Week 499

Sun, Feb 18, 2024 thru Sat, Feb 24, 2024

Sun, Feb 18, 2024

Lots of work done on the RR today.

Check this out...

Working mostly under the
table today.

I'm troubleshooting why the second building lights
didn't go on...

...so I disconnected the wires and soldered an extension
because the original wires were too close to the grid
below the table to work with. This will help a lot!

Under the table you can see the extension wires 
attached to the lead wires close to the support beam.

I put on the power and look what's on! YEAH!

Here's a look from the back of the shed.
Office lights and shed lights are illuminated.

Another look at the other building since we're right there.

Other side looking back from where we came.

Same with shed two. Looking the other direction.

These are the connections I cut out. I think one of 
these weren't making the connection I expected.

A night scene at the CNW Engine Facility.

Same night, different building. This one is more
"see through" than the first building.

Night scene at the working lights at Oak Park Marion St.

Bellwood Station lights now working - both in the
station and the parking lot.

The billboards are also back in working order.

Other side of the billboard.

And here's all the finished lighting projects in one photo.

You can see both CNW Engine Sheds, Oak Park Marion St. Station, Bellwood Station and entrance streets, and the billboards all illuminated.

I'm so happy! 😀

Mon, Feb 19, 2024

Train Day!

Double Feature

Tom Stover's Operating session

and

Weekly Train Workshop in my basement

Let's get started...

This was my train today. I ran a local between towns.

John was one of the operators who also is a model railroader.

Duane was back again. He lives in South Elgin.

This is Bill who has a layout in Sycamore and has
operating sessions twice a month.

And this is Glen aka "A Model Railroad Newbie".
He is a prolific YouTuber has a layout in St. Charles IL.
Every 3 days or so he updates his subscribers on his layout progress.

And our main man, the dispatcher and owner of the
layout, Tom Stover.

Some shots around the layout.

Everyone stayed very busy today.

Glen working in the mountain area of Colorado.

Now for Train Day! back in my basement...

w/Rob Fair 6-8pm 2 hrs.

Jordan Osborn 6-7:30pm 1.5 hrs.

Marcus Thorsen 6:30-7:15pm 45 mins.

Marcus was working this past week. He made two
panels for the back wall area of the layout.

Rob will be our "runner".

Jordan takes his place at the Central Control Tower.

Rob receiving the wall portion and prepares for installation.

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

Next up?
This building needs to be painted on the inside so the
light doesn't "bleed" through the walls.

Much better. Not so orange because you could see
the light through the plastic walls.

Finally we wrap up the session with weathering the
building that grabbed our attention today.

Tue, Feb 20, 2024

Up early doing more weathering...

BEFORE

AFTER

Wed, Feb 21, 2024

I like the additional touch that the black mortar mix brings out.

The black mortar mix gives more depth to the weathering look.

Very nice.

Now it's time to paint over these annoying orange supports.

Black paint does the job.

Orange out. Black in.

Changed out the white tubes for these black tubes.

Looking good.

Tomorrow I'm working on the roadway and then I'll weather the platforms.

Thu, Feb 22, 2024

Putting in the roadway at CNW Engine Facility...

BEFORE

AFTER

These are just placed in position.

Before the week is over, I will secure these in place with glue.

Fri, Feb 23, 2024

Late start subbing, so time for trains...

Gluing in the road way.

That took about 15 minutes.

Weathering the platforms
BEFORE

DURING

AFTER
I vacuumed the loose dust

And then put buildings back
in place.

Another view.

That took about 30 minutes.

Later that day...

I visited Glynn at his home aka "A Model Railroad Newbie"

Glynn is using the 3D printer to make a truck chassis.

By his N scale layout.

Parting shot. We had a great visit.

Sat, Feb 24, 2024

Time to produce the Weekly Layout Update.

Starting with a picture from Wednesday's surgery...

And now to work on the Weekly Layout Update...

Here it is.

Click here

to view The weekly Layout YouTube Video Update

Duration: 4:03 min.