Troubleshooting the BLI T1

As mentioned in a previous post, I have a large number of steamers out of service due to decoder issues. My Broadway Limited T1 was one of them, or at least that's what I thought. See, for the past few years, I can put this locomotive on the rails, give it some throttle and it just sits there and goes "chug-chug...chug-chug" and doesn't budge.

I tried everything I could decoder wise. I tried resetting by setting CV8 to 008 and no change. I tried the reset button on the decoder (something unique to BLI) and no change. I finally fired off an e-mail to BLI explaining the situation and that the locomotive was out of warranty.

A few days later, BLI responded by asking me what happened if I started the locomotive and muted the sound. Specifically they wanted to know if the motor hummed. I went ahead, muted the sound, gave the locomotive throttle and it moved!

Excited, I hooked up the Broadway Limited cars and sent her around the layout. She was running like a champ! But, I celebrated too soon. The locomotive made it from Cassandra to Altoona and then, it stopped and "chug-chug...chug-chug."

Discouraging for sure, but I got scientific. I muted the sound and put my ear to the locomotives boiler, The motor was indeed humming. The problem is mechanical and not the decoder. I suspected the problem could be a broken link in the drive shafts. I removed the shell and performed a visual check of the drive train and everything looked okay. I manually rotated the motor and all the gears turned properly.

I found after rotating the drive train manually, the locomotive would run. However, it inevitably locks up again. Now I know what the issue is, I'm just not sure how to fix it.

 

The Layout Gets a Glowup

 

Since coming off my model railroading hiatus, I've been focusing a lot of attention on fixing things that have fallen into disrepair. Over the years, some of the wiring to the various lights have gotten damaged. On top of that, some of the LEDs that I used because I thought they would last forever failed.

I've spent weeks under the layout reconnected various yanked wires and getting lights working again. That was the easy part.

Next, I set about replacing some of the failed LEDs. Unfortunately for me, the least accessible one on the layout, the reason I used an LED, failed (Center right photo). To fix it, I had to lean over the layout, brace myself on the tracks for support, and drill a new hole. I'm still having nightmares about it!

Next, I decided Warren's Country Store (Top right photo) needed a streetlight. I also figured it was the kind of place where the old timers would gather and shoot the breeze, complain about "kids these days" and reminisce about the good o'le days. So I added a bench and some figures.

All in all, I'm glad to see part of the layout restored to its former glory. Honestly the disrepair and my not having the spoons in my drawer to replace it, was the reason I took a break. But everything's Jake now.

The Great Digitrax Decoder Die Off

 

After returning to model railroading after a long hiatus, I was frustrated to find a large number of my locomotives simply will not run. This includes my Kato L1 2-8-2, my brass I1sa 2-10-0, my Minitrix B6 and all my Norfolk Southern diesels. I can put them on the programming track, address them but then no response

The common denominator is that all the affected locomotives are equipped with Digitrax decoders, specifically DN136 or DZ136s. I'm at a loss as to what's happening here. The only thing I did was let them sit for a while. It's looking like I may have a lot of decoder replacement in my future!

Proof of Life

 

It's been three years since my last post. In that time the layout's 10th birthday came and went. So I bet you're wondering what's with all the cobwebs and tumbleweeds in this once active blog. Okay, I'll tell you anyway.

The long and short of it is the layout is pretty much done and I started getting bored with model railroading in general.

But, I've been getting back into as of late. My Corvair in the garage for winter so it's time to shift hobby gears. Some parts of the layout have fallen into disrepair, but I'll be fixing them. I hope you'll come along for the ride.

Fixed My Dad's Lionel 2035

 With the scenery on the N Scale layout done, I found myself in a odd position. I had plenty enthusiasm but no projects to do! Well that's a new one on me. I decided to tackle a little side project, my father's old Lionel 2035 steamer. He's had it since he was kid and it's never really run right. Today, I did something about that.

The problem was the locomotive's E-Unit. For uninitiated, an E-Unit is and electro-mechanical polarity switch controlling the direction of the motor. They can be quite cantankerous when they want to be. I took the locomotive apart, which is easier said than done. This thing is a total Chinese puzzle box. The I cleaned all the contacts. 

While I was in there, I rewired the headlight. The original, 70-year-old wire's insulation was disintegrating. That was an easy fix. Now this 70-year-old classic is running better than it's run, at least in my lifetime.

Finished with the Ballast and The Scenery

 

The title pretty much says it all, doesn't it? I got a bag of Woodland Scenics Fine Cinders ballast. It turned out to be just enough to finish the yard tracks and the area around the roundhouse. With that, every inch of track on the layout, save for Pittsburgh Staging, is ballasted. Yay!

Once the track was ballasted, I turned my attention to the small pond in the middle of the loop. I painted the bottom with a mix of navy blue and black acrylics. Once that dried, I added several sizes of Woodland Scenics Talus to a side that came out too steep. I used Woodland Scenics Field Grass to make reeds. The canoeing folks were salvaged from my last layout. The water, which is still drying, is Mod Podge gloss medium.

With the pond done, I channeled my inner Bob Ross and added some happy trees. These are Woodland Scenics large trees. I've assembled hundreds of these trees for this layout and I have to say, they can be a bit of a PITA.  You assemble them by twisting a flat plastic armature into something tree shaped. Then coat it with WS's "Hobby Tack" glue. My mistake was putting the foliage on right away instead of waiting 15 minutes. This time I waited and had much better results.

Another thing about trees is they look best in distinct stands even as part of an overall forest setting. Further more, said stands look best with an odd number of trees.

With the tree planted, I went back into ground cover mode. I have a jar of fallen leaves, which I ground up into a fine powder a blender. I sprinkled this under the stands of trees and added a few pieces of Woodland Scenics deadfall.

With that, I can declare major combat operations over as far as scenery. Suddenly, the to-do list is looking very empty. Up next is the fine detailing faze. Now, detail parts can be quite dear and are best picked up en mass at train shows from folks liquidating their layouts. Unfortunately, the show isn't until February. 

I think it's high time I finally get serious about operation. I do have a phone system and am planning to use timetable and train order. But What I don;t know about operation could fill the grand canyon! Time to get researching!

2021-22 Annual Progress Report

 

On Halloween of 2013 work began on the Pennsylvania Railroad. Here we are nine years later and the layout is nearly finisher. Well, as finished as a layout gets anyway. Also of note, this layout now ties my old garden railway for title of my longest lived layout.

Anyway, last year's goal was finishing Altoona. I didn't make it, but I'm darn close. I wanted to finished all the ballast work. I manged to get the main lines and most of the yard tracks done. However, obtaining Woodland Scenics fine cinder ballast has been difficult due to supply chain issues. The good news, is I tracked some down and ordered it. It should be here next week.

As for scenery, I managed to get all ground cover finished. Not just for Altoona, but the layout as a whole. So no more fuzzy turf until next layout!

The last scenery items on my docket include finishing a small lake and planting some trees. That will round out Altoona.

With Altoona finished the final project will be wiring up Pittsburgh Staging. With that, It's major combat operations over and I begin focusing on operating the layout. 

Goals for next year?

-Finish Altoona

-Wire up Pittsburgh Staging. 

-Pop a bottle of Champagne and celebrate a job well done!