Basement Train Layout: July 2020

Sunday, July 26, 2020 thru Saturday, August 1, 2020

This Week's Goals:

1. Finish ballasting at California Avenue

2. Purchase electrical sub-station for California Avenue

3. Finish placing out-buildings at California Avenue

Sunday, July 26, 2020

Jordan stopped by for a few minutes today.

I also did some work on the guard station at California Avenue.

30 mins. Jordan

1 hour for me

Finished placing black ballast on second track at California Ave.

Jordan Osborn says, "Hey".

Also finished off the mainline ballast at the California Avenue
crossover.

Goal #1 Complete.
I didn't think I'd accomplish this goal so quickly this week.

After Jordan left for the day, I began Goal #2.
I will begin to put the guard station in place for California Avenue.
First I cut out all the parts.

Next I put in window frames and doors with corresponding windows.

Finally, I secure the sides and roof together for a finished structure.
I still need to get the gates up and will weather the buildings.

Monday, July 27, 2020

Train Day!

w/Rob Fair and Jordan Osborn.
Rob Fair: 6-8pm 2 hrs.
Jordan Osborn: 6:15-7:30pm 1.25 hrs.

Slow start but finished strong.
Did more than I thought we'd do...

We started watching a video from Jerry Richards about
North American steam engines.

Now we get to work on making our "mistakes" into opportunities.
Here Rob is opening the space to be used to store the throttle.

Rob Fair working on the trim pieces.

Here is the progress on finishing up the trim work.

And there you go.
I like it!
Do you?

And then, in the middle of all this, we produced S1 E6 Train Video.

And here it is; click the blue link.

S1 E6 7.27.20
Length: 00:09:12 mins.

Rob Fair continues the finish trim work at Powder River Basin.

Love the head light!

It really helps to see the details.

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

No Train Activity

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Had some fun with grandkids...

Can you see Ida in this picture?

Here she is from a different perspective.

This next video is an action video of Henry

playing video games. Check it out...

Length: 00:00:43 sec.

Thursday, July 30, 2020

No train activity today.

Friday, July 31, 2020

Updating Blog and Spreadsheet today.

Finished Guard Station at California Avenue Maintenance Facility

[Insert picture here]

Saturday, August 1, 2020

Look what I picked up at the UPS Store today:

Digitrax repaired the cable, crimper and the UP5.

Jordan stopped by for a few minutes.
After this picture we decided to celebrate his birthday
and went out for lunch at Portillo's.

I went back to work and finished installing the UP5.
First mark where the holes will be drilled.

Next, drill the holes.

Followed by cutting out the square.

Finally, mount the panel on the fascia and the UP5.

Sunday, July 19, 2020 thru Saturday, July 25, 2020

This Week's Goals:

1. Finish platform details in California Yard

2. Begin ballasting in California Yard

3. Place out buildings in California Yard

Sunday, July 19, 2020

Rainy day - I got a ton done on the RR...

Check this out:

Starting at the Maintenance Facility.
Preparing the work space for pouring "concrete".

I took this picture to show what powder I used for the "concrete".

After mixing with water to the consistency of pudding,
I poured the "concrete" into place.

Smoothed it out with a little water on the edge of the spatula.

I had a little left over mix and used it on the next project.

With the maintenance facility in place, time for the yard.

Two step process.
1. Fill in the bottom.
2. Finish off the top.

Making progress...

Just about finished.
Just need to tidy up a bit.

Back at the Maintenance Facility...
Need to remove the supports.

Supports removed and now the clean-up.

Supports removed and now we'll wait for "concrete" to set
overnight before cleaning up the mess.

I'm also going to install the mirrors here to make West Chicago
look twice as big!

Mirrors installed.

Another angle...

Monday, July 20, 2020

Train Day!
w/Rob Fair 6-8pm 2 hrs.

We completed Goal #2, but we have a long way to go...

Rob Fair begins work on California Yard.
Cleaning debris off the tracks.

Rob continues the tedious work...

My plan is to finish the Metra Commuter Coach Maintenance
Platform. Here I've started to put the finish coat of paint.

More progress. First I dab some paint.
Then I push it around with a brush.

Rob has finished the clean-up.
Now it's on to painting/staining the wood forms.

I finished the platform. Now it's time to put some "oil" spots
where the cars travel.

A closeup of the stained trim pieces.
The first section is almost finished. Still two more sections to go.

Making progress...

With the platform finished I moved on to ballasting.

Rob and I thought maybe it's too light. May need to add
some dark ballast. We'll stay with this for a bit and see if it sticks.

Looks like two sections are finished.

We wrap up the evening finishing the last of three sections.

Great work, Rob!
Sorry to strain your back with those poor working conditions.

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Tuesdays are usually not train days, but today was different.

Look what happened...

SPECIAL GUESTS:
Henry & Ida Zielke

This is what happens when you see spider webs over the platform.

SPECIAL GUESTS:
joining us were Charlie & Emily Zielke

Having a great time with Boppa and the trains!

After supper and 5-fold ministry I painted the California Yard platforms.

You can see what technique I used for painting.
Squirt a bit of paint on the platform and then move it around
with the brush.

Just a little more to go...

DONE!

GOAL #1 Accomplished!

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

SPECIAL GUESTS
Mom and Dad Berg
Unfortunately I didn't take pictures because I was too busy explaining everything.

Thursday, July 23, 2020

I spent about 30 minutes ballasting tonight.

Check this out...

BEFORE
ballasting.

AFTER
ballasting.

I picked up some motivation and kept moving down the line.
You can see I ran out of the mixed ballast and went with a cream-
colored ballast. Hopefully it won't look too out of place.