Week 153

Week 153

Sunday, July 2, 2017 thru Saturday, July 8, 2017

Sunday, July 2, 2017

Neal, Geena, Alan, Christian, and Becca as well as Susanna and Landon stopped by the house today for a visit.

Here's a picture of Landon trying to get captured by the train camera behind him

It was only a few minutes of trains and Landon asked, "Where are the Legos?"

So it was upstairs to the Legos. What fun!

That's Landon, Alan, Christian, and Papa Neal.

Monday, July 3, 2017

Rob Fair and Jordan stopped by tonight and this is what we did...

Rob Fair trouble-shooting why the lead engine on the CNW Coal Train derails at the switches.

 A short video of the Unit Coal Train

Length: 00:00:11sec

Jordan Osborn at the controls.

We decided to build Elmhurst station at this location.

Rob Fair preparing the base.

The base is in, but not with adhesive...yet.

Here we're extending the platform beyond the base.

A look at Central Control Tower.

More work putting the pieces together for Elmhurst Station.

We cut a pattern.

Here's the pattern and the cut out piece for Elmhurst Station.

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Happy Independence Day

No trains today.

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Dean Hatzis & Ed Nelson stopped by today.

Little did we know we would be spending the entire time troubleshooting what Rob Fair started Monday night.

Check this out...

Dean Hatzis and Ed Nelson troubleshooting that same problem we had Monday night.

Getting a closer look.

Length: 00:00:06sec.

Ed Nelson & Dean Hatzis working hard to solve the problem.
It turns out it was down here where the problem started.

I will take another picture tomorrow to show you the culprit.

See the gap in the far rail?
That was the culprit.
So Dean and I cut a small piece of rail and split the connector and wedged in the splicer.
Hopefully this will solve our CNW Unit Coal Train dilemma.

Friday, July 7, 2017
I'm really hitting Elmhurst Station hard today and a little more tomorrow.

Check out these progress shots...

They all look the same, so I'll detail with captions what's going on in each picture.

First I added the wood strip that holds in the "asphalt".

I had to wait a few hours so the glue would set with the weights to hold it down.

The wood frame is in now prepare the base for the first layer.

I missed taking the glue under the first layer.
This is layer 1.

Next I put on the glue for layer 2 which will be used to bring up the level to match the sidewalk for the station.

I used a layer of "asphalt" (the three triangles) to make up the difference.

Next I put glue on the asphalt and then put the "sidewalk" pieces on top for layer 3.

Then I checked the dimensions to make sure the station would fit in nice and tight.
I also cut the piece for the extension of the 1st layer at the far end of the station platform.

The weights are next to hold everything in place while the glue cures.
The base plate for the platform is now in place including the addition I mentioned in the previous picture's caption.

Now I'm working on the platform section that runs along the tracks - between the tracks and the building.
The glue is in place for layer 2.

Layer two in place.

Layer 2 with glue applied ready for "asphalt" layer 3.

There we have it. The platform is in place and ready for more detailing tomorrow.

Saturday, July 8, 2017
I didn't work a  lot on Elmhurst Station, but just enough to make some progress.

Here are two pictures to prove it...

The only change in this picture is the removal of the weights.

Here's the station platform with the sidewalk surrounding the station.
Our next step is to mix a concrete color paint mix and paint the sidewalk sections on the station as well as the sidewalk sections surrounding the station.
Hopefully I'll get to that next week in Week 154!
I also want to install lights in the station and lamps for lighting the station platform.

Next week is VBS Week at Lord of Life Church

I had to cancel both trains dates.

Hopefully I can continue to make progress and update the blog.

So keep checking and remember to stay on track!