Some engine updates and prep for Saturday's operating session.
Back around 2015, I purchased two of the BLI GN S-2 4-8-4 hybrids and both stopped smoking. It appeared to be the smoke unit circuit board so I bought two from BLI (only 36 bucks for both, including shipping).
Installed them and the smoke, is now, working fine.
In the past, I must of added some lead weight to the engine's lead trucks.
All's 'well'.
Testing the mainline before the railroaders arrive on Saturday. For a 'quick' test I like to use the Bachmann's GG-1 as it runs 99 SMPH so the test is quick. The engine was, periodically, stopping. Checked the wheels and the lead trucks were pretty dirty. Unusual in that these trucks are a primary electrical 'pickup'. Cleaned them and the engine ran fine but then the engine was stopping along about 30' of the mainline. Checked the track and it was, literally, filthy. Used a 'bright boy' to clean that section of track since it was accessible.
Figure I'd better clean all the track so got out my track cleaner cars. These are old Ulrich (I believe) track cleaners from the 70's. They have dense fibrous material for cleaning the track. About every 40' or where I can get access to the cars, I just clean and soak the fibrous material in enamel reducer and it does a pretty good job of cleaning the track. It's, probably, been a year since any track was cleaned.
