Scattered Thoughts . . .

The nine feet of used track that I had ordered online the other day arrived today so I was finally able to run this large Fn3 scale steam locomotive on some track for the first time.  A couple of days ago, I spent a little time cleaning and lubricating this old steam locomotive.  I had tested it, running, while it was lying on its side but I had yet to run it on any track...  until today.  When the track arrived, it was in need of cleaning.  The rails were a solid dark brown color indicating they would not conduct nearly enough of the low voltage electricity needed to power any locomotive.  The rails appeared to be completely oxidized.  Actually, it appears as though this track was barely used and probably spent most of its life on a display shelf which is likely what its primary use will be at our home too (along with occasional test runs).  After a few minutes of cleaning, the tops of the rails were nice and shiny again. I didn't clean any of the rail joiners nor where the rail j

Watching all the G scale trains from his bucket pedestal... On Saturday of the train show down in Springfield, we came across a huge operating layout of G scale trains. There must have been at least a dozen trains running in all directions. For those unfamiliar with model railroad scales... G scale trains are twice the size of the standard Lionel trains.  Lukey immediately got up on his five gallon bucket so he could see better. He had his locomotive whistle in his mouth while he pointed out different trains. One of the men showing these trains noticed Lukey and came over to talk with him. Within a minute or two, Lukey was asked if he wanted to drive one of the trains.  Lukey's eyes enlarged as he started looking around and getting antsy to get off his five gallon bucket... In the driver's seat... Grammy walked him beyond the cordoned off area where all the controls were located for driving all these huge trains... Lukey sat on the lap of one of the engineers and wa

As I wrote in my previous blog entry, I am in need of a few days of recovery after yesterday's bout with poor health. It is Day 1 of recovery and I am already bored. My boredom and need to accomplish something overruled my need to rest and recover (I may pay for this tomorrow). I pulled the new large scale steam locomotive and its tender down to the floor... grabbed some tools... plugged in a DC transformer from my O scale narrow gauge trains... and started to unscrew hidden screws... No task is simple, especially when trying to recover from anaphylaxis the day before, but I quickly realized that the first four screws I needed to remove were a bit stripped and none of my screwdrivers could hold well enough to be effective. Quickest solution... grind down one of my screwdrivers to make it fit well enough... After some grinding, one of my screwdrivers fit well and I managed to disassemble the tender which houses the sound card. The battery contacts powering the sound card wer

Autumn scene, N scale, at the Rutland Train Show. Sheila and I drove down to Rutland on Saturday to attend a very small train show. This show is an annual event hosted by the Rutland Railway Association and the Rutland Railroad Museum. We've been to this show in previous years so I was aware it was a small show, relatively speaking. Compared to the Amherst Railway Society's show in Springfield, MA every year, all shows are small but this show in Rutland is so small that it only requires about an hour of time. The main reasons for attending the show in Rutland yesterday were, first, to get out of the house for a welcome change in scenery. My health has really limited my ability to get out of the house and socialize. I often go a few weeks looking at the same walls all day and all night so our primary reason for wandering down to Rutland for this show was to get out! The next reason for heading to the show was simply because we enjoy model railroading and enjoy viewing