August 5, 2024
Recovering from jet lag, I’m back to work. Spent the day doing odds and ends. When we ran locos all over the completed track, there were some areas without power. That has been fixed along with installing a Tortoise that I forgot to install. Amazing what you find as you start running trains.
Someone asked what do to for sticky points when a Fast Track switch is installed. Generally, two problems crop up. The switch stand ties might be touching the throw bar. Reheat the rail and move over.
Assuming the throw bar was filed smooth on both sides before assembly, there might be a little Pliobond residue on the bottom of the rail or throw bar. I use a small paint brush to apply acetone around both sides of the point area. Move the points back and forth by hand until they operate smoothly. Then throw electronically. I did this to all the switches on the layout just to make them operate as smoothly as possible.
My 36″ swing gate was drooping then opened. A 45 degree brace was ordered and installed today. That eliminated 95% of the droop. The gate remains one of the best investments I made for the layout.
