Week 42

Basement Train Layout Progress for the Week of  Sunday, April 26 - Saturday, May 2, 2015

Most recent on top.

Latest on the bottom.

Saturday, May 2, 2015

I know we're having guest this afternoon, so I'm getting everything ready to run.

 This past Wednesday, Carlos and Dean finished laying all the mainline cork.
Check out their technique for keeping the cork flat.

Here's another shot from a different perspective.

 And still another view.

Here he is with a very serious look.
Joshy-boy at the controls.
The left transformer controls the South and West Power Districts.
The right transformer contols the North and East Power Districts.


Wednesday, April 29, 2015
At the end of the day, we had some visitors.

My Dad, Bill Berg

My Mom, Marilyn Berg

More progress

Carlos and Dean putting down the last of the mainline cork.

Dean getting a view from the access isle.

Note the flattening technique to keep the cork secure.
Carlos bought the rolling pin for $.25 at an estate sale this past weekend.

Here's a video showing the action at the end of laying the final mainline cork.


Our work session began at 4pm today!

Carlos Baez working on the Mainline Cork Trackbed.
Little do we know right now, that we will later finish this project today!

Jordan Osborn (2nd session) works on preparing Proviso Yard for Cork Trackbed.

Dean Hatzis begins his day using the router to take out 1/16" for the deck bridge at Lake Street.

Here's a video showing everyone starting their day's duties.

Sunday, April 26, 2015

I layed some mainline track as my assignment from the Wednesday's Train Crew.

 I also layed out some switches in the East Power District.

Taking another look at the West Power District (WPD).
The mainline is complete in the WPD.
Now we're moving into the North Power District (NPD).

Week 41

Here we are. Another week working on the railroad.

We had a guest this week. Welcome Jordan Osborn my next door neighbor.

He said he had a really good time.

Enjoy the most recent on top and latest on the bottom...

Saturday, April 25, 2015

 I added a couple of yard tracks to the Metra-WeGo yard.
Work in progress...

 Finished. Added the two north tracks you see in this picture.

 Then I went out in the garage and finished cutting the cork for the mainline to prepare for the Train Crew coming on Wednesday.

A closer view of the cut cork.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

 Made some great progress on laying the cork.

I have my work cut out for me next week before our next Wednesday Work session.

 Who's are those carpenter hands?

Dean Hatzis of course. 

Working on adjusting the base plate for smooth operations.

 Ed Nelson working on the Intermodal Global 1 Crane kit.

Lots of details. More than what you think.

 Welcome Jordan Osborn. Our newest Club Member.

Good to have you here!

 What progress!

Carlos Baez already past Proviso and on to Bellwood.

 Dean Hatzis taking the higher road. 

Working on the cork track bed on the elevated section.

 Jordan Osborn smoothing out the cork base at Union Station.

Healthy discussion of how the deck bridge at Lake Street should be handled.

Check out some of the live discussion in the video here...

Sunday, April 19, 2015

I painted the wheel well and tires on the Crane kit.

Week 40

Latest and Greatest from the Basement Train Layout.

Here's what happened this week.

Most recent on TOP

Latest on the Bottom.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Our Weekly Workshop

 Carlos Baez installing cork in the West Power District.

We'll finish laying the track for the Metra/WeGo Yard this week.

 Carlos Baez making his way into Proviso Yard preparing the way for the Mainline with Cork.

 Ed Nelson working on the Global 1 Crane for Intermodal operations.

 Dean Hatzis readjusting the original Cork lead to the terminal.

We decided to lay the full sheet of cork instead of putting in this section (Dean is taking out).

 Track work is really taking shape.

Dean making progress on the Cork sheet for the Union Station Terminal.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

 I was laying additional track on the mainline and the yard feeder in the West Power District.

Yes, we're expanding beyond the South Power District. 

The only track work that needs to be completed in the South Power District is the Metra/WeGo Yard.

I'll wait until we have the switches and decide on the type of maintenance shop to install to finish that project.

Week 39

Here's the weekly activity with the most recent on top...

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Continued work on the East portion of the Metra/WeGo Yard.

More Mainline Track work.
We've layed all the Mainline track in the South Power District.
We're proceeding by laying track in the West Power District.
Making progress!

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Our Weekly Workshop

 Ed Nelson working on the Intermodal Crane kit.

 Dean Hatzis making plan adjustments to Lake Street deck bridge.

Carlos Baez zoning in on ground throw switch installation.

 Another view of Dean Hatzis working at Union Station.

 Ed Nelson keeping things organized with crane construction.

 Dean Hatzis laying some mainline track. Nice work, Dean!

 Great progress, Carlos!

Picking up the pieces.

Monday, April 6, 2015

Here I'm working on the Metra/WeGo Yard throat.
You can see I've outlined (in red) the areas where the ground throw switch plates will sit.

I cut them out. And then...

Lay in the switches.

 Here's a single switch with the same detail on the western end of the Metra/WeGo Yard.
First, mark where the ground throw switch plate will fit.

 Then, cut out the area for proper fitting.

Finally, lay in the switch.
Done!

Here's the finished product from the opposite direction.

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Worked on Global 1 details.

Added the trailer frames for the semi-trucks.

I also worked on the plate extensions for the switches in the Metra/WeGo Yard.

Here the switches are flipped over to install the plate extensions.

 A close up shot of the plate attached to the switch and the extension - extension is hidden from view.

Another shot of the extension underneath the switch.

Last shot of the under belly of the switch.