Week 50

Lots going on with Natalie and James wedding coming up.

If the guys weren't coming over every week, it would be hard to get anything done on the layout these days.

Here is the update from this week's session.

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Jordan Osborn and I worked on some mainline switches (in foreground).
We added the extension for the ground throw switches.

 We also straightened the eastbound mainline track (on the upper elevation - left track).
We used the leveler (bright red light) to verify our accuracy.

You can also see the other switch we worked on just on the other side of the crossover.

Here's Jordan getting a closer look.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

 Carlos Baez figured out how to solder the points to an old switch set.

He adjusted the contacts and we have a "new" old switch.

Thanks Carlos! That save us $11

 Ed Nelson working on the Intermodal Crane again.

Will we ever finish "the beast"?

 Here's another shot of Carlos working on the switch.

 Dean Hatzis is laying the EB track. 

We will finish laying all the mainline tonight!

 Carlos Baez working on project #2. 

Here he is replacing a broken knuckle coupler with a new one.

We added the car to the existing consist tonight.

 And finally. The Golden Spike.

This is the last of the mainline track laying.

We were working at the Oak Park station to make sure there was roof clearance for the long commuter cars. 

For the mainline track project we came in four weeks over schedule.

We predicted it would take 13 weeks. 

It actually took 17 weeks.

Still not a bad estimate for such a large project.

Week 49

Latest and Greatest from Week 49

More Special Projects than Scheduled projects lately.

Check out these progress pictures...

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

 Carlos Baez working on the EJ&E diamonds on the UP Mainline

 Hard at work.

 Special Guest, Josh Jones, joined us this week. He's a good friend of Jordan's.

I'm pretty sure he'll be a regular, as long as his work hours cooperate.

Here they are laying the wire that gives the curve track the "banked" look.

Note Jordan's attention to detail.

 Dean Hatzis working on the Oak Park extension.

He finished the project tonight.

 Here's Josh again showing his attention to detail.

 Carlos Baez back with some trouble shooting at the diamonds.

Bringing in the BIG GUNS for more support.

Week 48

Weekly Progress Report

We've changed our Weekly Train Sessions to Wednesdays.

However, this week Dean Hatzis was out of town so we changed to Thursday.

As time would tell, Carlos Baez wasn't able to make it this week.

Jordan had his friend, Josh, over so they just stopped by to see the layout.

Hopefully we'll all be back next week...on Wednesday!

Thursday, June 11, 2015

 Ed Nelson started the session replacing the 12.5 degree crossing at the entrance of the Union Station Terminal. The original crossing was brass, but the replacement crossing is nickel silver.

 Dean Hatzis and Curt Berg worked at the Oak Park station extension. The "machete" is the piece we're using to extend the station platform.

 Dean Hatzis trying his best to distract Ed Nelson from getting his work done.

There's that "machete" again.

 Yes, Dean does eventually settle down and get his work done too.

Here he is finishing the cork trackbed in the EastBound Proviso yard.

 I forgot to take pictures of Ed Nelson working on the Intermodal Crane.

While the glue was drying he came back to finish off the crossing.

 One more shot of Ed Nelson putting on the finishing touches.

Ed Nelson & Dean Hatzis putting the unit coal train on the mainline.

I'm sitting at the Control Tower waiting for orders to begin my route.

We ran once around.

The engines had a terrible time in their initial start-up this year. 

Hopefully they'll get it out of their system for next time.

Week 47

Another Weekly Update

Making progress - slow but sure

Safety First

Saturday, June 6, 2015
We had some guests run the trains this afternoon. See next two pictures

Here's Engineer Josh (left) and Engineer Elijah (right) under the watchful care of their Dad (background).

Here they are again with their eyes on the track. Good work, men!

Friday, June 5, 2015 

I tried to figure out a work-around with the problem with spur line switch in the South Power District.

Total and complete failure.

I tried to manually fill the gap by the frog.
Since this is a WB Mainline, it may not even be an issue because the trains will be running right to left. Let's hope so. Otherwise I'll figure out a fill and just remove it when we're switching to the siding.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Train Crew Session

At the end of our session, we started running trains.

When we unexpectedly ran into, as Jordan would say, an "uh-oh".

At the spur line switch, both CNW SD38-2s derailed. 

Here are Dean Hatzis (with light) and Ed Nelson diagnosing the possible cause.

It was late in the day, so we did not find the cause of the derailment.

More to come...

 Ed Nelson's assignment this afternoon was to install three ground switches.

One here at the spur line to the grain elevator.

The other ground throw installation was at the spur line to another industry (yet to be determined) in the East Power District.

The final install was at the spur line in the South Power District - where the engines derailed. 

Could there be a possible link to the ground throw installation?

 Jordan Osborn's assignment was to convert the plastic wheel sets on the well cars to metal wheel sets.

As we proceded with the project, we decided to keep the plastic wheel sets and make available the metal wheel sets for other car conversions.

 That leaves us with Carlos Baez and Dean Hatzis.

They worked on moving the EB main a few inches over to make way for a station platform.

And why this happened? I'll let Carlos explain in the next video...

Carlos Baez explaining why we had to rip up the Cork for the EB main in this section only.

Not sure who the "Chief Engineer" is, but his job may be in jeopardy.

We had a minor interruption in our train operations this afternoon.

My wife, Jan Berg, came down to get witness signatures for our Five Wishes document.

Little do the guys know, they just signed their intent to take care of Jan and me for the rest of our living days.

I'm just kidding. 

Oh you knew that? 

You're so smart!

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Just in case we need a picture of the switches on this part of the layout, here's a layout schematic for easy reference.

Week 46

Week 46 Progress Report

Most Recent on top

Latest on the bottom

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Fixed South Power District Crossover

Also began to run wire for power of same crossover

Here are some pics...

 Carlos Baez troubleshooting the South Power District Crossover

 Here's Carlos working under the table running wire which will power the South Power District Crossover.

 BEFORE

No power switches under dimmer switches.

 AFTER

Note: See the power switches now mounted below the dimmer switches.

Just a little better lighting...

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Returned items to B&G TrainWorld

Exchanged wheel sets to ones that match

returned Micro-Mark Truck Tuner

Bought another box car.

Monday, May 25, 2015

Troubleshooting South Power District Crossover

 Dave Worley helping troubleshoot the South Power District Crossover

Still working on the South Power District Crossover.

 Dangling switch machines under the South Power District Crossover

Distant look at South Power District crossover as WB CNW mixed freight train waits for green signal.

A video review of today's "mess". Commentary by Curt Berg