2019_12_12 Albury gets a reversing loop!

2019_12_12 "Al Day" and we decided to start the reversing loop.

Whilst Al was doing that, I acted as gopher to save him climbing out from underneath. At the same time I spent time fixing point motor singlets (control switches)
That is after searching for the 6 missing ED1 circuit breakers. Damned if I can find them, after searching through every storage box in the studio. They are very happily secured away.
And so I ordered another 10 from USA. This will definitely cause the others to suddenly appear. Damn Gremlins.

Anyway The first renewed power section is about finished. I only need the missing circuit breakers to connect up and test.. I named this one section 3 (or Bus 3) And it has 4 protected sections feeding the branch line from Allanvale to (Helix) Station, all BG. (broad gauge)

As well I made 92 connections and one live frog switch, which was a record considering the morning was so unproductive for me.

I forgot to mention that last week we actually broke all records fitting point motors. Whilst Al completed the Albury track, I built up 20 servo motor point machines, and when he finished his work, I got down under the layout and with Al spotting from above, we managed to fit 19 motors in about 2 and half hours.  That was amazing. And they all work properly.

So at the end of today, Al managed to get the first road of the reversing loop installed, with only the second road left to finish the loop. Actually very productive.

Going to take a break from the layout for a few days, hoping the ED1 circuit breakers will quickly arrive.
In the meantime I purchased a new computer to see if I can get Decoder pro and my sound installations back and working again. I am thinking the little Acer might be the problem.

So lets add some pictures!

 We decided that 36 inch and 34 inch was  the reasonable option. But would The Auscision Daylight and Aurora negotiate it?

 Really nice track work Al.

 He set his office up with all he needed and  cut track, soldered on droppers and laid it down on cork. It was not easy working in there, and the job was tedious, but the results are impressive.

 I cant help myself :(   The Daylight needs good curves  and still can be temperamental.

 So lets depart Albury and see how it goes on the one loop track finished today.

 Because the second loop was not finished, we used the loop track to access the reversing loop.

 The Indonesian points are fantastic.

Te Daylight negotiates the reverse curves with the help of a short piece of straight before it changes direction.

The carriages easily negotiate the curves.

 Close coupled but even so, plenty of clearance here.

 Safely turned around and facing Wodonga. This simulates the missing track to Sydney. Plenty of room in the reversing loop to store The Aurora and Spirit of Progress as well as the Daylight.

Enters main line and proceeds to Albury platform via the crossover.

 I put large radius points here to make sure the cars would be ok.

Now waiting the  Dynon crew ex rest before running down the sg towards Wanganella, its first stop.

Thanks for watching, and comments always welcome, here or on my email address provided on right hand side.
Cheers
Rod Young