Got a lot of new equipment, all aimed at making working switching puzzles easy on the layout. Got a new Legacy 990, WiFi module, PH180 and transformer so I'd have AC power, a couple of uncoupling tracks, two Vision line sets (reefers and stock), and another remote/command switch. Got the layout converted from Christmas and added a simple yard (a little too simple).
First my track inventory was off somehow. Either that or some Fastrack is hiding or was misplaced in the recent moves. Hard to do much when the turnouts lead to nowhere. Eh.
Hooked up the new power and added the new switch, replacing a manual switch that was hard to reach. Thought I was screwing up the programming until I realized the dang thing just wouldn't straighten out -- not working right out of the box. Dang.
The LCS app on the iPad worked immediately. Just gave each switch an ID and presto. A lot to explore here.
Happy that the electro-couplers on the VL cars all worked now that I had AC power, so that was nice.
Turned the transformer voltage down to 75% or so thinking this would equate to a safe maximum speed for the switcher. Assuming that 75% of a PH180 < than fixed output of the old DC wall-wart was a bad idea. The switcher engineer failed to "negotiate the turn" and rolled off the track. I failed to replaced the guard around the track after removing the "snow blanket" from the train table -- so it went all the way to the tile floor! It landed nearly perfectly on its trucks with a pop. It bent the "fender" in against the wheels and when I attempted to straighten it, it popped off. Thankfully, this appears to be all the damage. Operates normally and everything works. Wondering what the best way is to reconnect it to the two tabs that screw onto the underside of the frame?
The uncoupling tracks like the extra power and so far work very well with all the freight cars I have.
I'm a little unsure about the GW-180 operation. I'm sure it is user error but lots of new buzzing and "bad" sounds when something goes wrong. With the old wall-wart, the power would just go off to the track until the problem was fixed and then everything resumed normally with no user intervention.
Off to get some cheese to go with my whining.
