Monday, April 23, 2018

Week 195

Week 195

Sunday, April 22, 2018 thru Saturday, April 28, 2018

Sunday, April 22, 2018
No train activity today.

Monday, April 23, 2018
Train Day!
with Rob Fair, Jordan Osborn, Josh Jones
It was a marathon tonight for Curt and Rob (2.5 hrs)
Josh became ill at the 1.5 hr. mark.

I wanted to finish the lights at Union Station and that's exactly what we did.

Check this out...
Rob Fair begins the LED light installation on the ceiling of the Union Station Track Terminal

Jordan Osborn reviews the paperwork while Josh Jones controls the train.
What train? But he sure looks good, doesn't he?

Rob Fair continues the solder job on the LED light project.

It's always a surprise when the lights actually work!

Josh Jones and Jordan Osborn work on the traffic lights around Union Station in downtown Chicago.

Meanwhile, Rob Fair continues around the table working on the LED platform lights.

Rob Fair works on the junction.

I wanted to capture some of the soldering action.
Here you go...
Length: 00:00:19 sec.

Lighting almost complete.


Lighting now complete.

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Tuesday, April 24, 2018
No train activity today.


Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Train Day!
Just Jordan Osborn and me today, from 3:30-5:30pm
I got up early to prepare for the afternoon session.

Here's a video of the project:
Length: 00:00:30 sec.


I'm starting to lay the white glue around the edges of the LED light strip.

Here you can see how I've glued down the connecting wires.

It took about 30 minutes.

Finishing up.

Since Dean couldn't come and Ed got busy Jordan came over early.
Jordan Osborn and I figured out how to symbol the traffic signals around Union Station.


I'm ready for painting.

Starting down the middle.

More than half way there.

DONE!
It's ready for flipping as soon as I glue in the people on the platform below.
Ethan Toomire stopped by and we laid out the figures.
Once section is for the Amtrak passengers.
The other section in the foreground is for the Metra Commuters.

Thursday, April 26, 2018
No train activity today.


Friday, April 27, 2018
No train activity today.


Saturday, April 28, 2018
My grandson, Josiah, loves trains.
We had a sleepover last night and today we spent some time playing trains.
Check out these pics and video...
Josiah was genuinely interested in watching the trains on the monitors and in person.

He's usually pretty active, but when he watches the trains he's very intent.
Check out this video and you'll see what I mean.
Length: 00:00:27 sec.

After Natalie and Josiah went home I returned to the layout and finished a couple of projects.
I drilled the hole for the station clock.

I also drilled the hole for the Track Boxes.
These will identify the track and the schedule for each line.

Finally, I prepared the people for placement.
Walkers, runners, and standers.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Week 194

Week 194

Sunday, April 15, 2018 thru Saturday, April 21, 2018

Sunday, April 15, 2018
I started working on the building bases and sidewalks for downtown Melrose Park



Monday, April 16, 2018
TRAIN DAY!
Rob Fair wasn't able to come tonight, but Jordan Osborn did come and we ran some trains.
Engineer Jordan Osborn preparing for his shift.

Length: 00:00:29 sec.

Length: 00:00:21 sec.

Third Street Crossing two UP SD40-2 leading an intermodal around the bend.

2nd lead engine passes by as the intermodal train rounds the corner at 3rd Street Geneva.

Length: 00:00:11 sec.

After the intermodal train passed by I took to the sky and shot this bird's-eye view of Global 1.

Tuesday, April 17, 2018
No train activity today.

Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Train Day!
Josh Jones (1.5) came with Dean Hatzis (1) followed by me (1.5) then Jordan Osborn (1.25) and finally Ed Nelson (1)

We worked pretty hard tonight and accomplished the following...
Josh Jones and Jordan Osborn prepare for what lies ahead.

Dean Hatzis and "the pose" -
"Don't mess with me."

We'll finish the final trim piece tonight.
Dean Hatzis positions the clamps in place.

Plus added the trim by Chicago Terminal that we left off previously.

Monday night I glued the gutters.
Tonight I'm painting them as you can see and see what we get.

Ed Nelson says, "Very good, very good."
"I like this train."

Two CNW C40-8s pulling 20 car unit coal train.

Calling it a day!

Ed Nelson gets ready to go too with a smile on his face.
BUT! before he goes we do one more thing...
We put in one strip of the LED lights for the Chicago Terminal Track Platform lights.

Here it is again, but with the overhead lights off.

Thursday, April 19, 2018
No train activity today.

Friday, April 20, 2018
I'm subbing today, but had a break and came home to widen 19th Street.
Compare and contrast these two before/after pictures...
BEFORE - lanes are pretty tight.

AFTER - now we can put in a parking lane.
See the width of the taxi?
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Before Elijah and Joshy-Boy come over today, I started working on the bridge that leads to Melrose Park downtown...

Get ready, because today will be transformational for this section.
First, I installed the bridge with proper supports.
This evening, Ben took the boys to a movie and I spent a little time on the layout.
I added the yellow do not cross traffic lines.

I added the additional lines close to the RR bridge.

Finally, I weathered the road.

I glued down the supports, put weights on top, will let it set overnight and then I will paint them gray in Week 195.
More later...keep in touch.