Week 83

Week 83

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

We're back!

However, Ed Nelson and Dean Hatzis couldn't make it tonight.

Ed was under the weather.

Dean was helping a friend finish an important project.

BUT!

Carlos finally is back on day shift and he made his first appearance in two months!

YEAH!

Here's what we did tonight...

 Carlos Baez checking out where he left off two months ago.

 Making assessment as to where we go from here.

 My MAIN MAN Engineer at the controls.

Jordan Osborn ran three trains tonight.

The first train was the Metra Commuter train.

We were checking the roof clearance at the Oak Park/Lombard Station.

 Then he ran the Amtrak train. No pictures.

Finally he ran the UP Westbound Intermodal train.

Carlos making inspection as the train rumbles by.

 Another shot of the men in action.

 We determined after running all three trains by the Oak Park/Lombard station that the roof line needs to be trimmed 1/8" off both sides.

 Carlos Baez removing the roof from the base.

Can you tell I cleaned the lens before I took this picture?

 Making the 1/8" measurements for ripping at home.

Jordan Osborn at the controls. 

Carlos working on the Oak Park/Lombard Station roof.

I liked the way this looked coming down the incline.

Next time I'll take a video to get all the action.

This weekend we took a train ride from Geneva to Elburn.
When the train approached Geneva Station, I noticed the engine was the prototype of the one at home.

Check this out:

And my model of the prototype.
Pretty cool if I don't say so myself :)

Week 82

Week 82

I'm on vacation this week -

so we're taking the week OFF.

However, in preparation for our trip to Arizona I took a virtual tour of the basement to show my brother-in-law, Jeff (Jan's twin) what the train layout looks like.

Here you go. This is what I'm going to show him:

I started in the kitchen and then worked my way down the stairs

TO THE TRAINS

Length: 1.57

On
Wednesday, February 17, 2016

we climbed Pichaso Peak.

While we were taking in the breathtaking view from the top two trains went by.

I took videos of each.

Length: .20

Length: .11

On
Thursday, February 18, 2016

Jeff & Michelle took me to the HobbyTown.

Jeff bought me two "Big Trees"
I bought a SW1500 UP switcher.

On our way home
Saturday, February 20, 2016

I took some shots of trains along I10

When I got home I had to "stage" my latest prized possessions:

SW1500 UP 1064
With the nice "Big Trees" as its background

Week 81

Week 81

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Here's what we did tonight.
Missing were Carlos and Dean
Attending were Curt, Ed, & Jordan

 Getting ready to work on Western Avenue.
Not tonight, but getting ready for the future.

 The view looking east via Global 1.

 Ed Nelson working on track layout for the Industrial Park.

 A bird's eye view.

 Another view.

 Jordan Osborn at the controls.

 Progress.

 Another view of progress.

Jordan working the administrative desk.

Week 80

Week 80

Chronological order top to bottom

Sunday, January 31, 2016

I got motivated for some reason and started to do some station platforms. I also installed insulators in the train shed at Union Station.  Here are some pics to capture the moment.

Still need to add the overhang, but I did cut the platforms to compensate for the extra room.

Added the commuter cars to make sure there was enough clearance at the footwalk.

 The engine shed at Union Station. 

 Then I decided to add the platform at Geneva Station.

I did this last night.

 Here's the same station platform looking north.

I first had to add the base for the station platform.

 Removed the tacks and preparing for the station platform.

Then added the station platform.

I also tested with a commuter train and a freight train. 

No clearance problems.

We'll secure on Wednesday.

TRAIN DAY

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Missing Jordan and Carlos. Jordan not feeling well tonight.
Carlos, maybe back next week. Maybe...

Ed and Dean Working on the Railroad...

 Ed Nelson prepared the surface for gluing down the first layer of Styrofoam board.

 Another angle.

 Tonight, Dean Hatzis will fix all the track that has buckled for whatever reason, we don't know.
Go back to Week 77 to see the "Before" pictures.
See below for the "After" pictures.

 Wow! 

That was fast. 

Now that the first layer is glued, we need to put weights on the top to keep it secured.

 Another view.

 Back to Dean working out the "kinks".

 Also, on the elevated section.

 After the Styrofoam board was in place, Ed Nelson began working on ground throws for the switches in the Metra/WeGo Yard.

Good work, Ed!

Length: .17sec.

Some action videos of the men at work.

Length: .12sec.

More action footage...

Length: .18sec.

Final video for the evening.

 These next view pics show the corrected rails after Dean straightened them out.

The Elevated section.

 Proviso Yard Mainline down the center.

 Opposite view.

Nice work, Dean.

 Final weight bearing on the Styrofoam boards.

Yet another view.


Friday, February 5, 2016

Jordan stopped by this afternoon for some extra work.
He missed Wednesday's Train Day so used today as a "catch up" day.

Here's what we did...

We glued the top layer for the Industrial Park. Next up: track laying.

 Another view of the Industrial Park top layer.

 We ran an outbound Metra train and had some track "issues" at the WeGo back diamonds.
It actually damaged the air hose on the new Metra F40PH.
Our plans are to replace that coupler, with a used one without the "air hose".
The inbound Metra ran on schedule.

 We also glued down the platform at the Geneva Station.
We use what's available for weights.

Here's the ON TIME inbound Metra train arriving Chicago Union Station.
Note: we switched out the new F40PH locomotive with an older model of the same make.