Lately

I ordered some stuff from Republic Locomotive Works last week because time is running out, Marshall Thompson has announced his intention to retire at the end of the year. Hopefully someone will buy the business and keep it going, but just in case no one does I am going to load up on the East Broad Top kits while I can.

I found out about NCE's Snap-It switch machine decoders for twin coil switch machines a couple of weeks ago quite by accident when my local crack dealer hobby shop had one on the shelf. They ordered a few more for me and so now both of the turnouts at the back of the layout are powered. Unfortunately there is no way to indicate which positions the turnouts are in without looking at them, but at least now I don't have to reach over the layout to change them.

While I was installing the switch machine decoder today I also took a bit of time to tape up the wiring underneath the layout. While I was doing that I put in some terminal strips for the switch machine decoder power and also for the DC power needed to run the incandescent lamps in some of the non LED lights I have put on the layout in the form of light posts. I also put some Woodland Scenics Just Plug gooseneck lamps on my passenger station. I can't light the interior for that station because it is a solid resin casting with no openings for the windows, but with the gooseneck lamps at least there is some lighting there. I also put in the parking lot for the passenger station, so all that is left to do there is the ground cover and that block will be done.

I have an order from Shapeways on the way that will finish off at least one of the corner turret buildings. I had a bid in on some interiors, one for a model train store and one for a gun shop, but I didn't win either one. I did get the furniture store done and mounted, when I get some pictures taken I will post them. When the second corner turret building is done I will have two of the reclaimed buildings left to do and then I can get started on the factory. I'm also trying to put some lights into the fire and police stations, but since I've already built them it will take some work to paint the interiors so the light doesn't bleed through.

This weekend I have to work, but next weekend is the Neuse River Valley Model Railroad Show. It will be the first time in a while that I will be able to participate in a model railroad related activity and I am really looking forward to it.

Pictures of that, too, will be posted when available.