LVT&R Progress report: Father's Day 2011

In order to maximize my layout space, I've decided to work with hidden tracks. By putting downtown Allentown on a separate level, I can run trolleys through town, over the 8th Street Bridge and continue south. I can hide 3 staging tracks for CNJ, LNE, and Reading trains underneath Allentown, while having the double main line for the LVT&R on the main level, pass under the 8th Street Bridge and reappear on the other side of Alfundo Park. There are a few challenges with this plan:

• Hidden tracks can be a maintenance headache
• If I'm going to loop the trolley, I'll have to do as narrow a radius as possible.
• Keeping the curves smooth as I do the end loop around Alfundo Park

Meanwhile, I've forged ahead with laying roadbed and track. I'm using thinned white glue to adhere both the roadbed and the track. It's strong enough to hold until the ballast is put into place yet easy to remove and realign. (I was going to do this the old fashioned way with nails/spikes, but I've become a big fan of adhesive!)

I've added an industrial spur for the Coplay/Cementon area which will double as my programming track. Rather than spend $25 on a circuit board to control the programming track, I'm using a simple toggle switch. By routing power from the Power Cab Panel to the programming track first, the programming track is always on. The DPDT toggle allows me to cut power to the rest of the layout.

However, yesterday, I failed my saving throw versus Klutz three times.

1. Although I checked the fit of the turnout to the programming track multiple times, when I soldered the lead track, the angle was wrong. I had to cut the track off and add a segment of flex track to avoid wasting the turnout.
2. While waiting for some roadbed and track to dry, I was working on coupler conversions. While removing an old housing, my knife slipped and I cut the truck instead, resulting in a trip to the hobby shop for replacement trucks.
3. After installing my programming toggle on my simple panel, I discovered I had it placed in reverse (as far as the labels on the panel were concerned). (On a slide switch, the connected poles are the ones on the same side as the slide. On a toggle switch I bought, the connected poles are on the opposite side of the direction of the toggle.) So I removed the switch, turned it around and reattached it to the panel--only to tighten so hard that I broke the switch.

So tonight, I spent a bit of time fixing yesterday's klutz failures. Most of the track now laid is attached to the bus and I've tested the controls again. Tomorrow, I'll clear up some of the work area and fit the return curves into place. Hopefully next month I'll be able to either extend to the north or start adding Allentown.