The First Test Run

After all the months of drawing, planning, construction, it comes down to today. The first time you place a train on the tracks and hope it actually moves down the track without dying or falling off the track.

If you did your homework and took lots of care laying your track down, things should go pretty smoothly.

I hadn't wired up my new Digitraxx Zephyr yet to the layout so out came an old DC throttle. I found a DC engine I had and placed it on the tracks and turned on the power. Yah Hooo, down the track it went. Not for long though, it split the next switch down the line and derailed.

Opps, did I mention that you have to have your switch machines connected and wired before you fire up the loco's. Ok, I was a little anxious and couldn't wait.

So after spending a couple hours attending to the mainline switches I fired up the loco again and this time we ran around just fine. I left the engine run around while I worked on some of the siding switches. It was fun just to see and hear it run while I worked. COOL!

Click here for pics on the first run day...

Kow Bongga , it's running.

Well it didn't run long, that switch ahead was my first derail. It split the switch because DUH, I didn't have the switches finished yet.

Why did I take this picture? I have no clue!

Ok, back to the trains. Ready to see if it will climb the grade for the first time.

So far so good.

Yes ... up, around and over the bridge. I love it when a plan comes together. Was't that Hanibal from A team who said that? ;o)