And....we are off! ALL/ANY help, appreciated!

@H1000 posted:

Greg, I remember reading or hearing about problems with Realtrax activation tracks not working well with older postwar accessories, specifically those that use activation rails, quite a while ago. I think it was a YouTube video where some showcased the problem. I'm not sure if that is what is happening here with your situation, but if I find that video, I'll share it with you.

Good news!! I moved one of the traces under the track, and tested it again. It worked fine this time. No idea why or what, but all is good. And, the 5 MTH tracks I have all work well. One dumps coal, another logs, and two do milk cans. The 5th is not installed. I run aux power to each via the #2 lead to the controller, so no track power is sapped when they activate. An old Lionel 1033 works fine for power.

Appreciate the feedback, Greg

UPDATE....Well, it is Christmas morning - and I am not finished. Very disappointed, I find I just can't do what I did 12 years ago. I will try to post some picts today of what I have done so far. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Greg

@cngw posted:

UPDATE....Well, it is Christmas morning - and I am not finished. Very disappointed, I find I just can't do what I did 12 years ago. I will try to post some picts today of what I have done so far. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Greg

Sorry to hear Greg. Keep at it......Christmas can be any day you want it to be.

Bob

Christmas Day came Wed, Jan 1.  That bad track plan was finally completed and had visitors New Year's Day. Overall not bad, but here it is a few days later, and still "solving" problems. Post war cars hate switches - never know when those "loose wheels" will derail. Trial dumping of post war coal and log cars worked great, used a 1033 power supply to power and each worked fine. BUT, then after I added the coal and log loads, would not dump. I had not factored in the added weight.  So, now to remove the 1033 and use a Z750 to power them. The 1033 works fine for the milk cars to unload though.

Next thing,  to replace traction tires on engines that have not been run in 12 years (and some new BCR's) and I should be running for the next month or two, until I have to take it down until next Christmas. The track plan also did not allow me to run 4 trains at a time, like i had done in years past - unless I get better with more practice. Hopefully, better planning next time.  Thanks to all who input advice, hard to do this without you. Greg (note that I filled in that hole in the middle with tree landscape.)

The layout looks great Greg! Congrats!
That was a massive undertaking in a very short period of time. Glad you worked out most of the kinks.

Happy New Year.

Bob

I would say it is a success!  It looks great!