Week 478

 Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023

Sun, Sep 24, 2023

Working on Videography of Sep 2023 Monthly Layout Update YouTube Video

Here's what I produced for you...

Click here

to view YouTube Video

Duration: 8:07 mins.

I finally figured out how to make my own cables and hooked up the recently installed UP5.

Check this out:

 

My first step was to draw
the schematic plans
for how the new cables
would be connected to the UP5s.

 

The next step is to figure out how to use this tool.

I had enough cable to use but I needed to cut it and then
put two new connectors on the ends that were cut.

Mission accomplished!

I had trouble stripping the ends. All these little pieces
were the result of my failed attempts.

The last step was to check the
two cables I just made using the
LT1 Tester.

SUCCESS!
If all four lights illuminate on the LT1 tester,
I pass the test!

Mon, Sep 25, 2023

Up early to get ready for Train Day!

It has been a very long time since this has looked
so clean. Mouse problems made me do it!

A look under the layout after installing LocoNet cables.

This is looking west under the layout below Proviso Yard.

Train Day!

w/Rob Fair 6-8pm 2 hrs.

Marcus Thorsen 6-7:30pm 1.5 hrs.

Jordan Osborn 6:30-7:30pm 1 hr.

Our first attenders for our Train Session tonight.

Jordan shows up a few minutes later.

Rob is the Engineer for the Mixed Freight Train 5A
with lead locomotive UP AC6000 #7510. In this
picture Rob is putting the train together and pulling
it out of the UP Proviso Yard.

Here's the Train Order Board for Priority Train #7
which will be start running tonight.

We also ran Excursion Train 3A several laps tonight
preparing for the open house on Monday.

Click here to view YouTube Video

Duration: 0:34 sec.

Mixed Freight Train 5A with lead unit UP AC6000 #7510 running behind West Chicago Station

...another shot of the Excursion Train coming around the bend.

...and down the middle of Proviso Yard.

Meanwhile, Rob is switching the mainline train 5A
and picking up repaired cars waiting for PICK UP 
at the Repair In Place (RIP) building.

He is putting the cars in numeric order to simulate
placement within the consist just like the prototype
which places the cars in consist location based on
delivery location.

One more car to PICK UP.
See video below for action footage.

Click Here to view YouTube Video

Duration: 0:24 sec.

Mainline switching. Last car to Pick Up at the Repair In Place (RIP) building.

Marcus brought his paints tonight.
I asked him what he painted. He wouldn't tell me.
He does such a find job you can't tell where one
section ends and the other begins.

Lead Locomotive UP AC6000 #7510 on the elevated
tracks heading west bound.

Mark making his painting adjustments.

Several places needed touch ups.

We started the clock about 30 minutes into our session.
So this is at the end for a total of 2 hours altogether.

I almost forgot to capture this piece of work.
Rob figured out how to get LED lights working
in a Pennsy passenger car that had no lights before.

Tue, Sep 26, 2023

On vacation traveling to Vail CO

On the way I found some "train" stuff...

There are two famous locomotives on display as you
enter Omaha NE on I80. 

I'll need to look up the details behind each one
but one is a turbo charge loco and the other is a 
Big Boy a 4-8-8-4 Steam Engine.

I brought my Model RR magazines with me and found some information on these two locomotives.

The Union Pacific DD40AX Centennial - 
the largest locomotive ever built in honor of
the UP RR's centennial anniversary's
celebration  in 1969. Comprised of 
two engines on one frame delivering 6,600 hp.

The Union Pacific RR rolled out the biggest
restoration of 2019, the complete overhaul
of the largest steam locomotive in the world -
the Big Boy, road number 4014.

And then, I saw this display sign over the highway
and thought about the warning sign I have over
the highway at the Powder River Basin bridge
(see next picture)

All I need to do is trim off the left leg and I will
have a similar model compared to the prototype.

Wed, Sep 27, 2023

No train activity today.

Thu, Sep 28, 2023

No train activity today.

Fri, Sep 29, 2023

On our way to Leadville CO as we stopped to view the scenic beauty,

I saw below something else very special.

If there's a trestle, there must be a train near by?

It's either abandoned, or an excursion line.

[After further research I discovered this line is called the Railroad Tennessee Pass line]

As we returned from Leadville CO we spotted some RR tracks.

I was driving so I had Jan take these photos.

Tracks hidden by the bushes.

The signals looked somewhat modern, but the 
tracks looked unused.

Sat, Sep 30, 2023

More discovery today.

I did a little research on Minturn CO

With the arrival of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad in 1887, Minturn quickly developed into a booming crossroads for transportation and industry. By the turn of the century, a growing population of mining and railroad workers and their families raised the demands for business and services in town. In response, Minturn was incorporated on November 15, 1904. Mining in Minturn was for gold, silver, lead and zinc.  In 1997 the railroad Tennessee Pass Line was shutdown through Minturn.

Railroad Map showing placement of Minturn CO
The Tennessee Pass Line ran from Dotsero in the north to Pueblo in the south.
The summit was between Minturn and Malta (Leadville) CO.

Here are some railroad photos in and around Minturn CO the way it looks today...

AVALANCH!

If  you look up Minturn CO railroad on the internet you can view some interesting videos of 1980s Rio Grande locomotives. Then some Southern Pacific prior to 1990. Finally there are Union Pacific locomotives during the final days of using the pass.