Nooksack: Trial Runs and Revisiting Goals

 

Drop-offs in place

While work continues on the east staging track, I have run a train and done some switching in Nooksack a couple of times in the past week. 

Yesterday I adjusted the turnout rod on the west passing track turnout, and it appears to be fixed. Thrown in one direction the rod would catch. I adjusted the fulcrum on the Tortoise switch motor and rebent the wire; of course managing to disconnect the wire from the hole in the throw bar. After returning the wire into place and making some more adjustments, the turnout is now throwing completely in both directions. All the other turnouts are working smoothly. I have identified and corrected a couple of areas where my initial track cleaning was not sufficient. I also found at least one spot where a short piece of track is powered only by unsoldered rail joiners after lengthening the passing siding. The next time I am soldering rail on the east staging I will correct that. I am close to having the track working without issues, so I am also close to the next steps of repainting some sections of the track and potentially creating new issues. 

In doing that switching last week, I think that I answered one question for myself and created a new one. I now plan to just rely on handwritten switchlists indicating set-outs and pick-ups for initial fun-for-one operations. While that may not be the ultimate solution, that will be the initial approach. The new question concerns how and where the operator will work. I found myself setting the throttle, switchlist, and uncoupling pick down on the (now unsceniced) layout surface. That will not be an acceptable approach, but what will be the acceptable approach? Operator with apron and pockets? Some sort of tabletop built into the benchwork? Roll around cart/desk? Tool holders, throttle pockets, and carcard boxes? I do have a space and desk for the agent/dispatcher, but that doesn't solve the problem of work space for the conductor/engineer. 

A related issue connected to the new question of operations work space came up last week when Dick Bradley emailed me with a link to Nick Kalas's blog post concerning fascia color. While the question of fascia color and size (height in this case) is interesting, what really hit me was the question of how clear or cluttered the fascia would appear. I also read several of his other posts concerning backdrops and the fascia/valance/shadowbox approach. This led me to thinking about the old form versus function question. Nick Kalas suggests that it can be seen as "telling a story" versus operations. With my branchline railroad set in the Pacific Northwest I am trying for the best of both, I think. . . (or am I biting off too much?) At any rate, to settle the question of what might (or should) show up on the fascia I need to revisit the goals for this railroad, both the initial Nooksack section and the larger future 4th Subdivision. 

So, while the 4th Subdivision is freelanced, not a real prototype, it is based on a prototype railroad and prototype locations. I definitely am striving for realism, but not a typical model railroady kind of realism. Not a reenact railroad operations realism, but a capture the look and atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest. But with some caveats: not the dreary, drizzly, Pacific "Northwet," but rather a sunny September day. I am striving for the look of a three dimensional painting, but not a static diorama. I do want some operations fun and operational options moving forward, but the overall look is the bedrock. Having said that, I guess I have answered my own question: I should be thinking of the fascia as part of the frame of the picture, not the operations toolbelt and workbench.