Our electrician was onsite today working on some necessary items and since he was in the neighbourhood I asked him to check the wiring of the train engine electronics. It took a while but by quitting time we had solved all of the issues and the motor ran with the controls. Exciting stuff! After super, I mowed the lawn and did a few other chores before heading back to the shop to work on the train. Batteries were installed, cables run, various controls were hooked up, more brackets were fabricated and I chipped away at a seemingly endless list of various other little things needed before I could fire up the engine. As it got dark it was finally time to lower the body of the engine onto the chassis. I hooked it up to the overhead lift beam and gently lowered the tank and cab into place. I spent another hour bolting it down, fitting more cables and leavers into position and hooking up the cab controls. I was hoping for a test drive tonight but before I was done it was time to head into the house. I had run out of time. The train would have to wait at least another day. Tomorrow is a big day with the loading the first ship into six containers bound for Dubai. Stay tuned...
Ring my bell!
Each time we get a young visitor to the shop I take great delight in showing them the train. That of course means they get to climb into the cab and toot the whistle and ring the bell. I've been closely watching the kids to see how I can make the experience even better. I mounted all of the real operating controls on the right side of the cab. This is where I will sit. The other side is for the kids. Most of the taps (which turn but don't actually do anything are there. Kids instinctively reach for them and adjust them. The whistle cord is in the centre, handy for me and the kids. Back when I first mounted the bell I did it as a fixed mount with the bell pull rope tied to the clanger. It worked fine for me but most kids pull hard on the rope and don't relate it. The result was a dull CLANK - not at all acceptable. The rope was also on my side of the cab. It was time for a fix.
A little quick research on the new gave me the basic design for the bell swing bracket which I modified to weld to the side of the stream dome as the whistle was on top. I built the vector files on my computer and then cut out the pieces on the MultiCam CNC plasma cutter. It took less than two hours to design, fabricate and mount the bracket. It works a whole lot better now and is a whole lot louder. One more piece of the puzzle is in place!
A little time for the train
With each passing day I manage at least a couple little things on the train. Progress isn't swift but each day we get ever closer. The electric motor and controls are now mounted to the chassis, along with the transmission, various pulleys, sprockets, chains and belts. I've sourced and mounted the cables, designed and built the levers. Using wiring diagrams found online I've tentatively run the wiring but I won't test fire until a friend who knows more than I about things electrical takes a look. Yesterday, we took delivery of the six heavy duty, deep cycle batteries. Back when I designed the train body more than a decade ago I had decided to use four - eight volt batteries to save weight and space but on further research I decided six - six volt deep cycle batteries would give us a much longer running time and overall life. That meant the battery box I had built was too small but it was an easy fix. I fired up the MultiCam CNC plasma cutter and whipped up some steel pieces to weld together. I then fabricated a small box to add to the back of the train engine. I'll deck it out like a tool box and it will look just fine. There's still lots of little things to work out but it won't be long until we go for a joyride!
