I was able to completely lay the Staging-Malta Yard-Staging loop. Unfortunately because I'm relying on just rail joiners for the electrical circuit I can't actually complete the loop.  The siding switches in Malta Yard have dead frogs rendering the track between them dead.  But I was able to run from one end of Malta through staging then to the other end of Malta.

The video is 6+ minutes and slow, but so was the real thing!




I also tested the severity of the grades coming out of staging; the grade averages about 2.8%.  

One Athearn Tunnel Motor was able to pull 7 Walthers Autoracks and a caboose up the grade. Theoretically 3 engines can therefore pull 21 racks with a caboose then.  We'll see how this pans out.

From D&RGW's Tennessee Pass

From D&RGW's Tennessee Pass

From D&RGW's Tennessee Pass

The first track in staging is completely laid. I was able to finally test pulling the first train out of staging into Malta Yard.

Not much of an update.  The weather got warm and therefore I spent all of my time outside.  I did find a few moments and inspiration to go down and gap some of my Fast Tracks switches and have a little fun.


An abbreviated Auto Rack trundles through Malta Yard


Testing the sounds on a BLI SD7 and SD9