Week 339

 Sun, Jan 24, 2021 thru Sat, Jan 30, 2021

This Week's Goals

1. Continue work on California Ave. Coach Yard entrance off Sacramento Blvd. 

This Week: Maybe we'll try stringing up the wire cables on the utility poles?

2. More Weathering Locomotive Roster 

This Week: Let's try to get one more CNW locomotive done!

3. Coming soon: Work on streets/parking lots in Industrial Park

This week: Let's try to cut the "asphalt" layer.

4. Continue work on Clinton Ave. wall sections

This Week: Paint and install the walls.

5. Lay track in both yards at Powder River Basin

This Week: Finish securing the track - not quite finished and then finish wiring up the switch for the 2nd track for engine storage (west end).

Sun, Jan 24, 2021

Today was an interesting day.

I wanted to switch the coal cars from empty to loaded and then move them from the East Yard to the West Yard. 

First I had to get the paperwork ready.

I updated the Yard capacity
for the West & East Yards
at Powder River Basin

I also added the switching
column and the final destination
column to the
"Cars in Consist" Log

Not sure what happened, but when I tried to run the locomotives they ran very "choppy".

I decided I would use some old Bachmann models
to be my permanent switchers at Powder River Basin

I don't like to do this, but these cars were all
switched by hands, literally.

I went back into my records and figured out how to reset the system.

I followed the instructions and reset the system.

Then I checked to be sure the locomotives would
respond and they responded perfectly.
We're back in business.

I may need to reset the decoders for each DCC locomotive, 

but I'll check that tomorrow with Jordan at Train Day!

Mon, Jan 25, 2021

Train Day!

w/ Rob Fair & Jordan Osborn

scheduled from 6-8pm 2 hrs.

Wow! Lots to report tonight...

Let's jump right in...

Before the train crew gets here
I wanted to install this ground throw.

Rob Fair is working on the shell of the new F40PH
locomotive that Carlos Baez installed a new sound
decoder in last year and dropped off tonight!

C'mon Jordan, how about a smile?

There, that's better.

Leaving Powder River Basin and crossing over to left hand run.

Length: 00:00:16 sec.

Unit Coal Train on its way to the Power Plant

Length: 00:00:17 sec.

Another trackside video of the Unit Coal Train

Length: 00:00:30 sec.

Rob Fair redirects his attention to the Industrial Park

Rob's new work station.

Jordan Osborn and I used the command station
to program the new decoder in F40PH #151

The new F40PH #151

Length: 00:00:11 sec.

Another view of #151

Length: 00:00:12 sec.

Last view of the new F40PH #151

Length: 00:00:07 sec.

Rob working on the new intersection

Length: 00:00:15 sec.

Making progress on the intersection...

While Rob & Jordan worked at the Industrial Park
I decided I'd get ready to wire up the locomotive
isolated track switch. You can barely see it if you
look in the upper left corner of this picture.

I'm soldering the wire to the
rail on the tracks on the west
end of the Powder River Basin

The same action on another
section of track preparing to
wire up the switch for locomotive
shut-off.

Wrapping up the evening.

Time for clean-up.
Nice work on laying down the first layer of "asphalt"

Tue, Jan 26, 2021

Time to get under the table and wire up the switch.
I have my drawing ready and all my tools to get 
the job done.

My drawing to make sure I wire this up correctly.

Here's a video showing the engines in action...

or not...when you throw the switch.

Length: 00:00:21 sec.

Wed, Jan 27, 2021

No train activity today.

Thu, Jan 28, 2021

SPECIAL SESSION Tonight!

SPECIAL GUESTS: Cameron and Tony Passaglia

Also present: Jordan Osborn

Now before Tony & Cameron come over, Jordan is going to bring out the new F40PH #151 from the Chicago Terminal

RTA #151 F40PH Leaving Chicago Terminal

Length: 00:00:28 sec.

Approaching the crossover for left hand running

Length: 00:00:23 sec.

And here they come...

Length: 00:00:21 sec.

Cameron getting the coal train ready to return to the Powder River Basin 

Length: 00:00:26 sec.

Jordan giving Tony a quick lesson on how to run the
commuter train.

Cameron prepares the Unit Coal Train for departure.

Unit Coal Train running through Proviso Yard on way to PRB

Length: 00:00:29 sec.

Moving west toward Powder River Basin.
Almost time for a crew change before night fall.

Need to make a crew change before night fall.

Tony takes lead to make it happen.

Length: 00:00:30 sec.

Night fall and approaching Powder River Basin

Length: 00:00:30 sec.

Final approach to the Powder River Basin

Length: 00:00:30 sec.

And here we are in the East yard ready to return to
the Melrose Park Power Plant

Adios Amigos!
Very fun night!

To see full length video of tonight's events

Click here

Length: 00:04:04 min.

Fri, Jan 29, 2021

Working on blog and yesterday's YouTube video.

Sat, Jan 30, 2021

Spent quite a bit of time at the workbench today...

Plus some very special guests!

Special Guests:
Jan Berg and Ida Zielke

Special Guest:
Jim Naatz

Check my goals this week to keep on task.

Look what came in the mail yesterday!
A special on the Powder River Basin!

Goal #4
Work on the Clinton Ave. wall.

First, prepare the walls for painting.

On to Goal #3
Laying the asphalt at the Industrial Park.
Specifically, working on the new intersection.

First, remove the old sidewalk.

Next, cut out new pieces of "asphalt".

Time to increase the active rolling stock.
First, need to repair the cars waiting for inspection.

This car has been waiting a long time for some TLC.
I took this picture to show the dirt on the wheels
came off in sheets. Gross!

This pictures captures the BEFORE and AFTER
Wheels on the left are done.
Wheels on the right are coated with dirt.

All clean!

I had to switch out the couplers.
Old McHenry couplers.

New EZ-Mate Bachmann
couplers.

I also inspected two other cars now show on
Track 3 at the Repair In Place Shop.

The inspection sheets will be included with the 
engineer logs waiting for their test runs.
The engineer will complete the log and return to
the workbench inspection log for filing.

This Week's Goals Progress Report

1. Continue work on California Ave. Coach Yard entrance off Sacramento Blvd. 

This Week: Maybe we'll try stringing up the wire cables on the utility poles?

Next Week: We'll either work on stringing the cables or Goal #3

2. More Weathering Locomotive Roster 

This Week: No more progress here.

Next Week: Let's try to get one more CNW locomotive done!

3. Coming soon: Work on streets/parking lots in Industrial Park

This week: Finished laying asphalt at the new intersection.

Next Week: Continue cutting and securing asphalt sections.

4. Continue work on Clinton Ave. wall sections

This Week: Prepared the walls for painting.

Next Week: Paint the walls and install in place.

5. Lay track in both yards at Powder River Basin

This Week: Finished securing the track and wiring up the switch for the 2nd track for engine storage (west end).

Next week: test out the track make sure it works and then ballast.