JMRI and other things

Since the last post I haven't had much to talk about as I have been pottering around with JMRI on the Pi. I had been getting some interesting errors which I have been engaging with the JMRI developers on. By the weekend just gone it looks like we might have sorted on one of the problems, namely my SB3a being recognised by JMRI. Looks like it came down to possibly some old info, an incorrect baud setting and some jumper pin settings on the NCE USB. By Saturday I was able to acquire a loco and do a fwd/rev test via JMRI no the Pi. Brilliant!

Now I am working on the process to synchronise files between the Pi and a Cloud provider so that changes made on the laptop can be replicated on the Pi. I'd spent about two weeks looking into Dropbox integration and there are a lot of ways of doing it, but none were working for me. I even logged a fault with Dropbox support when there own process failed, but I got no joy from them, just a 'form' email reply with no help at all. So stuff them! On Friday I stumbled on a howto that actually uses another mob called Box (www.box.com), a UK based mob very similar to Dropbox (US). The beauty of this provider is that it does support a Linux protocol that allows remote server mounting to a local machine. I registered and got 10GB free (default allocation whereas I think Dropbox was 2GB). I followed the instructions and was able to connect remotely. Now I just have to sort out a way to sync the files on the remote site to the Pi. At present I have a lead on scripting using the command rsync, but some experimenting to be done.

Apart from that, on Saturday I purchased my birthday present from Hobbyrama. A Bachmann 3 car BR early green DMU. Looks nice. Just have to run it in and pop in the decoders. I would like to put sound in it, but looking at the pricing, it is just about the same price as the unit itself so probably not.

Sunday I pottered around in the shed to keep out of the cold wind. I tidied up the Bray side of the layout and Matthew helped me paint the tunnel / derelict overpass brown in preparedness for trialling some scenic techniques using modelling clay (Das) I have been reading about.

Road Trip 2014 - NSW

Not much has happened on the modelling front since the last post as I have just returned from a week on the road with the family, travelling through NSW. Started the trip travelling down the Pacific Hwy. First day's arvo tea was at Grafton under the rail bridge near the Golden Arches. Whilst under there we heard a loco going over, so quickly ducked out and saw what I think was maybe a 48 class but it was running light and quickly and I didn't get to see the cab too well, and the loco number was heavily weathered to be incomprehensible!
A couple of days later we were in the Hunter Valley on our way to Dubbo. While in the Hunter, we saw one of the many coal trains coming out from one of the mines.

Whilst in Dubbo, we did the obligatory visit to the Western Plains Zoo, which was pretty good this time round. Another day we went off to the Parkes Radio Observatory, which was also good, and the boys were fascinated with it. Back in Dubbo, I noticed a new walking track near the old Dubbo to Molong  line Dundullimal Bridge, which wasn't there the last time I visited Dubbo. Here are some photos. I reckon it might be a good bridge to model sometime in the future!

According to my sister, apparently the mentioned zirconia mine is still going ahead but there is talk about the transport of the ore options. Going rail would require a big investment in renewing the the rail from Toongi to Dubbo. Going road would require upgrading the roads to and from Toongi to either Dubbo or elsewhere. I would like to see rail go ahead.

Some info on the mine:

http://www.alkane.com.au/index.php/projects/current-projects/dubbo

Further info enter "Toongi mine" into Google

After a few days in Dubbo it was time to start heading home. We went via the Siding Spring Observatory near Coonabarabran. Boy was it cold up on the mountain. However the surrounding national park was still pretty barren after the massive bushfire that went through the area in January 2013 destroying over 80% of the park. From there we headed towards Tamworth via Gunnedah. While there we saw a few locos. One consist pulling wheat wagons to the flour mill. Saw a 73 class (Manildra Mills) waiting to do some shunting. A tamper coming back into town. And a container train being pulled towards the coast, probably Newcastle or south towards Sydney and maybe Botany Bay. Here is a video I took while waiting at a crossing.

After Gunnedah, we travelled through Tamworth and onto Armidale for the night. Next day was the big trip home to Brissie. The New England Hwy follows the old Armidale to Wallangarra line which has been 'mothballed' for quite some time now. As a result, many of the timber trestle bridges or viaducts are rotting and collapsing. Probably even more so from the stretch from Tenterfield to Wallangarra. Saw the following brick and timber bridge at the side of the highway and had to stop to take a photo before it collapsed. Brick work still looks fine but the timbers have had it.

However after crossing the border into Qld I was very happy to see how the narrow gauge line from Wallangarra to Warwick, via Stanthorpe has been restored to its former glory by the preservation society based at Warwick. Here is there web site:

http://www.southerndownssteamrailway.com.au/index.php

Finally arrived home Tuesday evening. Long day in the saddle!

I have started looking into the JMRI start of day mentioned in the previous post. I am having some success with this so far. Just got to get the logic correct, but nearly there I think. Also have to sort out a new decoder for the BR Class 08 mentioned in the previous post as the one I purchased from the Club shop was stuffed. I am getting a refund towards a new one once more have come into stock.

Hopefully this blog was of interest. Something different at least.