Took a couple days off work this week. Our fiscal year ends 8/31 so I had a couple days left to burn.
The CEO was otherwise occupied so what's a guy to do on a hot sticky day? Work on the trains in a cool basement of course! 
I decided to tackle the switch modification I've previously discussed. I can say that it went well, and along with a couple of other ROW clearance repairs, I can now run my RS-1's around the outer loop on my layout. 
I had to clear all of the brush and spanish moss away from the switches before I took a cutting wheel to the solenoid frames. That stuff is tinder dry, don't need to start a fire. 
I'll restore everything after the painting is done. Interesting observation- Lionel actually took the time to shape the mold for the texture on the base plate around where the solenoid went.
First test run by. It's close but this ain't horseshoes......
While I was at it, I fixed a couple of wires that were bothering me. I cut a piece of styrene tube in half and made covers to hide them going to my upper level. Paint is next and then I'll clean up the scenery. I may finally do something about the black plywood too.
All in all a productive day on the layout.
Bob
