Week 135

Week 135

Sunday, February 26, 2017 thru Saturday, March 4, 2017

Monday, February 27, 2017

TRAIN NIGHT!

We had a surprise visit from Josh Jones tonight!

Jordan kept it a secret for two whole days!

So here's what we did tonight...

Rob Fair would work on filling in the gap to complete the sidewalk coming up from the viaduct.

Josh Jones and Jordan Osborn take their rightful spots at the Control Tower.

Rob Fair measures twice to cut once.

Working from the hole, Rob Fair, makes sure everything fits perfectly.

Josh Jones cuts out station signs.

We have a new dispather's report.
I will make up the orders, Josh will be the conductor, and Jordan will be the engineer.

Jordan ran this train from Geneva to downtown Chicago - on time!

Here's Josh Jones working on the signage.
You can see one of the completed signs just below his left hand.

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

I used the contraptions Rob Fair provided to attach the upper brace on the chain link fence.
They worked really well as you will see in the pictures.

In another closeup you will see the screw is used to hold down the wire.

While the wire was drying, I moved to another project.
This is the BEFORE shot.

DURING

AFTER
Project complete.

And here's the chain link fence with the top brace installed.

This is the closeup of the screws holding down the wire.

WHAT'S ON YOUR WORKBENCH THIS WEEK?
I'm making Metra signs for the station stops.

The Kedzie Avenue station sign attached.

Wednesday, March 1, 2017
TRAIN CREW DAY
The Dean Hatzis, Jordan Osborn and Curt Berg Show

Tonight, Dean Hatzis completes the parking lot to the north end of Midland Warehouse.

Jordan Osborn checks his paperwork.

Jordan Osborn double checks the Dispather's Daily Log.

Dean Hatzis continues progress on the north parking lot.

Length: 00:00:41s

We began tonight talking about Union Station.
Although we won't be tackling this project until the South Power District is complete, we thought it was worth our time tonight to discuss. So we did.

In the foreground is Dean's parking lot.
The weights are on to secure the hold.
You can see Jordan's unit coal train crossing over and bypassing the construction area.

Length: 00:00:25s

Thursday, March 2, 2017

The finished north parking lot the morning after.

Friday, March 3, 2017

I stopped by Hobby Town this afternoon and bought the tubes for the high lights for Global 1.
I also got 75% off BullFrogSnot (it's an adhesive for better locomotive traction).
And I bought the tree parts for Western Avenue.
Hopefully you'll see these items in action soon.

Saturday, March 4, 2017

All right. The first items in action are the plastic tubes I'm using to extend the "high lights" for Global 1.

Then I had to extend the wires by soldering new wires to the original leads.

Week 134

Week 134

Sunday, February 19, 2017 thru Saturday, February 25, 2017

Monday, February 20, 2017

Train Night!

Rob Fair came over tonight and we cranked out a couple of projects...

First, Rob Fair, prepared the sidewalk pieces by cutting and scoring the lines.

Next, we laid down the sidewalk pieces to see if they would fit.
See the sidewalk pieces next to the chain link fence and the walk around the crossing signals.

Here's another view down Western Avenue of the sidewalks along the chain link fence.

We pulled out the dremel tool and Rob Fair gave me some tips on how to operate the beast.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

TRAIN DAY!

Dean Hatzis or Josh Jones were not able to make it tonight.

But the rest of the crew showed up and here's what we did...

Ed Nelson began on the new workbench in the work room.
His project would be to continue working on the sidewalks on Western Avenue.

Carlos Baez did some electrical light testing to start off the night.

Here's a shot of the crew working the South Power District.
This continues to be our point of emphasis to complete before too long.

Carlos moves from the electrical light project to carving out the foundation for the Kedzie Avenue Metra Station.

Ed Nelson cuts up some more sidewallk pieces.

Jordan said, "If you won't come to me, I'll bring the paper work to you."
And that he did!

Jordan Osborn back at the Central Control Tower.

Carlos Baez making progress on the foundation.

Check out the sidewalk work on Western Avenue.

Another sidewalk view but this time from the opposite direction.

Week 133

Week 133

Sunday, February 12, 2017 thru Saturday, February 18, 2017

Sunday, February 12, 2017
I'm still working feverously on Western Avenue.
Here's the daily update:

Midland Warehouse in place.

Back view with side loading dock clearly visible.

Front view from Western Avenue viaduct.
Looking north.

I wanted to put these two side by side because I wanted you to see the model compared to the prototype at similar angles. The street you see perpendicular to Western Avenue is W. 15th Place.

Monday, February 13, 2017
TRAIN NIGHT!

with Rob Fair, Josh Jones & Jordan Osborn.

Rob Fair puts the finishing touches on the AC6000.
He reattached the MTU hoses and reapplied the couplers.
We're back in business.

Josh Jones and Jordan Osborn diliberate on how to classify the incoming donation from Mark & Laura Scheidt.

Lots of cool stuff.

In the meantime, I continued work on Kedzie Avenue underpass.

Wednesday, February 15, 2017
TRAIN DAY!

with Ed Nelson, Dean Hatzis, and Jordan Osborn

Ed Nelson is cutting the brick wall that will attach at Kedzie Avenue station.

Dean Hatzis continues work on the trim.

It appears that Jordan has spotted an incoming box elder bug.
They have become our friends. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Dean fitting in a small section of trim.

Lights, Camera, Action.
Ed Nelson cut the brick (as you can see installed) and then proceeded to prepare the stone wall.
Nice work, Ed.

Dean Hatzis completes the trim work.

Ed Nelson moves on to another project.
Will the concrete street system be used, or not be used?

Another view. You can see the tray of supplies Ed needs to sort through.

Friday, February 17, 2017
I took Jan to the airport yesterday, and now I'm working on the railroad.
Hopefully I can accomplish much while I am here alone.

More details added to Kedzie Avenue underpass.
I attached the protective coat to the brick work.
I added gutters to the right sidewalk.
I also did some work on the stone walls.

It looks like the stone walls will need some extra TLC.
I like the way the light shines. It almost looks as if the whole underpass is lit.

Saturday, February 18, 2017
Whoa, 20 pics today.
I worked hard today and very proud of what I was able to accomplish.
I made a list and checked everything off.
The only thing left to do is update this blog and my spreadsheet.

Kedzie Avenue underpass is really taking shape.

Another view a few steps back.

What happened here?
I did some investigating and found out what happened.
You'll have to ask if you're interested in what I found.

Working on the incline for the road perpendicular to Kedzie Avenue.

Before placing the Kedzie Avenue tower in place I need to drill the whole for the electrical.
Do you see it? It's pretty small, because it's the guide hole for the bigger drill bit. See next picture.

I had to drill from above and below to finish the opening.

Next I inserted a straw to remove any obstructions that the exposed wood/foam might cause to the wires.

Here you can see I cut back the straw and tacked them down.
You can see the straw inserted and you can view the concrete basement floor through the straw.

 Length: 00:00:29s
This video shows how I will set the Kedzie Avenue Tower.

I have taped off the perimeter of the building.

After cutting through the black "asphalt" I removed the "footprint".

Then I tested the fit to see if I needed to trim anything.

Everything was cut as expected and fit just right.

Another view.

And still another view.

Lenth: 00:00:23s
And this shows the final setting.

This is how the straw looks coming out of the bottom of Kedzie Avenue Tower.

A wide angle view of my work area today.
It's really taking shape.
Note the yellow center lines on Kedzie Avenue?

I even wired up the outside lights (no inside lights).

And one more overview of Kedzie Avenue with Western Avenue in the background.
I'm very pleased with the progress today.