Bernhards Random Ramblings BACKUP

I converted this BRAWA Koef II to digital operation using a regular Lokpilot 3.0, which just barely fit into the cab. Switching cars with this little locomotive is a lot of fun, so I sprung for a Lokpilot 4.0 micro DCC and the ESU Powerpak. Here's a view of the locomotive with the cab roof off. It's easy to see how much smaller the new decoder is... The first step was to connect the Powerpak to the respective soldering pads on the decoder. The pads are just as small as one would expect from such a tiny decoder. Technically, the fine tip of my soldering iron is still too big for this job but I managed to solder the cables in place with the edge of the tip. Using a magnifying glass, reading glasses, steady hands, and going slow helped with this step. The motor and pickup wiring inside the locomotive is hooked to a 4-pin connector. I unsoldered the existing decoder, soldered connections for the new decoder (I should have ordered the version with wires attached... ), and after som...

During tonight's operation session, Gabe is taking train #370, made up of mostly white MDT reefers, northbound to the Tracy creamery and Victoria. Meanwhile Josh in the foreground gets rock train #420 ready to depart for the quarry interchange in Jacksonville. The transitional yard tracks in the foreground are quite busy with cars having arrived on earlier trains and cars ready to leave with trains later in the session. My instant switch list creator software had quite a workout tonight getting the Nowheres hump yard organized (not pictured).

[ Schrebergarten posts ] In the last couple days I fixed the track in place, installed cork underlay under and around the locomotive shed and the adjacent parking lot, and glued the track in place. It actually sits on a bead of clear silicone, but close enough. Tonight I got the gardens tacked in place and shaped the ground in the area using tinted Scuptamold and the artists spatulas in the front of the picture. When I was done, I realized I hadn't painted the track yet. That's gonna be fun in tight quarters ...

The Koef II in Talheim needs a home. Now that the Schrebergarten is ready for installation on the layout, and the run-around track is rearranged, it's time to build the locomotive shed. I used Vollmer's Nr. 5750 "single stall engine shed" kit as the basis for this kit bash. I assume there is some history to the building and it used to house a small steam powered switcher, that has been replaced with a Koef a while ago. The building thus is in a somewhat dilapidated but still serviceable condition. The spur to the shed comes off the curved industrial track to Kopper and Gregorius, and hits the room wall at an angle.  I wanted to have as much shed as possible, and built the shed as a 3/4 relief with the rear cut off. I also didn't want to build yet another red brick structure on the layout, as they are not really typical for the southern Black Forest, and the colors also needed help to differentiate the building some more. This required a few modifications to the w...

On a rainy Sunday morning I found myself today in the Sierra Nevada foothills waiting to "Ride the Logger" . This was a fun one hour trip on an old logging right of way, with 3 truck Shay Nr. 10 leading the train. We very much enjoyed the -- almost private -- early morning run through light drizzle into the forest. Apparently a tour bus was booked for this departure, but they didn't show.  So this trip had a total of six passengers...

This locomotive shed needs to go into a rather tight spot against the wall in Talheim, so it needs a few modifications. Franziskaner helps to keep all the cuts nice and straight ...