Comtrain goes H0! H0! H0!: Addendum to 2020_05

2020/05/04

Addendum to 2020_05_04

2020_05_04 A few hours later.....

Well I never actually found the cause, however I have decided it was one of these plugs

These plugs make a nice solid connection, however the Tortoise machine decided to use a narrower non standard plug, didn't they? Here the plug is centered and operates ok.

This plug is off center, which shorts out the power wires

These plugs come in many variations. However 8 years ago,this was the plug available and I bought sufficient to operate my 30 Tortoise switch machines.
I do believe a new "blue" plug can be purchased now that fits the Tortoise snugly and cannot create these problem shorts.

I removed all the plugs from the local Tortoise's and reset them, and when I reconnected the one that burnt my wiring, the short was gone.

All fixed and trains running on this section once again
Cheers
Rod

1 comment:

Argyle10/5/20 10:35 am
Rod, I have heard of regular problems with the PCB connectors not connecting properly and as a consequence certain switching functions of the Tortoise fail to operate. This is the first time that I have heard of a direct short occurring between the two motor wires. Very disturbing!. Of course the 25A unprotected power source is partly responsible. Please contact Circuitron to make them aware of this design fault as/if the Tortoise spacing is non-standard. There is a solution to this problem. Either widen the PCB with shims so the connector cannot move sideways or apply shims inside the connectors to the same effect. Cheers for now, John.
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About my Railway

The Australian National Railways was established by the Whitlam Federal Government following a commitment made in the 1972 election to invite the states to hand over their railway systems to the federal government. In July 1975 Australian National Railways was formed taking over the operations of the federal government owned Commonwealth Railways.

The state governments of South Australia and Tasmania whose railway systems were deeply in debt, accepted. During the next two years discussions between these two states and the federal government resulted in a number of staffing and operating agreements being made that resulted in all South Australian Railways services (except for the Adelaide metropolitan passenger network) and all Tasmanian Government Railways services transferring to Australian National Railway in March 1978, the latter being re-branded AN Tasrail.

At first Victoria declined to hand over its Railways, however a change of Government after Bolte retired meant Victoria could be absorbed into AN as well.
Despite doing everything they could to tarnish ALP leader Clyde Holding, The ALP were able to defeat Hamer who was seen to be just another Bolte, doing more of the same into the future.

Clyde Holding handed over Victorian Railways to the Commonwealth where it prospered as a division of AN retaining its VR colours until later when AN decided to re-brand it as V/Line.

My Railway thus reflects what could have been ;)
And of course National Rail (Pacific National) has no place in my little scenario. Australian National was never privatised and has continually taken East Coast loads off the Highways. As well many branch lines were upgraded and Whitlam's policy of decentralisation actually moved employment to towns with a ready pool of workers, which of course took the pressure of Melbourne which was starting to expand as bush kids moved away from the Country in search of education and employment ( just as Gough Whitlam envisaged it would do)
Rod Young

Comtrain goes H0! H0! H0!

2020/05/04

Addendum to 2020_05_04

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