Week 278

Week 278

Sunday, November 24, 2019 thru Saturday, November 30, 2019

Sunday, November 24, 2019

NTA

Monday, November 25, 2019

Train Day!

w/Rob Fair 6-7:45pm 1.75 hrs.

Getting ready to work on the crossover leading to Union Station.

We found a gap in the rails that didn't make a connection.
So we soldered a feeder wire to close the gap.
See next picture.

Can you see the wire solded on either side of the gap?

Rob Fair contemplating our next move.

I'm always amazed and I say it often, how many pieces of equipment we need to use in any given project.
Drill bits, wire, cutters, dremel tool, drill, soldering gun, more wire, more tools...etc.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

NTA

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

The Crockett Family arrived for Thanksgiving Sleepover tonight.
Here are Josiah and Jeremiah playing with the Brio set.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

NTA - Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 29, 2019

NTA

Saturday, November 30, 2019

I was able to work on the RR today.

Here's my project...

This caboose has been sitting around WAY TOO LONG!
Time to get it working again.

But first, I need to purchase some parts...

So I headed over to the Science & Surplus store and bought the parts I needed.

I bougth a button battery holder and soldered the leads to the holder.

Awe Right! I got it working!

Length: 00:00:08 sec.

Next I need to get the draft gear boxes in place.

Then the couplers had to be installed.

And finally, the trucks put in place.

And now I have another UP Caboose ready for the mainline!

Week 277

Sun, Nov. 17, 2019 thru Sat, Nov. 23, 2019

Jan and I will be coming home from Israel this week.
We should be home on Saturday, November 23, 2019.

I may or may not get a chance to work on the RR on Saturday of this week.

We'll need to wait and see...

Sat, Nov. 23, 2019

I didn't really work on the RR but I did take some time to run a commuter train around and took some shots as it traveled the layout. It was great to go to Israel, but it's even better to be home.

Choo Choo

Coming around the bend out of Proviso Yard east end.

Length: 00:00:15 sec.

Just passed Melrose Park going east.

Length: 00:00:14 sec.

Now under the I294 I290 overpass.

Length: 00:00:13 sec.

Heading east past Geneva Station

Length: 00:00:17 sec.

Continueing down the line past Elmhurst/Kedzie Ave.

Length: 00:00:13 sec.

On our way to West Chicago

Length: 00:00:15 sec.

Going through the heart of Proviso yard.

Length: 00:00:17 sec.

Week 276

Sunday, November 10, 2019 thru Saturday, November 16, 2019

Sunday, November 10, 2019

We moved TRAIN DAY! from Monday to Sunday  this week.

Here is Rob Fair (3-4:30pm 1.5hrs).

We started the afternoon troubleshooting the intermodal train mishaps from yesterday.
Everything passed this time around.

Next, we went to the UP Engine Facility to fix some track that was outta wack - cute.
Now Engine 53 doesn't derail when it enters it's assigned track 5.

The tracks had come together so Rob inserted a spike to keep them in track width compliance.

Jordan joins the party about 3:30pm and stayed to help run some trains until 4:30pm (1 hr.).

Finally, Rob and I spent a few minutes more on testing continuity and voltage at the crossover tracks just prior to Chicago Terminal. You can see the continuity tester light is on in this pic.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Getting ready for my next project on the workbench

See you again, on Sat, Nov. 23, 2019 after we return from Israel

Now it's time to start packing for our trip to Israel. Leaving tomorrow.

Tuesday, November 12 - Saturday, November 16, 2019

Jan and I will be in Israel for the next 10 days.

Be back, Saturday, November 23, 2019

Week 275

Week 275

Sunday, November 3, 2019 thru Saturday, November 9, 2019

Sunday, November 3, 2019

NTA

Monday, November 4, 2019

No train day today.
Rob Fair was sick.
I did get some work done on the 85' piggy-back flat cars.

First, I decided, after many years of inactivity, to finish two 85' piggy-back flat cars.

Laying out all the parts.

Removing the plastic wheel sets.

Metal wheel sets installed, now ready for the hitches.

Almost done. Just need to let the hitch system dry after gluing together.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

More work on the RR...

Finished assembling the flat car kit.
Now time to weather...

I used the brown wood filler stick and gray grout powder to weather.

After car inspection and now ready for test run.

Loaded with "piggies"

I bought some hitches, but I don't think these will work.
I will contact Atheran and order the parts to complete what is incomplete right now.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Train Day!
with Cam (4-5:45pm 1.75 hrs.) and Jordan

Cam getting ready for Train Day!

Working on getting some tunes on the tablet.

The UP/CNW engines return to Engine Facility.

On their way...

We set up the 3 sections of the test train and now ready to put it together.

Here are the three sections of trains that will make up our test train.

We brought out the SD38-2 CNW sound engines to run the test train.
Here you can see the train has been put together and heading eastbound.

Jordan doing a little jig before he calls it a day.

Jordan gives his farewell greeting which looks a lot like his hello greeting.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

NTA

Friday, November 8, 2019

I subbed today but had a break midday to come home and work on the train.
Check this out...

I'm finally going to put this kit together today!!

A discontinued blue box kit.

Here are all the parts laid out nice and neat.
I don't have My directions so I hope I can figure out what goes where.

I'll start putting together the pieces that are obvious.
Here we go.

I glued the truck wheel assembly to the underframe.
Another successful project completed.

I installed these door bars on the back of this semi-trailer.
Another successful project completed.

I was going to update the maintenance log, but realized I can't remember which cars were actually on the test track. It may be easier to fill out paperwork first and then do the d a tablet entry after the test is run from the completed paperwork. Yes, it's a work in progress.

 After I returned from my SUB assignment, I finished the well car kit...

I started with the walk ways...

Next, I added the weights.

After the weights, I began to attach the trucks.

Then I added the couplers between the well cars.

That left the coupler supports between each well car and the two brake wheel assemblies for either end.

Finished!
Here they are on the mainline.

Drone shot.

Another perspective.

Back at the workbench...ready for the next project.
You can't really see it, but I'm going to get an EOT device working in a cupola UP caboose.

More tomorrow...

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Here's the 5-car Well cars ready for container loads.
Watch the loads on the left of the screen disappear and reappear in the well cars...next picture...

Here they are ready to be added to the train waiting at Proviso Yard...next picture...

Here's the 5-car well cars hitched up to the rest of the intermodal train at Proviso Yard track 1 UP westbound.