Train Yard and More Bad Order Repairs

I've been very busy the past few weeks with other yard work tasks so I have not worked on my next trestle assembly project yet. But I have continued working on various small projects in the train shed as time allows. It's so nice to have an area to work and it's very comfortable until mid-afternoon when direct sun hits the shed.

I purchased some more used straight track and it arrived last week so I could build out my stub track yard. Eventually there will be a portal through the shed wall so I can assemble trains here and then drive them out on their own power. But for now I'll be storing frequently used cars here. The closest track is not connected to the others, as I will be powering this track to use as a test track for equipment that is not yet converted to battery power.

I'll be adding bumpers to the end of each track. I got this Hayes style bumper from a seller on eBay, railroadhead, who sells both F-scale and G-scale products. These short style ones are the perfect size and the design I want. I'll also be using these outside for stub tracks. 

Finished yard is secured to the workbench and now populated with rolling stock.

I needed a little more light at my workbench so I added this sconce with variable light output.

I'm experimenting with creating code 250 to code 332 joiners. The transition between track types is normally done with clamps but they're really expensive and I am looking for a cheaper option.

I have a number of small projects so I compiled my list of bad orders, organized and prioritized them, then got to work starting at the top.

Some of the projects are very quick, like reattaching and securing the hand rails on this U25B.

This boxcar just needed one piece reattached.

I purchased this BNSF extended vision caboose sometime in the last couple of years but I had not run it on track yet. I needed to lubricate the wheels, swap out the couplers for Kadee 909, and as you can tell in the picture, it also needed a good cleaning.

A few pictures from the garden this week. The blanket flower (Gaillardia aristata) is just starting to open up. The first blooms look magnificent. 

I was so happy to see multiple umbels on my cow parsnip (Heracleum maximum) as I thought I might have lost this plant. It is unusually short, but there are multiple new shoots coming up so I am hopeful that next year it may grow to full size.

This Lewis flax (Linum lewisii) is looking great. A simple but very attractive plant because of the color.