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.
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.
Well said, Mike.
David
We have such an enjoyable hobby! 
Thanks for sharing. We all have experienced our fair share of frustrations and setbacks. To cope there’s the hard drinks but probably prune juice works too. Gotta love the hobby!
Further grumbles. I found a few of my lights had gotten damaged. I’d ordered a new package as part of an order for a couple of markdown caboose. That was a challenge to get them replaced.
I had intended to only use two of the three. However, I ended up using all three.
One of the lights had its wiring length shortened because it wouldn’t slide in the extension properly. I just switched it with one of the other ones that could handle the shorter wire and didn’t need the extension.
Got that all fixed but. I still have one old light that isn’t working now. It for too late last night to try to further test it.
Unfortunately I still couldn’t get the light to work when I worked on it. Tried a different light. That one didn’t work either. Guess I put another pack of lights on the get list.
Also started on the engine checkout. (Basically get all the engines powered up and check for any problems that may have cropped up while they’ve been in storage.) That got held up a little with the addition of two engines that had been sitting in a storage pile for almost 5 years. (Came from a collection I was given shortly after I bought my house. Met the person when Mom and my late Dad were living at a senior housing complex.) Once I got them apart, I found they were noisy. Of course, they needed some grease. They also need a few parts to get them in order. Those needs are in process.
A few of those engines tested do need work. Two need couplers reattached. One of those also needed the drive looked at. (Both are older than I am!) One needed to have another layer of Liqui-Tape to its plows. Another needs the shell resecured.
Fun, fun, fun!
Apologies for not continuing on this until now.
Got the lights changed out. Found that the parking lot light just needed the base cricked a hair. With having the extra light, I was able to change out a couple of stubborn yard lights. (Had to carefully modify an extension designed for the old Just Plug wiring to do it but it worked.)
Finished up with the engine run through. Found a couple more engines that needed a spot of grease on the gears to quiet them down. Have about five total engines that need to see the shops. Some are simple involving couplers as already mentioned. A couple trip pins also need adjusted as well. (Can’t find my trip pin pliers of course.)
I usually don’t do any layout work on a Wednesday night. (Work day), however I had a friend make a 5 degree jig for me. I got it tonight and put it on the layout so I knew where it was. When I put it on the layout, I found the missing trip pin pliers! I was able to quickly take one of the engines out of the shop pile as a result. You always find things when you’re not looking for them!