EOFY Update on the GSD

 As most of you know June was a difficult month for me as I had too many balls to juggle to participate in external model railway activities. Whilst I missed the BDR and Wild Creek. It looks like a I dodged a bullet with COVID spreading its tentacles amongst the group. The biggest disappointment in my decision though, for me, was introducing the Eskimos (the northern indigenous people of Adelaide) to the GSD. That event, COVID willing, will occur now on July 17th.

Whilst I may have been AWOL from other layouts, things have progressed on the GSD. Adelaide and Mile End staging trackwork is nearly in. Both are operational with limited manoeuvrability, still some crossover tracks to put in, They both seem to function well. I have not yet put in the point motors so all are digitally operated with the right hand index digit. 

I have divided the trackage into two sections, three tracks are Adelaide Station and three tracks Mile End freight yard.

I came across a FB post on the South Australian Railways HO Scale page by Gavin Thrum on his Adelaide station scene on his layout, and thought to myself, ‘I can do better than that! God what a sloppy modeller’ (for those that don’t know Gavin’s work, its exquisite modelling, extra fine detail all scratch built, very inspirational)

Gavin’s Adelaide from his FB Post

 Then reality set in, who am I kidding, but I thought why not have a go, so based on his achievement, I have set about designing and  printing three platforms of the old Adelaide Railway Station, with a low relief building in the back and the famous Adelaide Station Signal cabin as trains depart. One of the things I love about Gavin’s work is his attention to detail and inclusion of the small things. So I am working my way through designing and printing, the small yard disc signals, power distribution boxes, signal rodding etc etc. 

Adelaide on the right, Mile End to the left.

Scenery

I have undertaken more mountain building and scenery detail, as well as painted some back scenes to add some interest to the layout. My pine forest on the Millicent Branch, whilst not up for any Art prize, seems functional. The addition of scenery material along the track side will soften its harshness. 

My Pine Forest

Motive Power

With the help of Geoff Tynon, I have fiddled with all the locomotives on Decoderpro. All those that were running intermittently are now running very smoothly by turning off BEMF. ‘ Why, you ask, when BEMF is supposed to smooth things out’, well all I can say is ‘that’s Model Railways’.

I am having trouble with the gear towers and wheels on some of my Trainorama 930’s and VR S Class rounding some curves and crossing points. All wheels are in gauge but they just pick the points. They are barstards to get apart, but I will tinker away and hopefully resolve the issue.

Rolling Stock

I received the stone hopper loads for my 3D Printed stone hoppers which are starting to look reasonable. I have not yet found the right screws to hold the bogies on, I was hoping Burfitt or Aztronics might have them at the show, but alas no. Looks like I will have try Temu or Ali Express and guess my way around. 

I had to pack up my spray booth for June so a number of paint jobs await, including my Cafeteria Car, the Green and Cream Insulation car and the remainder of the stone hoppers. Maybe July. 

Traincontroller (aka Railroad &Co)

During June I resolved to increase my knowledge of this product. Initially I thought, screw this,  I want to change as I don’t like the way it drops out during running sessions  and everyone on forums is raving about iTrain. So I down loaded iTrain, drew up the layout, put in the sensors and ran some locomotives, changed points etc, All good. That was the first nine videos of the 108 videos in the training series. I am 73 years old, I fugured I’d be 93 before I got iTrain to the point I already had Traincontroller. So screw that. 

The GSD in iTrain

Calling on the IT knowledge of Geoff Tynon again, he determined I was a Fwit, as I had Traincontroller using two connections to the same Command Station which he thinks (I don’t) were conflicting. Time will tell who is correct. 

Anyway upshot is I am sticking with TC 9 Silver until I get totally p’d off with it.

The GSD in Traincontroller

Operations

I continue to refine how I plan to run operation sessions. I installed TrainOrder boxes in locations where trains start so operators pick their train from the list on the Crew Call Board, go to the departing Depot and pick up their train order. Upon completion they place the Train Order in the box next to the Call Board. 

I plan to stick with Operations Pro in JMRI and Manifest Creator to determine car movement. I continue to develop my knowledge of these great programs to refine the specific requirements of each industry and create interesting jobs for operators. 

A Typical GSD Manifest

Well that’s about it for June. The GSD conquest to develop, and I am truly enjoying the peace this hobby brings to my life. Until next time.

The Commish

Oh one of the stresses I had this month was getting Council Approval for a verandah off the front of the GSD shed. All done and under construction, should be finished tomorrow.