After all my efforts in getting a representation of Fairford shed and turntable installed and working on Claywell I was really looking forward to seeing the Oxford - Fairford branch running as it should with the engines being turned at either end of the line.  I had worked out all the schedules in Train Controller so that the loco did what it was supposed to do at either end, including uncoupling from the coaches and running to the shed and turntable to get turned and back for the next service but then disaster.   :'(

All the sensors on two of the boards started to go haywire, showing occupied - unoccupied in quick succesion, just couldn´t understand what was going on.  Layout apart for a looksee at the wiring, couldn´t see anything obvious, spend nearly 2 days checking boards and connectors to no avail.   Eventually dawned on me, it was something to do with the power supply to the Digitrax BDL168 sensor (they detect the prescence of a loco).  Broke the layout down into sections and slowly illiminated connectors and it turned out to be one of the 25 way D connectors that link a couple of the boards (S1 to N1), all the solder connections were serverly corroded.   

I then remembered, in my haste to get the first boards interconnected I borrowed some flux from a neighbour and after using it, it turned out to be plumbers style flux.  My neighbour said it should be ok as long as I give the solder joints a good wash, which I duly did.  It seems that plumbers flux is much more corrosive than I realise and had not only corroded the 25way D terminals but also quite a way down inside the connecting wire and over the 4 years the layout has been up and running had almost completely eaten it away.

Moral or story, DON´T use `plumbers flux under any circumstances.   

Sorted out a new connector and rewired and the false indications had disappeared, hooray, now to test the running of the new schedules.

My best running sound equipped pannier was called into service with a GWR B set and a CCT van, typical for the branch, got half way round and it started to misbehave.       Now what I thought, gave it a good clean using IPA etc, cleaned the track, but still has the jitters, what the heck.   

Runs fine backwards, but forward, the jumps and jitters so I guess it´s got a split gear or something.   :'(   To save time, I changed the chassis out for one of my new spare Dapol Panniers awaiting a sound install, success, runs even better than the original although a little whiny.   

After nearly three days of problems finally got the branch train to run as it should, leaves the Oxford bay, trundles via Yarnton Junction and Bampney to Fairford where it backs the B set into a siding, uncouples and then the loco trundles off to the turntable.  Automatically turns and then back to the siding to collect its coaches and shunts them into the platform, magic.   Suitable wait and with a toot departs on its way back to Oxford again via Bampton and Yarnton Junction to the bay at Oxford.

Passengers alight, loco uncouples, shuffles forward over the crossover and then backs itself down the adjoining platform and off to the shed and turntable.  Onto the turntable, turns, exits, stops for water and coaling and then makes its way back to the bay to couple up to the waiting B set, wait for the passengers to board, a toot and off she goes again to Fairford.

Absolutely sheer magic to watch and worth every bit of frustration of the past couple of days to see it all happen as I had envisaged, oh the joy when it goes right.   

Mopal of the second part of the story,  if you don´t succeed at first, try, try again and don´t give in to the temptation to throw the lot out of the widow.   

Sorry to hear about your frustrations Caz but pleased that it is now sorted.
Any videos for us to enjoy ?

Poor Caz ! Glad you sorted in the end, thanks for interesting read.

Plumbers used to make their own, killed spirits, hydrochloric acid etc, nasty.

If ever again you are caught short without, then nip down to your local olde music shoppe and purchase a block of their cheapest Rosin (pine rosin)  ( violin, bow, for the use of ) it is the same as is in the electrical brown paste stuff.

puddle it with your solder bearing iron tip, or dip your hot wire (to be tinned) into it first,, else dust a bit onto the joint you are about to make.

I could go on about dissolving it in , , well another day maybe

Quote from: Caz on December 18, 2015, 08:30:24 PM

Passengers alight

I know you're good, Caz, but heck, I just gotta see a vid of that

well as it seems that you have everything sorted I think you owe us a video as a reward to listen to all your monings

Bring on the vid!! 

VID, vid, VID, vid, VID, vid, VID, vid, VID, vid, VID, vid.  Please!

That sounds like a fantastic achievement.
I would love to see it on video too - especially the little n gauge people alighting and boarding!

Well done Caz on sorting the problem out, yes plumbers solder can be corrosive and I try to get away with no fluX.

I to would love to see a video especially the uncoupling.

Ok, ok, perhaps I exaggerated a little with the alighting bit, but I CAN see them in my minds eye.   

As to the vid, I'll try my best before Christmas but I'm already 3 days behind schedule for Christmas due to sorting out the layout instead of organising Christmas fair.   

Quote from: Caz on December 20, 2015, 02:49:34 PM
As to the vid, I'll try my best before Christmas

Please do, and make sure you feature the water & coal replenishment 

We want action shots, not merely a 5 second stop 

Quote from: Caz on December 20, 2015, 02:49:34 PM
As to the vid, I'll try my best before Christmas but I'm already 3 days behind schedule for Christmas due to sorting out the layout instead of organising Christmas fair.   

Pah!  Puny excuse...  Christmas is cancelled due to lack of interest, whereas vids of small trains and plastic people alighting, well, I mean.....   Bah! Humbug!   

Quote from: Zogbert Splod on December 20, 2015, 05:54:28 PM

Quote from: Caz on December 20, 2015, 02:49:34 PM
As to the vid, I'll try my best before Christmas but I'm already 3 days behind schedule for Christmas due to sorting out the layout instead of organising Christmas fair.   

Pah!  Puny excuse...  Christmas is cancelled due to lack of interest, whereas vids of small trains and plastic people alighting, well, I mean.....   Bah! Humbug! 

       

Quote from: Caz on December 20, 2015, 02:49:34 PM
instead of organising Christmas fair.   

Just a minor point, hardly worth commenting on ... but ... 

Isn't it a bit late to organise a Christmas fair 

He was of course, referring to the 2016 Christmas fair - plenty of time  . David.