Finally got the track,wiring and track cleaning done on my layout under construction. It was time to run some new equipment, some of which I have had waiting for this moment for a long time. My plan was to test run my command equipment in conventional mode now that I had a place to do so. I know, dumb to wait until things are out of warranty to test, but it is what it is. My plan was to see what equipment would run through some Ross #10, curved #8, #8, double slip switches and a 22.5 degree crossover, all of which should utilize relays for short spaced pickup roller locos, but I had none wired in for this process.
The first surprise was not even with the engines, but with the brand new (ordered last June) KW-L transformer. With all four controls set tightly on zero, as soon as I pressed the "On" switch a conventional post-war FM that was sitting on the tracks fired up. What?!! Turns out the left control arm when "wiggled" just a little while in the off position would allow some current through. The right side handle was okay so I moved the wires and began my running. At least the transformer is still under warranty. But, of course, since it's me, I can.t find the original TrainWorld receipt. But I digress.
The next surprise was my K-Line PRR A5 switcher. I have a copy of a "Jim Barrett in the Backshop" DVD in which he demonstrated how to run additional leads between the engine and tender of a K-Line B6 to utilize the roller pickups on both for smoother running. I was expecting to do the same thing with the A5 with its scant two and one-eighth inch roller spacing, but was pleasantly shocked to see it run without a hitch through every Ross complicated piece of trackwork I had. I don't know, but I guess the A5 came after the B6 at K-Line and they made Jim's connection built in as part of the tether.
Next was a new Weaver PRR 0-8-0 switcher. It has 4.25" roller spacing on the engine and no pickups under the tender. As expected it stalled on virtually everything. Anyone ever change the tender trucks on one of these to something with pickups? Another thing I found with this engine was that the tether was so stiff the loop tended to push the tender off to one side so much it was actually unsightly and caused a lot of derailments.
Then, a Lionel PRR M1a. Wow does that thing look great! It would make it through everything but the double slips even though the roller spacing is only one-eighth of an inch wider than the Weaver switcher. That little bit makes a big difference.
Last test for the day was a Lionel Atlantic Coast Line F3 A-B-A. Still brand new but "waiting " since 1996 I think! Like most diesels with their wide pickup spacing, it sailed through everything without a hitch.
Now I have to break out the Legacy Cab 1L and figure out command control. Is this fun or what? One thing I have heard a lot of lately comes from my now lonely (she says) wife, because "I'm in the train room all day every day." I WILL have to slack off a little, but this IS a race against Father Time after all! Too many work related moves through the years to build any layout let alone that "dream" one. And now I've got ground planes, ballasting, landscaping, etc., etc, to deal with. Oh, man!! Thanks for listening.
Bucky
