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To: "oermsignal" Subject: Orange Empire Railway Museum Signals Update - 10/12/2004 This email is our semi-regular update about signals work (installation, maintenance and restoration) at the Orange Empire Railway Museum and is a collaborative effort -- the information for this e-news issue was provided by Gary See. If you have information that would be of interest to others, please email it to me and we'll include it in our next newsletter. If you would like to be removed from this mailing list, please email me. Likewise, if you know someone who would like to be added to this list, please have them email me. If you receive duplicate copies of this email, please contact me and let me know your preferred email address. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The following activities took place last Saturday. MAPES TRACK CIRCUIT TROUBLESHOOTING: Last Saturday, Paul Orton, Bob and Ray Hirth, Dave Morgan, and Gene Cranston worked together to find the problem and repair the south track circuit at Mapes Crossing. Gene suspected track problems: a broken bond, broken rail, or rail to rail short. They began by shutting off the north audio transmitter and taking a voltage measurement each rail length from the main case toward the south transmitter. The voltage was about .004 volts at most locations with occasional jumps to around 0.700 volts or more. Since the voltage readings were consistent with no uneven, rail to rail voltage changes other than the random changes to the higher readings, it was obvious that the problem was probably not the track, but a transmitter problem. Measurements at the south transmitter and at the track wire connections confirmed this. The voltage changed randomly, but not when the track wires were moved indicting equipment, not wire problems. They changed out the transmitter with a spare. It was a different frequency so they also had to change the receiver. Unfortunately they forgot to switch the meter back to ac after the battery test, and Gene thought the transmitter was bad. Ray then found a loose track wire which they tightened with a hand sledge hammer. After lunch they substituted another transmitter/receiver pair and adjusted and tested the circuit. The first transmitter/receiver pair will have to be rechecked to be sure they are good before trying to use them again. The track was then returned to the dispatcher for operations usage. ALPINE CROSSING FLASHER INSTALLATION: After the work at Mapes, the crew then connected the recently installed Alpine flasher and tested the wiring. Initially the lights flashed together rather than alternate. This was corrected. Gene had previously installed the required XRP (crossing relay repeater) and flasher relay. During the next signals work session, the wires can be connected at the Alpine case, the flasher backgrounds and visors (sun shades) installed, and the lights aimed. The flashers will then be in service. The team adjourned at about 5pm in time for the Harvey Girls Historical Society spaghetti dinner. OCTOBER SIGNALS MEETING NOTICE: --- SATURDAY October 16th --- The Signal Garden team will be working this day. Assistance is welcome. --- SATURDAY October 23th --- This is our regular 4th Saturday workday this month. Also Gene is usually at the museum most Fridays if that better fits your schedule. Call or email him for confirmation of the date and time. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For additional OERM Signals information, visit the signals website at: http://gsee.sdf-us.org/signals. Previous editions of these email newsletters are at: http://gsee.sdf-us.org/signals/enews/enews.html . Questions or comments regarding OERM Signals should be directed to the Signals Superintendent Gene Cranston. |