Week 286

Sunday, January 19, 2020 thru Saturday, January 25, 2020

Key: NTA=No Train Activity

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Today I ran some test trains to see what speed each throttle would be set to for 1 lap equal to, or close to, 5 minutes.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Train Day!

with Rob Fair 6-7:30pm (1.5 hrs.)

Rob Fair came over for trains tonight.
Here he is getting ready to wire up the cars with lights.

As Rob worked on the wiring, I secured the crossover switches so they wouldn't neve cause electrical problems by switching which caused electrical shorts. I failed the troubleshooting so we came up with a different plan.
Crossovers on the mainline before entering Chicago Terminal.

Here you can see the pins I drove in to keep the switches in the proper position.

I also secured the railings on either side of the bridges over Milwaukee Avenue and Fulton Street.

This is a very interesting shot.
Rob is standing on the floor, but I'm also taking a picture of Chicago Downtown which happens to be on a 45 degree angle.
Here are some of the cars he wired up so they'd be lit up.

Back at the Terminal crossover I've got some braces to hold up the fences while the glue sets.

Then I went to the workbench and replaced the battery in the caboose.
I need to always remember to shut off the power so they don't run out of juice overnight.

After replacing the battery I tested the light...

Length: 00:00:07 sec.

The white strips are glue in the channels to secure the "EL" tracks in place.

Half is secured, now I need to secure the other half.
They line up pretty nice.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

NTA

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Train Day!

With Cam Passaglia and Jordan Osborn

4-5:30pm (1.5 hrs.)

Getting ready for the train show this Sunday...

First some videos...Cam behind the scenes...

Length: 00:00:07 sec.

And...the unit coal train coming around the bend...

Length: 00:00:18 sec.

Cam and Jordan getting ready for the operating session tonight.
Making sure our trains are running fine for the Train Show preparation this Sunday.

At the controls.

In the corner displaying the grove of trees.

A manifest train heading through Oak Park.

Length: 00:00:31 sec.

A view from the South Power District...

Length: 00:00:11 sec.

Cam working with the camera that was going bazurk!

Jordan Osborn keeping his hand on the throttle and his eyes on his train.
Or is he making sure Cam doesn't fall off the ladder.

A final video for your viewing pleasure...Chicago near north...

Length: 00:00:15 sec.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

NTA

Friday, January 24, 2020

NTA

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Getting ready for the Train Show tomorrow.
Mainly cleaning up different areas of the layout.
Check this out...

Here's my workbench BEFORE.
Pretty nasty.

Workbench AFTER
Nice and neat and tidy.

Grain Elevator/Melrose Park BEFORE

Grain Elevator/Melrose Park AFTER

Bellwood/Wheaton BEFORE

Bellwood/Wheaton AFTER

UP Global 2 BEFORE

UP Global 2 AFTER

Chicago Terminal Lake Street Bridge BEFORE

Chicago Terminal Lake Street Bridge AFTER