2004 Development Log

30-Dec-04

Crew:
Sophia Norman [ Friday Harbor]
Mark Norman [ Friday Harbor]

• FEC Bridge
• Pack and ship bridges to the layout

29-Dec-04

Crew:
Sophia Norman [ Friday Harbor]
Mark Norman [ Friday Harbor]

• FEC Bridge
• Install diagonal braces
• Install monofilament “tie-rods”
• Assemble side assemblies into complete bridge
• Assemble and install top brace sets
• Install mounting pads
• Install optional gussets

28-Dec-04

Crew:
Sophia Norman [ Friday Harbor]
Mark Norman [ Friday Harbor]

• FEC Bridge
• Assemble three remaining side truss assemblies
• Remove retaining pins from remaining bridge deck
• Cut and file all remaining parts
• Glue various gussets in place
• Assemble mounting pads

27-Dec-04

Crew:
Sophia Norman [ Friday Harbor]
Mark Norman [ Friday Harbor]

• FEC Bridge
• Cut and trim C-C box girders
• Assemble one side truss assembly
• Cut and assemble diagonal braces
• Cut and trim remaining gussets

26-Dec-04

Crew:
Sophia Norman [ Friday Harbor]
Mark Norman [ Friday Harbor]

• FEC Bridge
• Cut and assemble box girder corner angles
• Cut and assemble truss bottoms

25-Dec-04

Crew:
Sophia Norman [ Friday Harbor]
Mark Norman [ Friday Harbor]

• FEC Bridge
• Install X-braces on second bridge
• Trim and file as needed

24-Dec-04

Crew:
Sophia Norman [ Friday Harbor]
Mark Norman [ Friday Harbor]

• FEC Bridge
• Install metal stiffeners
• Install track to bridge deck
• Install X-braces on one bridge

23-Dec-04

Crew:
Sophia Norman [ Friday Harbor]
Mark Norman [ Friday Harbor]

• FEC Bridge
• Spike track to bridge ties
• Assemble bridge floor stringers
• Assemble bridge floor cross beams and intermediate cross braces

22-Dec-04

Crew:
Sophia Norman [ Friday Harbor]
Mark Norman [ Friday Harbor]

• FEC Bridge
• Two Central Valley 150 foot Truss Bridges
• Assemble box girder assemblies.

15-Dec-04

• Rewired and installed decoder in Thomas the Tank Engine for Sophia. Programmed it as “01”. It attempts to run but the gears seem to slip. Purchase lubricant and talk with Chris at Scale Reproductions. Will disassemble and lube. Will give to her after Christmas due to limited time.

14-Dec-04

• South Carolina
• Drew circle for South Carolina staging track reference. It was 6’ in diameter.
• St. Johns River
• Used 12 gauge wire to assist in forming sweeping curve to lay out St. Johns River. Highlight area in chalk to help visualize.

12-Dec-04

• St. Johns river
• Laid two lengths of FEC track. The line is now just short of where the bridge will be. (Christmas with Hedddens. (Limited time.)
• Jacksonville
• Laid roadbed for CSX mainline through Jacksonville and part way up incline to Georgia.

6-Dec-04

• Pantry
• Laid one length of FEC track. The line extends just outside of the pantry.

5-Dec-04

• Palatka
• Installed code 70 spur at Palatka. Looks better.
• Jacksonville
• Install 2% grade out of Jacksonville – CSX. Pictures of Sophia helping. Got a second wind. Laid track through the pantry.

4-Dec-04

Crew:
Sophia Norman
Mark Norman

• Purchase Digitrax reversing controller. Chris says old one from MRC must be defective.
• FEC Bridge
• Layout location for to FEC truss bridges with Sophia.

27-Nov-04

• There are three places on the loop where shorts occur:
• Palatka
• Caused by entering turnout against partially open points. Solution: Install switches motor.
• Central Florida Connector
• Clearance problem. Loco brushes the backdrop causing wheels to misalign. Solution: Realign tracks.
• Clearance problem fixed. Stalls at low speeds. No sort circuit indicator. Testing reveals problem is located at the terminus of the reversing loop. No stall at high speed. Reversing fails below speed 22. Very jerky below 25. Noticeable at all speeds. This indicates the problem lies with the reversing circuitry. Solution: Evaluate using Digitrax circuit instead of MRC. It is adjustable.
• Grand Crossing.
• Bear Fabric carries train fabric on the third floor.

26-Nov-04

• Begin decoder installation in Thomas the Tank Engine (Christmas gift for Sophia). Email www.bachmantrains.com with question.

25-Nov-04, Thanksgiving

Crew:
Sophia Norman
Mark Norman

• Central Florida Connector
• A few dead spots are located and wired with Sophia’s help.
• Implement temporary fix to clearance problems on the Central Florida Connector. Need to reevaluate.
• A handful of shorts occur at turnouts.
• First successful operation of a complete loop around the entire room! Sophia and I scramble to complete. Show off to guests.

24-Nov-04

• Central Florida Connector
• Tested wiring on the Central Florida Connector reversing loop. Despite this wiring being on a dedicated circuit, current is present even though disconnected. Testing done using a grain of wheat bulb to the track.
• Solution: Turnout 326 power feeds were the problem. They were wired before the reversing loop module. Loop successful.
• Violet insulation tape periodically wrapped over the red/white bus fees and feeder wires indicate part of a reversing loop.
• Black insulation tape over any wire indicates a repair.