almost cute.
It is cute compared to the 0-4-4 outside frame forney that it will probably work with if I can get all of thier issues sorted out. they are both happy on the narrow gauge track but have occasional problems with the dual gauge .
After some extensive testing I went to put it away via the dual gauge turntable and found that my dual gauge turntable has no power to the rails. I got power to the turntable's leads, and I have continuity between the rails on the stock turntable, and the dual gauge deck I have scratch built on top of it, so the internal contacts between the base and the deck of the turntable are bad.
This is bad, as the track overlaps the base, so removal of the turntable for repairs will cause me to have to tear up trackand roadbed. most of the leads are flextrack, but the dual gauge approach , with it's draw to center the narrow gauge tracks between the . Also I have only had one of these apart, they aren't made to come apart, and are the very devil to get back together.
as a temporary fix, I can run jumper wires directly to the rails, but then I won't be ab;e to make a complete turn. this won't be a problem with the standard gauge engines, as this is geared locomotive territory, and I always run mine nose uphill to keep water on the crown sheet.
Four levels down I worked on tome track and electrical issues on my southern staging yard. the electrical problems were due to poor design of the gaps needed with power routing switches. I got all three tracks of the first section working well with the main Southern interchange locomotive, a very fine Proto 2000 USRA 0-8-0. This work though did expose a deficiency in this extroardinarily nice locomotive. I use under the tie magnents for magnetic uncoupling, and have them set in place to use the delay feture of the K-D couplers, where the couplers are pulled off center over the magenent, allowing you to push the cut of cars from that location without re coupling. the proto 2000 magnetic couplers do not have this feature, and thus need to be replaced.
Here is a picture of the defective dual gauge turntable (I'll have to try shootind some contact cleaner under the deck and praying for a miricle, before I tear it out ).
there is also a photo of the Southern interchange engine down in the southern staging yard; and a from the ceiling view showing Ridgemont, Montgomery frunace, the log camp @ Murray , and the Southern staging below that. Gegoukayoosa, on the narrow gauge is one level up.
The navigation seems to have changed, making it hard to find the logging/minning/industrial section Have we offended in some way?
Bill Nelson