Friends visiting from California provided the perfect excuse to do some train sight-seeing on Saturday, as well as an opportunity to fire up #205 on Sunday afternoon:
Although I have done quite a bit of running on the new trackplan with the diesels, this was a good shake-down run with the steamer. Although the actual trackwork performed just fine, the train operations left a lot to be desired. With just one turntable in the center of the track, the train is backed downhill, the engine turned so it faces uphill the other direction. In theory this sounds fine, but in practice it is a bit cumbersome. The run is interrupted in each direction to turn the locomotive, plus backing the steamer long distances can be a bit touchy at times. It was enough to convince me to rethink the trackplan. Right now I am considering moving the turntable to one end of the railroad and building a new turntable at the other end... that way the steamer will run forward both directions and be able to make the trip each way without interruption. I think it will make the operation much smoother. Will I get it done? Time will tell...
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