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Rene Gourley

@renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy
37 followers 7 following 371 posts

Hello Fediverse! Allow me to introduce myself. I have the great fortune to live in North Vancouver - the best place to live in the world (thanks to the […] 🌉 bridged from ⁂ cosocial.ca/@renegourley, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact

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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 21h
#hobbyStreak 72. The late afternoon sun streaming in through the basement window made this interesting view of the wheat field. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
The low sun casts the distant water tower and the tool shed mostly into shadow, while the wheat field in the foreground is brilliant gold.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 22/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 71. Tonight was Oktobahnfest, and a dozen local modellers came by to see what’s happened on Pembroke. Of course one of the points on switch ten broke minutes before the first guest arrived. Fortunately, I was able to put it right quickly. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
The switch of Turnout 10 shortly after repair.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 21/10/2026
@jfmezei there are various approaches. But you are right: the frog needs to either be isolated completely or be able to switch polarities. On my layout, I started with DPST micro switches that changed the polarity, but then replaced them with a circuit that detects the short and flips the […]
cosocial.ca
Original post on cosocial.ca
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 21/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 70. Dispatched an operating session on the Boundary Sub. Sadly, no photos. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
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Reposted by Rene Gourley
Fair Vote Canada 🗳️🍁 @fairvote.ca · 20/10/2026
Less than a year after rejecting an all-party recommendation for an electoral reform citizen's assembly, David Eby is begging BC Greens to bail out the NDP, while keeping electoral reform off the table. See our write-up on this political cynicism: www.fairvote.ca/19/10/2026/d...
fairvote.ca
David Eby's last minute plea not to vote Green shows the voting system is broken. He could commit to fixing it.
It’s not too late for David Eby and the BC NDP to commit to act on the recommendations of BC’s all-party committee on Democratic and Electoral Reform.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 20/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 69. I think I may have a clue about switch 9. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
My hairy knuckles and a track gauge on switch 9.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 19/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 68. Oh bother! I thought I had turnout 9 working perfectly! #modelRailway #modelRailroad
1120 all over the ballast, having picked the points at turnout 9.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 18/10/2026
A query from a Bluesky user: “Are you using a juicer because it is more reliable than a point switch?” The turnouts are operated by (modified) FastTracks Bullfrog units, which incorporate microswitches for frog polarity. I have found the switches fall out of adjustment over time, and because […]
cosocial.ca
Original post on cosocial.ca
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Reposted by Rene Gourley
Osma A 🇫🇮🇺🇦 @osma.fishpool.org · 18/10/2026
This is the kind of kill switch us F-35 customers can also expect to see wrt the planes' ability to update electronic warfare and enemy radar location maps.
mstdn.social
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 18/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 67. Filled some gaps around the Thicket and Pasture. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Turnouts 7 and 8 border onto the thicket and pasture. There were some large gaps between them and the roadbed that have now been filled with tinted wood filler.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 17/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 66. Resolved a failing frog juicer issue by simply moving to another one. Curious. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Frog juicer board under Pembroke with seven LEDs lit.  They change from green to red when they detect a short and switch polarities.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 16/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 65. Finally resolved the issues with turnout 8. It was a pain in the back, being two feet into the scene beyond the roundhouse and turntable, standing on a stool leaning into the scene. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Geezer standing on a step stool and leaning past the roundhouse to get at switch 8 with a gauge.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 15/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 64. Another evening of track woes: I made this switch worse! #modelRailway #modelRailroad
The switch of turnout #8, with a test truck that took the wrong route.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 14/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 63. Moving the guardrails on turnout 7 seems to have resolved the sneaky problem. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
My hairy fingers use a gauge to check the check gauge on turnout 7
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 13/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 62. Working on a sneaky problem with turnout 7. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
The frog of turnout 7 with a test truck parked on it.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 12/10/2026
@dwegmull.bsky.social good idea!
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 12/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 61. Finished up the repair to turnout #6. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Frog and insulated joint area of turnout 6. Now with more spikes.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 10/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 60 running trains on the Kettle Valley Railway. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Passenger num 46 passing through the snow shed near Romeo
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 10/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 59. Maybe resolved a derailment on switch 6? Have to wait for some glue to set to find out. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
The frog area of Switch 6 with a track gauge at the point where the electrical gap is.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 09/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 58. Troubleshooting a derailment on switch 6. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Switch 6 from above.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 08/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 57. Printed and chopped up a bunch of bills of lading so the agent will know who those coal cars should be delivered to. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Desk showing (left to right) the clearance for for train 46. Bills of lading for coal to Lee Manufacturing and Beatty Manufacturing. Way Bill for four cars to Pembroke
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 07/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 56. Drove the coal cars into Pembroke for a group photo. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
1120 pulls number 46, the afternoon mixed train past the roundhouse.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 06/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 55. Put together the project book for the coal cars. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Screen capture of Blurb Bookwright showing a page about the coal cars
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 04/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 54. Put together the project book for the thicket. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Blurb Bookwright screenshot of the Thicket project book showing the last page with the thicket installed.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 04/10/2026
RE: pembroke87.ca/2026/10/03/all-in-the… #hobbyStreak 54. Published another blog post, catching up on the thicket #modelRailway #modelRailroad
pembroke87.ca
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 03/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 53. Added pedestal ties to the passenger truck #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Onshape screen capture showing the passenger truck from below with new straps tying the pedestals together and to the ends of the frames.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 02/10/2026
#hobbyStreak 52. Added the axle safety strap and bearings to the passenger truck #modelRailway #modelRailroad
OnShape screen capture of the passenger truck with safety strap and bearing bolted to the safety beam. Some other additional details include more pedestal bolts and the four tie rods.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 30/09/2026
#hobbyStreak 51. Added swing hangers to the passenger truck. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Screenshot of OnShape passenger truck from below illustrating the spring hangers and attendant straps.
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Reposted by Rene Gourley
Fair Vote Canada 🗳️🍁 @fairvote.ca · 29/09/2026
If politicians feared opposition majorities with 40% of the vote, they would pass proportional representation. Instead, they rely on fear to lock in votes without earning them. Eventually the pendulum swings, leaving us stuck with the outcome we feared, under the system they refused to fix.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 29/09/2026
#hobbyStreak 49. Added some details to the passenger truck #modelRailway #modelRailroad
OnShape screen capture of 1890s passenger truck. Since yesterday, I've added the helical springs to the equalizing bar, the transom truss rods, and the side frame reinforcing bolts
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 27/09/2026
#hobbyStreak 48. Roughed in much of a passenger truck #modelRailway #modelRailroad
OnShape screen capture of an 1890s passenger truck without wheels or any details.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 26/09/2026
#hobbyStreak 47. Catching up on the blog. #modelRailway #modelRailroad pembroke87.ca/2026/09/26/thicket-tw…
pembroke87.ca
Nowadays, the cool kids are all using static grass to make the tiny lesser branches and twigs for their trees. As with my leather tie and Adidas bag, I tried to copy them, but the look fell flat. My static grass mostly missed the mark, and the few fibres that connected clung to the armature the way my friends and I gripped the walls at the dance, rather than sticking out proudly like the senior football team or like branches of a tree. I contented myself with sipping the constantly-guarded punch and went back to polyfibre for branch structure. For each tree, I selected a small amount of painted brown polyfibre and stretched that out further until it barely held together. Aileen tacked the twig structure to the wire branches, and the resulting worktop looked enough like a forest in winter to convince me I was on the right track. I stayed with Super Leaves for decorating the trees. Most of the trees in the thicket have medium green leaves, but there were a few distinctly brighter ones and one overachieving maple tree with noticeably larger leaves. The maple tree trunk was easy to identify as tree number 16. The lighter green trees were impossible to tease out of the mass, and so I selected a few trees that were in the right areas, and assigned them the light-green species, whether they deserved it or not. I applied the hairspray and leaves in the spray booth. The spray may be benign in the quantity you’d apply to your hair, but not for a forest. It took several trees to learn that it was possible to avoid blowing the polyfibre off the tree. By starting away from the tree, I could modulate the spray so that it came out gently and nicely saturated the twigs without getting a lot of spray on the trunk. I then quickly sprinkled dark leaves from below and to the side, followed by some medium green leaves from above and to the side. Most trees needed only one sprinkling. My species-assigned trees got medium and spring green Super Leaves. For the maple, I wanted bigger leaves. I found some appropriate flakes from Mountain Pacific in my scenery drawer. They were a lighter, bluer green than the Scenic Express leaves, and so I hand-painted them after they were stuck to the tree. The colour is still too blue, but hopefully it’s in the ballpark. Super Leaf tree on the left and Mountain Pacific tree before painting A Mountain Pacific tree after painting. Super Leaf tree on the right. Apart from the maple trees, leafing went quickly and I soon had a desk full of trees, any one of which would pass scrutiny by itself. ### Share this: * Share on X (Opens in new window) X * Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Like Loading... ### _Related_
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 26/09/2026
#hobbyStreak 46. Spent a lot of time staring at drawings of passenger trucks. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Page of a Trainshed Cyclopedia repro of the 1898 Car Builders Dictionary
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 24/09/2026
#hobbyStreak 45. The thicket is installed. Just need to fill in around it now. #ModelRailway #modelRailroad
The thicket with its backdrop installed at the end of the layout.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 24/09/2026
#hobbyStreak 45. Painted the thicket backdrop. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Backdrop painted to try to match the colours in the model, rather than the real colours. The real photo is displayed on an iPad behind.
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Reposted by Rene Gourley
Fair Vote Canada 🗳️🍁 @fairvote.ca · 23/09/2026
Proportional representation incentivises cross-partisan consensus and cooperation. First-past-the-post incentivises politicians to call snap elections when polling shows an increased majority with 30–40% of the vote is within reach.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 23/09/2026
#hobbyStreak 44. Test fit of the Thicket in situ. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
The thicket in place beside the pasture and behind the coal dock
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 22/09/2026
Thank-you!
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 22/09/2026
#hobbyStreak 43. Planted almost all the trees in the thicket. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
The thicket board is clamped in a vise on the temporary workbench and the 58 trees have all been jammed into their holes.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 20/09/2026
#hobbyStreak 42. Put leaves on almost all the thicket trees. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Wire and polyfibre trees on my workbench now with Superleaves from Scenic Express
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 20/09/2026
#hobbyStreak 41. Twigged more trees #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Desk full of more wire and polyfibre trees
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 19/09/2026
RE: pembroke87.ca/2026/09/18/toward-pin… #hobbyStreak 40. Finished the blog post about pine trees. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
pembroke87.ca
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 18/09/2026
#hobbyStreak 39. Twigged up a few trees. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Some more wire armatures with poly-fibre twigs.
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Reposted by Rene Gourley
Fair Vote Canada 🗳️🍁 @fairvote.ca · 17/09/2026
First-past-the-post doesn't stop early elections, as seen in ON, NS, and potentially BC. FPTP incentivises snap votes whenever polls hint at an increased artificial majority through key swing ridings. Proportional representation removes this incentive, encouraging parties to cooperate
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 17/09/2026
#hobbyStreak 38. Planted some trees. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Some model pine and poplar trees along the back of the thicket planted in my grassy piece of plywood
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Reposted by Rene Gourley
Fair Vote Canada 🗳️🍁 @fairvote.ca · 16/09/2026
If European Union closeness and U.S. decoupling are popular, why do we keep the voting system of the latter and not the former? Most EU nations and the EU Parliament use proportional representation. It is time we adopt proportional voting to match our values.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 16/09/2026
#hobbyStreak 37. Made another pine tree. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Model white pine
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 15/09/2026
Thank-you! I’ll have to write it up in a blog post. It’s too much for a toot!
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 15/09/2026
#hobbyStreak 36. Added some twigs to trees for the thicket. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Wire armature birch tree with twigs.
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Rene Gourley @renegourley.cosocial.ca.ap.brid.gy · 13/09/2026
#hobbyStreak 35. Made some pine boughs. #modelRailway #modelRailroad
Pieces of fibrous furnace filter separated and sprayed brown
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