Basement Train Layout: Week 570

Sun, Jun 29, 2025 thru Sat, Jul 5, 2025

Sun, Jun 29, 2025

Updating Video of Weekly Layout Update

See previous blog for link

Mon, Jun 30, 2025

Train Day!

w/Rob Fair 6-8pm 2 hrs.

Rob and I started our session discussing Train Sequencing.

How to work the Industrial Park switching into train sequencing.

I think we have a plan.

Here's what we did tonight...

We switched out the coal cars from the East Yard
to the West Yard at the Powder River Basin

Almost finished.

Then we ran two laps with the Unit Coal Train 2A
on its way EB to the Melrose Park Power Plant

To see this train in action you can view the Weekly Layout Update

under the end of the week entry for Sat, July 5, 2025...

Tue, Jul 1, 2025

A visit to Duane Careb's home in Elgin IL

The active coal mine

Isle 1. The Durango & Silverton RR on the left.

Another industrial section of the layout

Isle 2 with the large peninsula to the left.
The layout's large yard is to the right.

Duane is working on adding lights and other details
to the roundhouse.

The arrow points to the cause of the disruption of
service to the Metra F40PH #132. I was shocked
when I put it in motion at home and it responded
as if I hadn't fixed the connection. It did run fine
after another try. Which kinda scares me.
Maybe it's not quite ready for prime time?

Wed, Jul 2, 2025

Running laps 3-5 Unit Coal Train 2A EB

Arrived at Melrose Park Power Plan (MPPP) and
switched the cars into the yard. Returning light power
back to Union Pacific Engine Facility

Power B2 UP SD60M back in place.

That took just over half an hour.

Thu, Jul 3, 2025

Putting the shell back on and attaching the coupler
to the front of the Metra F40PH #132

See Weekly Update Video to see this new and improved
locomotive in action.

Switching the Industrial Park cars to the Transfer
Track

Another view.

That took just over half an hour.

Now it's time to complete
the paperwork.

Fri, Jul 4, 2025

Some fun time spent on the train this morning...

Running Sequence Train #8 Mixed Freight Train 5A
running EB and picking up cars during lap 3.

Using Road Power B4 UP C44-9W #9660 & 9564

Moving Road Power to latch up to Train 5A

Here's the front (f) of Train 5A EB at Proviso Yard
CNW yard Track 2...

...and here's the rear (r) of Train 5A at same yard Track 5

More light power movement from the UP Engine
Facility on the yard lead...

...taking the crossover...

...then moving back and switching to...

...the CNW yard lead to...

...pick up Sequence Train #8, Mixed Freight Train 5A
EB from Proviso Yard Track 2. Note where I put
the caboose for later pickup.

Pulling out the front of the train on Track 2
preparing to hook up to the rear of the train on Track 5.

Just starting lap 1 for our train today.

On our way...

Lap 2.

The next lap will be a pick up lap.

We have 2 cars to pick up at West Chicago and 4 cars to drop off and

4 different cars to pick up at the Industrial Park Transfer Track.

Sat, Jul 5, 2025

Sequence Train #8 Mixed Freight 5A EB

When pulling train into yard I had quite a few derailments
right here. So I put some spacers in to bring the rail up a bit.
Hopefully this will solve our derailing problem.