Eighton Bahn AKA testing testing RhB

Yesterday, tried a longish freight, so much so that the only loop it would fully fit in was the Dead Ctr Horseshoe loop, causing pathing problems for the operating department...

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There was also a problem of the Navigators and the reciever not talking to each other for a while, causing all sorts or problems, but it was sorted so the final passenger train of the night could run...

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...I bet you the station staff were all locked up and out the door, befor the train had cleared the bridge.
 
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A day, well afternoon of Croc action today...

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...as well as the appearance of some strange blue marks that have been noticed in the past...

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...all part of a plan to create a sort of pair of reversing loops as it were. Very much an on the back burner project, (may even be one for next year) due to financial constraints, with the cost of components, required.
 
Track works today, to try and fix a dodgy out of alignment (horizontal) track joint. It has been pointed out that I may have been overthinking the problem, as my first thought was to replace the rail and eliminate three rail joints, but I decided to go with changing the fishplate as a first go.

Now this sort of work normally attracts those photo opportunity guys, and today was no exception...

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...if they only put as much effort in to doing something rather than posing for it, but that's not going to happen any time soon.

So with the works done, came the time to test it...

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...now as part of the testing, also took the opportunity to check the Navigator/RC range from the far end of the garden, so why not also take some pictures from that end, as I don't normally do so...

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Freight service sunday today, not a passenger train in sight...

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...all going well until my 99.99999% infalible non patented point return route setting spring thingy wasn't, the only derailment in over three hours of running...

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Sorry Chris Vernell Chris Vernell that has gone straight over my head.

More freight running today...

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...including a strange shunting movement...

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...management decided to park up one of the Croc locos on Collings Junction, just in case...

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...now if you didn't notice anything amiss in the previous photo, then neither did unitl it was too late, so that was the MPD and platform 3 blocked, good job someone decided to park that Crok elsewhere...

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...not the only problem, the front coupling on No.3 has been stuttering for a while, more hit and miss, but today it failed altogether...

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...now if you want to know what the Massoth MkI autocoupler guts look like, then there you go.

So I am now on the look out for a direct replacement, but the MkI version looks to be as rare as hens teeth, and I only need one, but I may have to bite the bullet and look to get a pair of the Mk2 version.
 
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Sorry Chris Vernell Chris Vernell that has gone straight over my head.

More freight running today...

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...including a strange shunting movement...

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...management decided to park up one of the Croc locos on Collings Junction, just in case...

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...now if you didn't notice anything amiss in the previous photo, than neither did unitl it was too late, so that was the MPD and platform 3 blocked, good job someone decided to park that Crok elsewhere...

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...not the only problem, the front coupling on No.3 has been stuttering for a while, more hit and miss, but today it failed altogether...

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...now if you want to know what the Massoth MkI autocoupler guts look like, then there you go.

So I am now on the look out for a direct replacement, but the MkI version looks to be as rare as hens teeth, and I only need one, but I may have to bite the bullet and look to get a pair of the Mk2 version.
Yeah...that doesn't look fixable.
 
Replacement MkI auto coupler (pair) has been sourced via P&S Hobbies, Scarborough. So a direct replacement and one spare instock for future needs.
So No.3 has entered the workshops for initial prep pending the arrival.

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...the rest of the fleet remain parked up...

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All now re fitted and back in service, remote uncoupling test conducted by running around in the various loops on the railway, whilst I stood some distance away.

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Whistle magnets installed today, well not exactly, magnets yes, but ones salvaged from other sources. Only installed at either end of each station throat, so they can warn passengers as the train arrives at the station. So what it they work on the departure as well, but they have the advantage of giving me a "nudge" as well as the west end of the throat is out of sight.

Then of course they need to be tested...

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...two are required as one crok has the reed switch at the opposing end to the other bogie locos. No.7 (MOW) & No.3 (Stainz) don't have reeds, No7 doesn't even have a voice but maybe some day...

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...some may say any excuse to run a train or however many, but then do you need an excuse.
 
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A strange day today, noticed the No.19 was running erattic today, was it the track needed cleaning, or fishplates tightened up, (Because I have not done the fishplates this year.) or was there something with the loco. So got it upside down for a check with the multimeter and sure enough there was something amiss on one side of the pickups. Soon tracked it down to one bogie, and the pickup skate in particular. It wasn't springing, infact it was jammed and causing the wheels on one side to lift, and I needed to drop and strip the bogie so I could remove the skate and spring with a pair of pliers, as the spring was jammed. Easy to fix/replace but a sod to do, but it's all done and dusted now.

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...the offending spring, if it wasn't knackered before, it was by the time I got it out...

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...No.19 is now galloping along nicely again...

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...but I have now decided I may as well do the fishplates as well.
 
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Yesterday (Friday the 13th.) I was given a box of small sealed batteries that someone wanted rid of, well as I have tried various lash ups to power the station lights,
then why not see if they will work.

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...now whilst some did have a bit juice in them others were flat, but I need to get something to charge them up with, to see if this idea has legs.

But in the meanwhile, why not run some trains...

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...this running session was sponsored by a different outfit, but provided by that Al Fresco chap again.

It was all going well unitl it was noticed that the weather was changing, so I almost got everything parked up in the shed, when the heavens opened...

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...not sure if this is the type of water resistant that LGB have in mind with their stuff, but I am thinking not...

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...by the time I made a dash back into the house I was soaked through.
 
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