Week 581

Sun, Sep 14, 2025 thru Sat, Sep 20, 2025

Sun, Sep 14, 2025

Working on Weekly Layout Update Video Production

Go back to Week 580 and look under the Saturday entry for link

Mon, Sep 15, 2025

I got up early and did some prep work for tonight's train session:

I'd like to get this section ready for tonight...

First thing is to cut out the platform at Wheaton
for the bumper to fit in securely.

So I notched out the section where the bumper will
fit nicely.

Ready for the next step...

...which is soldering the feeder wires to the track.

After several tries, I got it done!

Tonight's Train Session!

w/Rob Fair 6-8:15pm 2.25 hrs.

Jordan Osborn 6-7:15pm 1.25 hr.

Marcus Thorsen 6:15-7:15pm 1 hr.

Here's what we did...

Rob starting working right away!
His job tonight is to ballast the new track laid
at the CNW Engine Facility Track 1

His first order of business is to add some cork
to the end of the track.

Jordan joins us at 6pm

Rob begins ballasting...

...after ballasting he adds the glue.

Track is finished now for the surrounding area.

Marcus joins us about 6:15pm and shows us his
recent purchase at the Train Show.
Guess how much he paid for 17 of these hand crafted
wooden cars by Ernie Frank?
Answer next week.

Here's our crew in deep discussion

Back to the ballast job - we ran the locomotives
back into their storage positions

Now for the final stage for tonight's activities:
Rob is going to open up the new locomotive CNW
C40-8 #8501 from Chris Osborn

This is the decoder chip we plan to install

Upon successful removal of the shell we realized
there's a problem with the mother board.

Before disconnecting the wires, I'm going to take
some pictures on their locations.

The two middle wires are for the head lights.
The two outside wires are for track pick up.

Here are the motor wires.
The red goes to the bottom of the motor and the black
to the top of the motor.
Also, this photo shows the burn damage right above
where the black wire attaches to the mother board.

Here's the part number so I can order a replacement
mother board.

I will leave the locomotive exposed until the new
mother board arrives.

To my crew: Thanks for all your hard work tonight!

 

Tue, Sep 16, 2025

No train activity today.

Wed, Sep 17, 2025

Up early working on combining three notebooks into one!

Making progress. I'm adding the manuals first, then
I will add the decoders to the maintenance logs.

Finished the day with some more work...

I came up with a plan to track
my progress.

An open box means I have a log sheet

Half a box means I have the spec sheet

A full box shows I've added the decoder specs.

Thu, Sep 18, 2025

More work done on combining 3 binders into 1 binder.

Making progress on the Red Binder. I just need to
assign the purchased decoders with each individual
locomotive where the decoders were installed.

Fri, Sep 19, 2025

EB Rio Grande Train 24 by Petro Plant just east of
Grand Junction CO

Crew Call
l.to r. Dave, Tom, Duane, Alan

Denver Yard in background, Peninsula in foreground.

Tom Stover and Duane Careb discussing movements
at Denver Yard

West end of Denver Yard

The future site of the passenger yards

This is the back section of Tom's layout showing
the future site of the passenger train yard (on the left)
and Salt Lake City staging on the right.

Later that night, my grandkids came over for some time on the railroad

Josiah is running the Amtrak #250 WB Track 2.

Here's the train leaving Chicago Terminal

My other grandchild, Selah, was having fun with 
flashlights and playing hide and seek.
Lissette was on the move and wouldn't pose for a picture.
😞

Sat, Sep 20, 2025

Finishing up the 3 binders into 1 binder project...

To see why I did this project
check out the Weekly Layout Update
below:

Click here
to view Season 2025 Blog 581
Weekly Layout Update Video
Duration: 10:16 mins.

Description:

*Ballasting by Rob Fair 4 parts
*Marcus and the Wood Train - Guess the cost? Next week answer
*Marcus and the new scenery project - another teaser...
*Visit to Tom Stover's in Elburn IL
*Weekly Project Completed - 3 binders to 1 binder
*Thanks for Watching!