Week 466

 Sun, Jul 2, 2023 thru Sat, Jul 8, 2023

Sun, Jul 2, 2023

EB Unit Coal Train 2A departs Powder River Basin West Yard

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to view 47 sec. YouTube Video

 

Mon, Jul 3, 2023

Train Day!

w/Rob Fair (2 hrs.), Marcus Thorsen (1.5 hrs.), & Jordan Osborn (30 mins.)

6-8pm 2 hrs.

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24 sec. YouTube video of 

Unit Coal Train 2A on Elevated Tracks

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31 sec. YouTube video of 

Unit Coal Train 2A crossing S. West Street in Wheaton IL

Tue, Jul 4, 2023

Train Order Board now active. 

Started with Unit Coal Train 2A and then
Priority Train #1 5C led by power C2

But before I run 5C I need to clear Power C4 which was still in the yard

to the CNW Engine Facility

Ready to enter pair of C44-9 locomotives to
CNW Engine Facility

Enters the Engine Facility...

...on to Track 4...

...into the Engine House.

Time for maintenance. Get to work!

Now to Priority Train #1 Power C2 Mixed Freight Train 5C

Power 2C ready to connect to Mixed Freight 5C

Power C2 pulling front part of Train 5C from
Proviso Yard UP Track 2.
See video below to see action.

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29 sec. YouTube Video

Train 5C leaves Proviso Yard UP Track 2

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41 sec. YouTube Video

Train 5C WB on elevated tracks

Wed, Jul 5, 2023

Finished with Priority Train #1 5C

Making progress on the Train Order Board.

After making 1 lap yesterday, I finished the next 4 laps tonight.

This video is showing the crossover going WB on the EB tracks to enter Proviso Yard CNW yard.

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25 sec YouTube Video

Here's Mixed Freight Train 5C entering into Proviso Yard CNW Track 2

(I will also use Track 3a for the rear of the train)

Thu, Jul 6, 2023

Dean Hatzis stopped by today to saw off the ends of the elevated track supports.

This will give a flat surface for the walls Marcus is working on and will install next Monday.

My man, Dean!
Taking a self-guided tour of the layout.

Let's get to work.

You can see the wood Dean trimmed flush with the wall.

All the way to Global 2

I timed the event. It took less than 34 minutes.
Great work, Dean!

Dean departs in his black pick up truck.

Meanwhile, back in the train room...

GP9 switcher CNW #1518 prepares to switch the
piggy-back train 2C onto the mainline.

Now with Mainline Power B3 UP SD40-2
#2056 & 3571 attached we're ready to depart Global 2.

Middle of Piggy-back Train 2C

End of Piggy-back Train 2C.

Heading West down the Eastbound track at West Chicago.
Doing the crossover soon to go WB left hand run
on the UP Geneva Sub.

End of train leaving Global 2

Finishing the crossover to the Westbound Track 1
left hand running.

Fri, Jul 7, 2023

Yesterday I ran Piggy-back Train 2C 1.5 laps. 

Today I will finish the 5 total laps and capture a bit on video

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80 sec. YouTube video of Piggy-back Train 2C in action

Sat, Jul 8, 2023

During the Piggy-back run I lost a coupler on one of the cars. 

I was wondering what happened.

Today I found out what happened!

There it is!
The draft gear box cover fell off just past 3rd St. Geneva

Here's a close up.

Back at the workbench, I will need to resecure
the coupler.

All set and ready to be put back into Piggy-back Train 2C.
I will have the CNW switcher take care of that job.

Maybe this afternoon I can take care of that operation.

I did!
Here's CNW GP9 #1518 taking care of business.

I also found some time to work on some labels I've had for quite some time.

I guess it comes with cleaning up at Central Control Tower

I took all the tools needed and worked at the kitchen table

This is the BEFORE picture.

This is the AFTER picture.

Here's the labels on the Opposite Direction Signal
Control which happens at CCT.

This weekend I also updated the Power District 
CCT track plans. This shows the North & East Power Districts.

And this shows the South & West Power Districts

These are the labels I made for the facia switches

Another label for Signal 1 by the PRB switch

My time spent for this section.

These are the labels I will need to redo.