Report No.7

I got the crossing done before it got in the hot sun this morning. Had to add a few 10ths %  last 3 ft near the crossing to get the grade crossing flat w/ the path, about 4.25%. 
Late afternoon I tested w/ train Mixed 21 being pulled by No.15. Pulls just fine, even when I switched out the tank car for another heavier LGB boxcar. No.15 is a 4-6-0 from an old Chattanooga set I bought new years ago. I rebuilt it last spring w/ new running gear and metal rods from Bachmann. Still has its sound card, but modified the pickup for 4 chuffs per rev.
No.8 really needs sound!

Bachmann coupler fix

As I said in report No.5, I would post this fix that works for me.

💀Liability/ safety warning. 👉I am not liable for your accidents, damage or misuse during this fix. Tools are sharp and can cut you or other things, 💩, always follow the tools safety instructions first. 👷

Having troubles w/ your Bachmann couplers uncoupling or not letting the pin drop to lock the knuckle?

Yea, there are better couplers for operation and looks, but unless someone wants to buy me 30+ pairs at $10.00 +- a pair... That's another locomotive.

Well this is my fix for those issues.
It is easiest do this w/ the coupler still attached to a truck, but the truck must be removed from the car.
1-Find a piece of 1/8 square wood or plastic to hold the knuckle open as in picture.

2- You will be taking slices off the RED face using a #11 blade in your hobby knife. This RED face is what keeps the pin from dropping until the other knuckle pushes it past the top pin ledge. Thus won't lock or makes pin pop up and uncouple. ✋DON'T START, READ ALL OF #3 FIRST, YES YOU!

Area painted for clarity. Left coupler has plastic pin, right has metal.

RED face you will be slicing a little off.

3-It works best if you push your blade down from the top with the point facing the inner void and the rear of the blade resting on the top of the knuckle. Slide the blade towards the void, slicing the red area about 1/64th. Then use the point to free the red slice where the red face meets the white face. Make sure the face you cut is smooth w/o any burs that can hang up the pin dropping.
WARNING, test before taking another slice, too much will make the knuckle stay open too far and slip apart=uncouple.

4-To test, I have an extra truck w/ coupler that works ok to test the pin drop on ALL cars, I make it so the pin drops with moderate pressure and within a half a second of the test coupler pin drop. Repeat #3 as necessary.
Also, Bachmann couplers have plastic and metal pins. In picture above, left one is plastic, right is metal. The metal ones work better. The plastic have a large hole on side of pin and a seam on very bottom, metal has a very small hole in top of pin, flat on bottom.

Good coupling.🚃🚃

Report No.6 "Elvis has left the building."

I mean the track has left the yard.
Yes it finally has crossed under the fence,(not a prison fence, its my copy of a Japanese tea garden style w/pine instead of bamboo), heading for Angels.
Its dropping 4% down to a level crossing of a foot path. There I will put down concrete stepping stones to secure the track too. I plan to do that every 5 ft or so to keep it from moving from thermal stresses.
Tested it w/ 6 heavy cars and short caboose No.7.  No.8 pulled w/ no slippage.
I'm using a 4 ft level w/ a 2 inch block taped to the bottom end to check 4%. I've tested 5% w/ 5 cars and caboose. No.8 just starts to slip.
When I get Shay No.10 running, it should pull a lot more.
But max length on this section from Jamestown to Omega siding is 5 cars anyway, the longest allowed on the whole branch.

Report No.5

Tested east main and main siding w/ 8 cars and No.8. Track was semi connected together. Don't like the small radius switch to the main siding, so will try another w/ larger radius this week. Also made some switching moves for fun. 

One of the stock cars kept uncoupling, I have it fixed and will post on how to fix/adjust Bachmann couplers later.                             

Pulling 8 cars from east main.

Only room to pull 4 cars.

Report No.4

Installed turntable turnout and mainline turnout last Sunday 9-2-18. Worked on west mainline during week and installed track. Worked on east mainline and siding grade today.

Combine 5 sitting on turntable leed. Turnout to right is mainline looking toward track east.

9-10-18
Coach 6 on yard main.
The dirt is like cement and takes a lot of water to soften, may wait to make cut for oil spur.