Given we’re into March, for those of us in northern climates (and unheated garages) it’s time to unpack everything from winter storage.
I decided to do a little bit of track work by “paving” the track in my industrial area. (Walthers street insert sets painted Apple Barrel pavement) With a bit of trimming, repurposing etc., I managed to get two packages to just work for my area. However, I didn’t realize the can of worms I’d opened. (Murphy must be a fish.)
I decided to use a different turnout from the one that I had down. I found one that normally wouldn’t be used due to some broken ties. (Not bad enough to throw but not good enough to use.) Installing that wasn’t hard except I had to remove the Duck tape from the machine on the old one. (The way I ballast my turnouts involves Duck tape.) I had forgotten how well that stuff sticks!
Then I went to test the block to make sure the new turnout worked. Of course, the track wouldn’t power up! Arrgh! Tried the engine on another block. Worked just fine after a bit of track cleaning. Got the multimeter. Checked the wiring from the panel to the track for continuity. Fine. checked the switch panel. Fine. Finally discovered another turnout in the block had lost electrical connection at the bushing of the poiint on the common rail (DC block control). That turnout just happened to be the only way the block gets a common rail connection. Didn’t have the correct hand turnout to replace. Thankfully had some terminal joiners on hand and removed the track after the turnout to insert a joiner and connected it up to the common rail wire to restore that. However, that wasn’t to only thing I found in that section. Somehow, I had put an insulator in the wrong spot and two blocks were connected that weren’t supposed to be. Oops, how did I do that? Two birds with one stone as it were. Got those problems fixed without too many more problems. The block tested out fine.
Then I discovered yet another problem. I had misaligned a connection further along in that same block. But of course, the track had been ballasted. Had the isopropyl alcohol handy to loosen the ballast but the track nails were being stubborn. (Handy dandy Mini-mite) Got the nails removed and replaced the track and make sure the connection was correct this time.
Hopefully, I don’t run into too many other problems as I unstuff. I’ve had quite enough already.
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Sounds like a rough go. Since I didn’t experience the frustrations real time like you did, perhaps I can offer an alternative view. All the problems you found and had to fix were all issues that were going to be dealt with sooner or later. You got them all at once, so that’s a win. Better train days are ahead.
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Well said, Mike.
David
We have such an enjoyable hobby! 
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