- May 2
Tonight was a quiet night. John Purbrick ran a train around to test the
system. Ed Drozd worked on a CO2 tank for CocaBubblie, Alvar Saenz-Otero
paid a brief supervisory visit. John McNamara worked on a TNP Superliner
diner of his. Andy Miller worked on his MP54's. Ken Terrell worked on a kit
of his.
- May 5 [pictures]
Back to work! Bill and Malcolm worked on the BK cutoff; Malcolm also
worked on making more plans for the layout. Ed worked on super-detailing
the CO2 tank for the CocaBubblie plant, replacing the plastic walkways
with etched brass parts! He also began to test the clearences of the
helix area, since the helix will present some challenges for re-reailing
trains!
Alvar, James, and Jeff worked full-time on System3. Alvar worked
all day to finish wiring the second Block Card. It is now fully
wired, and awaiting a PIC processor (we're sure he got it right the
first time, sure...) James worked on the software side of System3
and got the advance part of it almost functional, to the point where
Jeff was called in so that the three of them needed to work together
to add 'reverse' feedback from System2 to System3.
- May 9
Malcom made some measurements around the layout. Ed Drozd assembled a train
of auto carriers. Andy Miller worked on a graphical representation of a new
building for Gifford City. By printing out these graphics on our color
inkjet, he can make very attractive mockups. The three aforementioned
people also participated in a mammoth coin-counting exercise. It seems that
with massive construction going on in the building, there are lots of
thirsty construction workers, and the machine needs filling three times a
week. John McNamara, with the assistance of Ed Drozd, worked on one of his
TNP-lettered superliners.
John Purbrick, Alvar Saenz-Otero, and James
Knight worked on programming the System3/System2 interface that will be
used to add System3 control to the Staging Yard while running the rest on
System2 (an interim measure). The call-on feature is now fully operational
with System3; the reverse feedback began last Saturday is also now working.
Alvar also put together the communications board for the original Sys3
block card, so that this weekend we can start testing the two cards.
All three made sure the system was back to 'normal' operation before
leaving late at night.
- May 12 [pictures]
Bill & JP tried different under-the-track permanent uncoupling ramps
for the BK area. JP continued to lay track in the BK cutoff.
Meanwhile, Ed superdetailed both the CO2 tank of Coca-Bubblie, as well as
a new locomotive; he used the locomotive to test the autoracks of the club.
Alvar began work on the roof of the green building. James continued
to work on System 3.
- May 30
Track-laying crews are rapidly approaching Berkmannville! Malcolm Laughlin
cut an enormous number of ties and John Purbrick installed substantial
quantities of custom-colored ballast. John McNamara and Ed Drozd did some
work on their customary projects, the roundhouse office and the
Coca-Bubblie building respectively. Alvar continued to work on the
radomes for the green building, which need to have a nice smooth surface.
He then installed the necessary terminal strips in the S-Yard area so that
all the tracks can be wired. Ken Terrell did his customary thing -
test System 2's ability to acquire blocks faster than his 300 mph Talgo
equipped with a newly-detailed AEM-7.
James and John P. worked on the interface
between the Sys3 software and the cabs that JP built a while ago.
Once this communications links is established, and when the tracks
are wired, Sys3 is ready to be fully tested in S-Yard!!!
Alvar Saenz-Otero handled the sales of our remaining few 50th anniversary
box cars. Bob Walker, a returning visitor from California bought the last
two kits today!