Meanwhile, back at the Mothership...

Here is the diner in it's permanent home.  There are some details on the backside to be finished to include some kudzu vines, trash, cans and alley trash.

Almost out of time! Looks like some late nigh work is in order to finish before the show!  The good news is that the lights work! 

Final details are in process; steps with railings, window glass and doors, and the detached walk-in cooler.

 

There is a new instruction card posted on the fascia. One pushbutton does it all.



We enjoy hosting guests who are not familiar with the layout. Occasionally an unfamiliar operator would unintentionally hoist a coupler or even the idler car in the air.

So now we have a LIDAR sensor (laser for Rick Bacon) that senses when a car is too close to the rotary. When that occurs, the pushbutton turns blue.

The rotation was increased by 10% to more fully evacuate the coal in a hopper after this video was shot. David re-spiked the rails and all is ready for the O Scale National Convention in Denver 2023.

If you come to visit during the convention, a host will explain the flying pig logo...

Rut roh! There is a new pushbutton on the fascia in Glenn Forge. It is now green but when an AC cord underneath the rotary was first plugged in it briefly went from dark to blue before turning green.



Following the cable on the back of the pushbutton I discovered that the other end went inside here to a white 6-pin connector hiding in the left bay shadows.



Later on Saturday afternoon, this disturbing video was recorded by a concerned citizen. Oh, the humanity! What did those lumps of coal ever do to deserve this? Carbon Rights Now!

Link to disturbing video

And yes, Rick, if you look at the far right side of the rotary, there is a bare circuit board standing vertically. It is mounted to a white block of styrene plastic. On the PC board is a LIDAR (laser) module to detect cars that are fouling when the operator did not pull back the switcher and cars far enough to avoid creating a problem. So we do need a laser!

Should an operator manage somehow to create a problem, when the button is red, a quick press cuts motor power. Once the <ahem> problem is resolved, press it again and the barrel returns to home with very low torque, as it auto homes.

It is done: