Week 274

Sunday, October 27, 2019 thru Saturday, November 2, 2019

Sunday, October 27, 2019

NTA

Monday, October 28, 2019

Train Day!
with Rob Fair (6-8p.m. 2 hrs.)

Starting the night figuring out what gauge wire to use for feeder to bus wires.

Now we need to test where the gaps in voltage are per track.

Testing each track for proper voltage reading.
Should be 14v.

We figured out why some tracks weren't working.
I had to rewire the white feeder wires because some of them weren't connected in the twist cap.

Rob is patiently testing each engine as it heads into each assigned track.

Mission accomplished.
All engine facilities tracks working and in order.
Great work tonight, Rob Fair!!!

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

NTA

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Fall Fest at Lord of Life Church

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Halloween Night at Elburn Food Pantry Dinner

Friday, November 1, 2019

Late start for subbing, so I had some time to work on the RR
I cleaned up the workbench.
Check out the progress here:

First I will start with a video introduction...

Length: 00:00:11 sec.

My project beginning...where shall I start?

Starting Point: What a mess!
This picture was taken by my tablet.

Same picture, different camera

Starting  Point: What a mess!
this picture was taken by my cell phone.
Which one do you prefer?

Most of the stuff is cleared.
Now getting ready to decide what to leave on the workbench.

And the winner is...

The two models of the 85' flat cars made for semi-trailer transport.

After I finished subbing, Jordan Osborn stopped by to run some trains.

Here are some video of today's operations.
First we need to run around a train to take it off the mainline.

Length: 00:00:23 sec.

Then we need to crossover so we can be on the right track.

Length: 00:00:34 sec.

Finally, we need to connect to the train waiting at Melrose Park so we can move it into Proviso Yard.

Length: 00:00:24 sec.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Getting ready to head to Kenilworth IL to participate in C24/7 Annual Fundraising event.

Week 273

Sunday, October 20, 2019 thru Saturday, October 26, 2019

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Train Day!

moved from Monday to Sunday this week:

Rob Fair 6-8pm 2 hrs.

Jordan Osborn 6-7:30pm 1.5 hrs.

Rob Fair begins tonight at CNW Engine Facility checking continuity through the switches.

Jordan Osborn preparing for the Test Train we'll run tonight.

The Maintenance Crew (Rob Fair) waiting for the Test Train to pass his area.

Drive by Maintenance Crew (Rob Fair)

Length: 00:00:23 sec.

Crossover #1 at Geneva

Length: 00:00:30 sec.

Replacing the 2nd of two switches at CNW Engine Facility.

Monday, October 21, 2019

NTA

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

NTA

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Train Day!
w/Cameron Passaglia (4-6pm 2 hrs.)
Special Guest: Grace Passaglia (Cam's sister)

Oh my, what happened to the bottom of this car?

Entering data into our database...

Oh no!
So many mishaps tonight.
What are we gonna do?

I like this perspective from underneath the I294 overpass.

Cam took lots of videos tonight.
It's fun to watch and hear from his perspective.
Look & Listen...

Length: 00:00:32 sec.

A look from below the I294 overpass

Length: 00:00:31 sec.

Approaching Proviso Yard

Length: 00:00:30 sec.

When strange things began to happen...

Video doesn't display because it's too large. Sorry :(

Length: 00:00:57 sec.

More on track reporting...

Video doesn't display because it's too large. Sorry :(

Length: 00:00:55 sec.

Finding more evidence...

Length: 00:00:32 sec.

Excited to show the layout to Special Guest, Grace Passaglia:

Video doesn't display because it's too large. Sorry :(

Length: 00:00:51 sec.

More layout tour for Grace

Length: 00:00:25 sec.

Some night scenes

Length: 00:00:45

Thursday, October 24, 2019

NTA

Friday, October 25, 2019

NTA

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Kuipers Train Engineer 8:30am - 1pm
Came home early and worked on spreadsheet and blog.
I also did some work on the railroad as you will see by the following pics:

Here I entered  the cars that went through inspections this afternoon on my maintenance spreadsheet.

Here are the cars waiting on the test track waiting for the next opportunity to get on the mainline.

WHAT'S ON YOUR WORKBENCH?

Turned off the computer and sorting stuff to be put away after a heavy day working the inspection of rail cars.

Week 272

Week 272

Sunday, October 13, 2019 thru Saturday, October 19, 2019

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Train Show

DuPage Co. Fairgrounds

Wheaton IL

What I found at the Train Show today.

What I paid for what I found at the Train Show today:
Entry Fee: $7
UP Cabooses: $10
5 box cars: $20
1 weathered CNW boxcar: $10
Terminal Strip: $5
2 semi trailers: $10
1 EMP intermodal container: $7
Total Spent: $69

Monday, October 14, 2019

Train Day!

with Rob Fair (6-7:30pm 1.5 hrs.) and Jordan Osborn (6-7pm 1 hr.)

Rob Fair uses the first ever used Continuity Tester to figure out where the switch is faulty.

Jordan Osborn poses for his "peace-out" shot.

More switch testing.

We soldered a feeder wire across the faulty switch and look for the light on the continuity tester.
Success!

Even Jordan Osborn got into checking up close and personal.

Jordan Osborn calls it a night.
Began with "peace" ends with "peace".
Peace Out bro!

Finishing the night with testing power to the switches at the CNW Engine Facility.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

I traveled to B&G Trainworld today and look what I brought home...

The covered 2 bay hopper ($17.10) and the rail joiners ($4.25) plus tax $1.81 equals $23.16

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Train Day!

w/Cam Passaglia (4-5:30pm 1.5 hrs.)

Cam Passaglia was a big help today.
Let's take a look at some of what we accomplished.

The westbound Unit Coal Train passes the eastbound excursion at the raised track at Oak Park Marion Street.

Excursion running behind Unit Coal Train heading Westbound

Length: 00:00:16 sec.

Unit Coal Train heading into Proviso yard Track 1 East Bound

Length: 00:00:15 sec.

I zoomed in on the UP westbound mixed freight after it passes through Proviso Yard.

I'm preparing another long mixed freight for Cam to run eastbound with the westbound UP mixed freight train.
Cam figured out how to MU the two SD38-2 locomotives now preparing to connect to the cars on Track 2.

Two long mixed freights meet at Kedzie - one eastbound the other westbound

Length: 00:00:30 sec.

The overlap continues...

Length: 00:00:30 sec.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

I worked about 1 hour tonight on my Maintenance Spreadsheet classifying the cars I bought on Sunday. Take a look...

I classified these cars and now they wait on the test track waiting for their test run.

Here's my Maintenance Spreadsheet where I track inspections and details for each car on the layout.

Friday, October 18, 2019

NTA

Saturday, October 19, 2019

NTA

Week 271

Sunday, October 6, 2019 thru Saturday, October 12, 2019

Sunday, October 6, 2019

NTA

Monday, October 7, 2019

Train Day!

w/Rob Fair & Jordan Osborn (6-7:30pm 1.5 hrs.)

Jordan Osborn communicates "Peace".

Rob Fair gets ready to trouble shoot Chicago lights.

The far street light was dim.
We replaced the resister and look what happened!
Fixed!

We also replace the resister on Adams St. with the same problem.
Very interesting.

Rob Fair working at the UP Engine Facilities.

Underneath we fastened the feeder wires together and connected them to the bus line with a suitcase connector.

Checking the connections at the CNW Engine Facilities.

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

NTA

Wednesday, October 9, 2109

Train Day!

with Jordan Osborn and Cam Passaglia (4-5:30pm 1.5 hrs.)

Jordan Osborn shows his "peace".
Cam Passaglia waving in the background.

Turning our attention to the layout.

Working on the excursion extension.

Cam Passaglia at the Central Control Tower handling the controls.

Testing Track 1 at the UP Engine Facilities.

Cam operating the incoming Metra Commuter

I said, "Who's going to stop this train?"

 Cam answers quickly and succinctly, "Me."

Length: 00:00:31 sec.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

NTA

Friday, October 11, 2109

NTA

Saturday, October 12, 2019

NTA