Murphy's Take On Maintenance

Monday I decided to go into the train room and replace the tortoise switch machine that Jerry sabotage during the last OPS session.

Since this tortoise didn't control any signals it would be a quick and easy replacement.  I estimated about 1/2 hour for the task.  This included obtaining the needed materials and tools, replacing the tortoise and putting everything away.

I had a rebuilt tortoise that had lost its ability to control signals and used that for the replacement.  I obtain the solder, the tortoise, a soldering iron, a Dremel (to cut off the throw bar), a screw driver, needle nose pliers, a flashlight and a extension cord.  I placed them on the floor next to the work area then pinned the skirting up and got down on the floor.

Now getting down and back up off the floor is becoming MORE difficult and I didn't want to have to do this more than once so I made sure I had everything I needed before getting on the floor.

The process to replace the sabotaged tortoise was to locate the tortoise, remove two soldered wires, remove two screws, loosen two screws, remove the offending tortoise and then reverse the process.  This all went well.  In fact it took less time than I expected.

Next step was to get up off the floor.  That took longer than replacing the tortoise!

Once off the floor I noticed I had replaced the WRONG tortoise!

Now I had to get back DOWN on the floor and use the newly removed tortoise to replace the sabotaged tortoise that still held it current position.

The process to replace it was the same as before.  However getting up off the floor took EVEN LONGER!

Once off the floor again I confirmed I had replaced the correct tortoise and that both were working.  I then put away all of the tools and took the sabotaged tortoise apart to see what had happened.  Nothing appeared wrong but it will not work so it is now parts.

Time to this point was about 90 minutes.

My question is WHY CAN'T MURPHY TAKE A VACATION!