This is the maiden voyage train over the new shelf modules exactly as it was set up. I had my Lil Joe on the train at first, but thought more wisely, I was running the F7 around and decided, meh, I’ll couple up to it just like that. There ya go.
That’s my South Shore Michigan City module getting the workout, some initial checks already had me pulling out the Central Valley guard rails on the turnouts and replaced with real rail guard rails, the CV guard rails are not at rail height, and everything was floating off derailing. That fixed my Lil Joe was running super over it with the set of cars you see. BUT, the F7 took the first trip over the new modules and track.
Brand new modules here the front ones finished today and already running stuff on it. I didnt even spike down the track and the train ran fine over it.
The MC module in the back has a raised part on it, that the South Shore again (planning ahead again here) as it loops around rises to that and is supposed to end up with a switching puzzle area where the reverse curve is. That switching puzzle area is being represented from a real South Shore industrial area just on the west side of South Bend, IN, just east of the Amtrak station and former SS Bendix station.
The reverse curve is about where the Nickel Plate line will run at. To make this test work I had to trick wire the module or else I would get a short because in normal operations it wont be a looped as I have set it up here, I can continuously run a train now across the diamond. This is for testing purposes for the modules and the trains. At this point now I will be working on cars and equipment and some module testing for the MC module and finalizing its work.
Thats the other end of the modules, it has 2 inner test loops, the innermost with a 12 inch radius for streetcar te
The ole 5 finger hook plops them on the layout, I have now shelf stored most of it now, I have to work on leveling out the modules, some pretty good bumps between them. Those modules will turn into the Burnham Yard of the South Shore.
NWSL Joe originally Milwakee road being South Shored, err, it never had the MU connects so makes me wonder. Wasn’t painted, started some on it, think I’ll redo it.
I Most of the track here is handlaid, I decided to use the Central Valley switch kits to get the tie and rail detail. I am finding issues with the guard rails being too low, so my own guard rails get used. The switch points presumably don’t need any done to them but it looks like I have to file them down to a finer point as the wheels pick on them and want to derail. This is about the only place serious handlaid is happenning because of the unique track design to fit everything in and to match the real scene. The trackwork is a reasonably good setup of the NKP/CSS&SB interchange which includes the very light curves in the yard.
My concept is to try to avoid the obvious parallel to the layout edge railroad and vary it for interest. For a small module I fit the interchange in very well. I actually handlaid the crossing but decided on the Walthers crossing for better detail but makes me suffer with no power frogs. I’ll work it out making my equipment try to get power from all wheels as possible. My brass 700’s pick up power one side each truck, I’ll have to add pickups for it, I did that already for the Joe you see. Smooth slow running engine lots of power. I’ll be looking into DCCizing it with sound somehow.
Whew, I got down and dug in and finished wiring and testing and got the MC module fully functional, I could run an engine over all the tracks. For a module started years ago, thats an accomplishement. I never thought I would get it to this point. After some testing however, I was dissapointed with the central Valley switches for the #5 crossover interchange switches, I bought some #5 Shinohara turnouts (with isolated frog) replacing the Central Valley kits switches. This was more of a trick as I had to cut into the turnouts to get the tracks to match. I had a spacing problem also as the 2 tracks were too close cars clipping the adjacent track, thats fixed now with the 2 Shino turnouts, not connected to the switch machines just yet, do that later. I sacrificed some handlaying work but getting better running in exchange and really needed for where the switches are. The other Central Valley turnouts are fine. I’m planning making a movie and posting up to Youtube to share when all is done with a test.
