Week 145

Week 145

Sunday, May 7, 2017 thru Saturday, May 13, 2017

Sunday, May 7, 2017
Today was the DuPage County Train Show in Wheaton.

We decided not to attend today, but will plan on going to the June 11th show.

Instead, Jordan came over and we worked a bit on the layout.

Check it out...

Here I'm using the picnic table to hold up the top horizontal pipe.

Now I'm using the picnic table to hold up the middle pipe to secure in place.

Jordan and I are getting ready to install Geneva Station.
The white blob is the glue that holds the electrical tubing in place.

Another of Jordan's antics as we spot Geneva Station with ceiling lights.

There are the LED lights being prepared for mounting.

I should've taken one more picture of Geneva Station lit up.

You'll have to wait until tomorrow.
I'll capture the picture when Jordan and Rob come over for trains tomorrow evening.

Monday, May 8, 2017
Jordan Osborn (2), Rob Fair (1.75), Josh Jones (1), and I (2) worked on the layout tonight.
(hours shown in parenthesis).

Rob Fair and I tested the resistors to see how they were affected with 9volt power supply.
This test was without any resistors. Just a bit too bright.

This test was with 470 ohms resistor.
This is the resistor I will use to replace the 1k resistors currently used for Global 1. 

This is the 1k resistor that came with the unit from China.

After Rob and I finished the resistor testing,
Rob Fair went to Kedzie Avenue to finish the railings.

The boys were at work at the Central Control Tower doing the Research and Development.

After placing Geneva Station in place I realized there was a center platform.
Geneva Station doesn't have a center platform so it had to go.
Here are the sections already removed.

And here's the center platform base which will also be removed to make way for the ballast.
I will then add the safety fence down the middle of the mainlines.

Rob Fair continues his work on the railings at Kedzie Avenue.

Rob Fair putting in the finishing touches.

Isn't it amazing how many tools one must use throughout the evening?

One last view of Josh Jones and Jordan Osborn as we prepare to "call it a day".
Man we're hungry! Haven't eaten all day! YIIKES!

Oops!
I did promise you a picture of Geneva Station at night.

Here you go...

Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Emily Zielke (my daughter) Mabel, Henry, and Ida (my grandkids) joined Jan and me for supper tonight.

After they left I went into the basement and...

finished tearing out the middle platform at Geneva Station.

Then I put in the guides on the far side for the north platform.

Here the glue is setting and the weights are on for the long overnight wait.

And here in the foreground is the rest of the debris leftover from the demolition of the center platform which Geneva never had. In the background you can see Geneva Station now has a north platform.

Wednesday, May 10, 2017
TRAIN DAY!
The whole crew was here today!

We had a hard time getting the selfie going, but finally ended up with a pretty decent group shot...

How does this work?

Now we're getting the idea...

And finally, a bit blurry, but make sure you capture Dean's smile!
Left to right: Curt Berg, Carlos Baez, Ed Nelson, Jordan Osborn, Dean Hatzis

Coming to Train Day today was a bit of a sacrifice for Dean Hatzis.
His daughter, Zoey, is most likely going to deliver her new baby today or tomorrow.
And where is Grandpa?
He's with they guys at Train Day!

After we discussed layout progress we were off to our assignments.

Carlos Baez was assigned the hand railings up the stairs at Kedzie Station.
Jordan Osborn is doing his best to distract the workers.

Carlos shows us his height "jig" which will determine how high he would place the railing supports.

Meanwhile, this week at home, Dean Hatzis finished the shed at the Kedzie Avenue Center Track Platform.
You can see Ed Nelson is working on the installation of that shed.

Dean Hatzis and Ed Nelson both waiting for Engineer Jordan Osborn to move the train for clearance testing.

Carlos Baez continues his work on the stairway hand railings at Kedzie Avenue Station.

Look closely to see the railing supports.

Results of Clearance Testing: Pass!

Dean Hatzis and Ed Nelson then moved to check track cleaning car clearance at the signal bridges.

A finished look at part of our work accomplished tonight.

Same location opposite vantage point.

Moving down the mainline, Dean Hatzis spots the track cleaning car and checks for clearance.
Dean decided to take the signal bridge home to make some adjustments.
Anxious to see what he does this week.

And finally, Ed and Dean discuss the plans to make sure clearance is correct at all signal bridges around the layout.
There are 4 (four) signal bridges throughout the layout. One in each of the four power districts.

Saturday, May 13, 2017
I took some time today to work on the Geneva Station Platform.

Check this out...

I'm going to use Dark Black Grout for this fill.

Here's the powder.

Add a bit of water to make it "soupy".
I was a bit disappointed it was so bumpy.

Even though it was a bit bumpy it actually went on pretty smooth.
I was surprised.

I etched out the edges.

Then took off the guards.
Not bad, not bad at all.