ... sort of. Getting back to laying track for the Paducah & Lake Erie, I quickly ran out of rail joiners. No problem, right? Wrong! A quick visit to my favorite hobby shop found them out of the preferred -- Atlas Code 100 Rail Joiners -- and the explanation that they had been back-ordered the last three times the hobby shop owner had requested them and that they were "on a container ship somewhere between here and China." Why didn't I try the Peco brand rail joiners he suggested, adding "They fit a lot tighter than the Atlas brand, you'll probably need a set of needle-nose pliers to install them." I bought a couple of packages, brought them home and immediately tried to use them. Forty-five (45) minutes later, I still had not joined the first piece of track. Gave up. Went to another hobby shop. They, too, were out of the Atlas brand. Last week, on a completely unrelated trip to a small (20,000 pop.) Kansas community, found a hobby shop that had two (countem' 2) packages and immediately snapped them up. NOW, I'm back to laying track, and anyone wanting three packages of Peco Code 100 track joiners can have them by paying the postage. Photos of continued track laying to follow in the next couple of days.

Kudos ... and whatever's greater!

I have to mention the temendous help provided by four people. David James of Brecksville, OH, decided that St. Louis was "on the way home" to the Cleveland area from a meeting in Sioux Falls, SD; thank goodness he has a better sense of direction when routing the bus fleet he and his family own. His 27 hours in two days work on the helix, electronics, and laying track is appreciated far more than I can ever say. Ken Heyl of Ashland, OH, drove the 500 miles (he came a more direct route) to St. Louis and spent the better part of four days helping with bench work and the helix. Ken is the guy who got me away from the model railroading magazines to actually building a railroad almost 20 years ago and has been there to help with three different layouts, but never more than with this latest effort. Bob Gouirand, a neighbor from just up the street, who has never been involved in the slightest with model railroading, showed up one morning with his pick-up truck and said, "... let's go get lumber and start building this railroad you're always talking about." He's been here almost every day since, building bench work, sawing, measuring, inserting drywall screws, and shaking his head at these model railroad guys. I think we've recruited a convert. Fourth, finally, and certainly not least, is my wife Sue. She has done nearly all the painting, starting a year ago when I was too beat down with chemotherapy to get out of bed, and as the accountant of this circus, watching with gracious good humor the $$$ outflow a project like this entails. Without these four, this railroad would not be happening.

This will be the last post for a while; I'll send out an email when it resumes, or you can check back periodically.