Week 598

Sun, Jan 11, 2026 thru Sat, Jan 17, 2026

Sun, Jan 11, 2026

Working on Weekly Layout Update YouTube video production.

See last week's Saturday's entry.

Mon, Jan 12, 2026

Train Day!

No one could come tonight, so I went to see Marcus at his home.

He had some train cars for me to see.

I came home with this one.
I'll need to add some details,
but this should work with my Amtrak train.

Tue, Jan 13, 2026

Getting ready for this week's train operations on the railroad

First step: Moving the full coal loads from the East
Yard at Powder River Basin to the West Yard

Mixed Freight 5A WB waiting for Unit Coal Train
crossover from Powder River Basin to the UP Geneva Sub

These 4 cars will be dropped off at the Melrose Park
Power Plant to be returned to the Powder River Basin
for more coal.

Here's a view of the Melrose Park Power Plant 
empty yard waiting for the full coal loads from
the Powder River Basin arriving this week.

Another view of the yard at the
Melrose Park Power Plant.
Note: Yard switcher on track 6 in the background.

Wed, Jan 14, 2026

Working Powder River Basin...

Moving loaded coal cars from the West Yard
to the East Yard. 1/3 done!

1/3 of the cars moved to the West Yard

Making progress: 2/3 now moved to the West Yard

2/3 of the loaded cars now located at the West Yard

DONE!

Mission Accomplished!
All loaded coal cars moved from the East Yard to the West Yard

Next step: Make a EB train headed to Melrose Park Power Plant

Thu, Jan 15, 2026

I got up early to work on the RR...

I'm getting ready to pull out the Unit Coal Train 2A
from Powder River Basin EB to Melrose Park Power Plant

Two more sections to add to the train.

Unit Coal Train 2A ready for departure onto the
mainline heading EB to Melrose Park Power Plant

Later that day...

We had a sale rep from Comer & Cross stop by to give us a quote to cover our garage floor.

I showed him my basement layout.

He did not expect to see what he saw...

Luke was taking pictures here...

...and there. He couldn't believe it!
He was going to share these shots with his co-workers.

The following pictures are pictures are from his perspective...

Fri, Jan 16, 2026

My visit to Tom Stover's Elburn IL

Here's the CREW: l. to r.
Dave, Mike, Darren (modelrailroaddreams)
builder of Mike's layout in Sugar Grove IL

Don, Tom & John

repeat performers: Dave & Mike

This is the passenger coach yard where I will be
working today. That's Tom on the left and Carl
to the right.

John working the Salt Lake City Yard

Hello John.

Back at the Denver Yard - Don is working
the interchange yard.

Break Time...l. to r.
Don & Tom

John & Carl...

...I caught John eating a cookie!

After break, Dave working Grand Junction Yard

My WB passenger train heading to Salt Lake City
from the Denver Passenger Station

John is switching Train 24. Busy man today!

For more action of today's session see the YouTube video

in the link below under Sat, Jan 17, 2026:

Sat, Jan 17, 2026

Click here

to view Weekly Layout YouTube Video Update

Duration: 09:57 min/sec

Description

What's ON Track this Week?

*WB Mixed Freight 5A preparation

*Full coal loads East Yard to West Yard Powder River Basin

*EB Unit Coal Train 2A prep for departure

*Visit to Tom Stover's Elburn IL

*Crew Call: Mike, Darren, Tom, John, Don, Dave, Carl

*Thanks for watching!