Week 588

Sun, Nov 2, 2025 thru Sat, Nov 8, 2025

Sun, Nov 2, 2025

Finishing up the Weekly Layout Update YouTube video production

Mon, Nov 3, 2025

Train Day!

w/Rob Fair 6-8pm 2 hours

Jordan Osborn  No show. Not sure what happened?

Here's what Rob and I did tonight...

I started by using UP SW1500 1064
switcher to move the commuter trains
from Chicago Terminal to California
Avenue Metra Maintenance Facility

Lining up the switches to begin the process

Moving all Commuter Trains from Chicago Terminal
to California Avenue Coach Yard (CACY)

Final commuter train in the Maintenance Shed

Chicago Terminal now empty

Only trains at Chicago Terminal are the vintage
trains on Track 2 and the Amtrak Train on Track 5

Returning Commuter Trains from CACY to
Chicago Terminal

Next commuter train at Berkeley

Next stop...Elmhurst

Next stop...Lombard

Leaving Winfield

Final stop for this train after Geneva is the West
Chicago Commuter Yard

Last train (Sequence #17) running WB from
Chicago Terminal to Geneva. Destination will be
overnight stay at the West Chicago Commuter Yard

(See Saturday's entry for video action of tonight's session)

Tue, Nov 4, 2025

Working on Train Order Board updates...

Train Order Board just finished last night
May 26, 2025 thru Nov 3, 2025 5.367 months

All the clip boards are turned in empty...

...commuter trains too.

Next step is to erase all the entries for the freight trains...

...and the commuter trains.

DONE!

Wed, Nov 5, 2025

Getting ready to populate the New Train Order Board

Fresh print outs of all paperwork needed for the
new Train Order Board

I put together a check list to stay ON TRACK

After clearing the previous Train Order Board
and printing out the paperwork, it's time to figure
out where all the freight trains are located at Proviso Yard

You can see how crowded the CNW Yard is to the left.
We'll need to have the first train depart from there.

Step 1 is complete. Working on Step 2.
15 minutes tonight. More work to do tomorrow.

Thu, Nov 6, 2025

I stopped by B&G this afternoon to pick up an order I placed a couple of weeks ago...

Mid level CA $4.79
PX112-2 Power Xtender $28
PX108-2 Power Xtender $28x2
Tax $7.55
Total $96.34

More work on Step 2 for Train Order Board Set Up

All the consists are identified in Proviso Yard
Start and finish locations determined

Also adding drop off and pick ups to the list
30 minutes tonight

Fri, Nov 7, 2025

Getting ready to transfer this data to the
Train Order Board (TOB)

Working on Step 3. I plan on changing Step 3 into
two steps. I will make Assigning Sequence #s a
step by itself - Step 4 and then move the other steps
down one

Adding time line information to my check list.

Sequence number calculations all set!

There you go. Now it's
on to Step 5...tomorrow.

Sat, Nov 8, 2025

More Train Order Board Steps
Step 5

Highlighting the OPEN dates on Locomotives
assigned to Train Codes

Step 6
Matching OPEN dates with assigned trains for
Power matching

Checking all the spreadsheets to get the job done

Using this spreadsheet to see what locomotives
to choose based on minutes in service.
The lower the number gets the attention.
The higher the number gets the rest.

Matching complete. Each train assigned with its
power based on the matching process

Train Order Board updated with power assignments

Train Cars in Consists way bills attached to clipboards
for upcoming operating sessions

Train Order Board all set

Updated and ready to run!

Weekly Layout Update Videos:

Click here

to View Part 1

Duration: 09:57 mins.

Description

What's ON Track this Week? *Mon, Nov 3, 2025 Train Session *Running Commuter Trains from Chicago Terminal to California Avenue Metra Maintenance Facility...and back. *Sequence Train #16 and #17 UP Metra West Line Commuter Trains Chicago to Geneva and then to West Chicago Yard *Thanks for watching!

Click here

to View Part 2

Duration: 14:40 mins.

Description:

What Else is ON Track this Week? *Wed Nov 5 through Sat Nov 8, 2025 *New Train Order Board *All 8 Steps *Thanks for Watching!