Still trudging

As mentioned before, work is slow but going forward. Reporting marks are on the sides of the first flat car. The running gear is assembled as well. The car deck is mostly done too. The two flat cars are M&O. The gondola cars are Pere Marquette but will be retired and replaced with GM&O gondolas. Omscaler feels that these are much more appropriate. As a side note, omscaler went to the semi-annual train show in Gadsden, Alabama this past Saturday. The show was really good. A lot of scenery has been done on the permanent layout located in the Mary Hardin Center. As a further side note, the new Attalla Museum was open and omscaler enjoyed meeting the curator and other staff and volunteers. If you are in North East Alabama, you should plan a visit. More updates next post and thank you to readers for checking in, omscaler

 

Fine tuning and car upgrades

Omscaler has continued to work on the Alto Pass module. It seems that the drive cord is disengaging. A solution is planned and will be added soon. The four rail car upgrades are being worked on with an M&O flat car being the first one. Work progress has been slow due to outside responsibilities but more consistent work is planned. See readers next post, omscaler

 

Still moving along the “Alto” grade

As of last week, a five-car peddler freight made regular runs on the module. Operation is adequate but needs fine tuning still. The next module phase will be the Alto Pass station and senery. At this point, a side trip to upgrade two gondola and flat cars to current standards will be taken. Thanks to all readers for visiting, omscaler

 

Getting the railroad moving

Successful test runs of a locomotive (2-8-0) with tender and a single boxcar have been made. To get to this point, I had to backtrack quite a bit. First was a redo of the connecting linkage. Then an alignment check of the track bed. The planned drive gear was abandoned altogether. What is working is a half inch “pin comb” which is manually pushed into the drive cord at a somewhat distant point from the train. This is simply moved along the track. Goofy but it works. At this point a small “peddler freight” consisting of two boxcars and one covered hopper are operating on the Alto Pass module. Testing shows that the “drive” curved section in needing an upgrade. This will be worked out soon. Next on the drawing board is an upgrade of two each flatcars and gons. The planned drive unit is believed to require a spur gear of a material yet to be determined. A rigid bushing and a fixed axle. Much more complicated than omscaler was hoping. It is believed that in time a solution will present itself. See our faithful readers next post. Until then, omscaler

 

Unexpected development

Omscaler continues working on the drive unit for the Alto Pass module. The last “bench test” was very promising. At that point, omscaler decided to conduct a live operation. Correct movement of the equipment was seen. Very promising. However, and this is an important however, the drive cord rode up out of the drive train chamber. This effectively disengage the drive unit unintentionally. Uh-oh. Looks like omscaler will have to install a angular guide on the side wall of the chamber. As we say, “More work to do”. See readers next post, omscaler

 

More work to do

Last week saw the completion of the toothed drive. However, when the drive was attempted to mount, a misalignment was encountered. Omscaler is thinking that by next post, readers should be informed about a successful test run. A lot of non-Omega Scale interference was seen last week. Omscaler is counting on less this week. We will see, omscaler

 

Is this a tortoise race?

It seems like it to omscaler. Once again, last week was super busy with non-OSR stuff. However, as this post is being written, the toothed contact surface is being applied to the drive disc. This is applied in two sections with drying time between glue application. Hopefully by next post, this drive unit will have been tested and be up and running. Keeping tortoise fingers crossed, omscaler