Basement Train Layout: Week 618

Sun, May 31, 2026 thru Sat, Jun 6, 2026

Sun, May 31, 2026

After Switching Piggy-back Train 2C into position,
it's time to bring Mainline Power C6 to the front of the train.

Getting ready to attach the main power onto
Piggy-back Train 2C

Moving mainline power back to connect to Train 2C

Approaching Crossover B2A3 from EB Track 2
to WB Track 1.

Waiting for Dispatcher's signal to proceed WB
for 5 laps before returning to Global 2.

Mon, Jun 1, 2026

Early morning getting Piggy-back Train 2C ready

This morning I made a hook and label for the new UT6
I ordered from Daryl Kruse of the UPRR Evanston Sub

That took about half an hour.

Train Day!

w/Jordan Osborn 6:15-7:30pm 1.25 hrs.

Jordan getting settled into his spot at Central Control

We'll be running Sequence Train 26 the Piggy-back
Train 2C WB

Running one of 5 laps...

...behind West Chicago.

After 5 laps we head to Global 2 which is at the other
end of this yard the Proviso EB CNW Yard.

As it enters the yard we see the brown caboose at
the end of this train.

Jordan getting "educated" on his phone.

Now it's time to get the last Sequence Train 27 ready
(the Intermodal Train 2B WB)

Ready at Global 1 yard lead track.
Front of train.

Rear of train.

Tue, Jun 2, 2026

Big Boy 4014 on the West Line UP Geneva Sub

One of my model train buddies took this photo.
It looks like it's from the Harter Road bridge just
west of LaFox IL

Rob Geiger also took a video of Big Boy rolling through by his house in Elburn IL

To see more of BIG BOY in action check out my weekly layout update in Saturday's entry below:

Wed, Jun 3, 2026

Another BIG Train Day today!

We start off in West Chicago at Larry S. Provo Training Center

We'll end today in my basement running the last Sequence Train 27 - the Intermodal Train 2B WB

On our way to see Big Boy 4014 we spotted an intermodal
train and a Metra Commuter Train and the Big Boy 4014
Excursion Train on 3 of the four tracks at West Chicago Station

Our first view of Big Boy 4014 from the bridge

A quick look back on the mainline action.

Another diesel at the end of the Excursion Train

Getting a closer look at Big Boy 4014

Did I say Jordan was my traveling companion?
Peace, Jordan!

Yes, getting a bit closer view of Big Boy 4014

Looking down at the additional tenders which the
workers were washing down on the other side.

Big Boy 4014 letting off some steam.

Our host for the show today.

This is where most of the crowd gathered to view
this historic event.

Just below and bit to the left is the words written,
"Big Boy"

The fireman on Big Boy answers questions from the crowd.

I wanted to get a closer look at the diesel locomotive
used to support Big Boy on this coast to coast trip.

This train is bound for the east coast to celebrate
our country's 250 year anniversary.

I tried to find the ID label for this engine. I finally
asked one of the workers and he told me it is a SD70M.

After milling around with the crowd, we headed
back over the bridge for some final pictures.

Another view of the SD70M.

I took this to capture the weathering.

One last look at the Big Boy 4014 from this vantage point.

Later today one of my
model train buddies
took this photo of
the SD70M

To see action from today's event check out the Weekly Layout Update video

in Saturday's entry at the bottom of this blog.

And now to end today in my basement...

Running last Sequence Train 27 on the Train Order Board

Running 5 laps with two SD40-2 locomotives taking
the lead.

Heading WB on the elevated tracks

Down the heart of Proviso Yard

Finished the final run on Wed, Jun 6, 2026

I'll write the date of that last sequence run here.

That took about .75 of an hour.

Thu, Jun 4, 2026

Look what appeared on my doorstep today!
My new UT6 from Daryl Kruse.

Time to update the Train Order Board for a brand
new session.

I spent 34 minutes on the RR today.

Fri, Jun 5, 2026

Updating the Train Order Board today.

Train Order Board cleared.
Ready for new input data.

1st up? Where are the train cars located at Proviso Yard?

Another view of train cars in consists at Proviso Yard

Blank Worksheet.

Completed Worksheet.

Yikes! That took 44 minutes.

Now it's time to match the locomotives to the
train cars in consists from the worksheet above.

The yellow highlights indicate which locomotives
have not been used on certain train cars in consist.

Working through the worksheets.

Adding more matches.

Now that I have all the matches highlighted...

...now I begin to match them up according to the grid.

I also include hours in use for each locomotive so
if I need to use locomotives twice in a session I will
choose the locomotive with fewer hours over the one
with more hours.

All the hours are included and everything matches
as to the grid and the worksheets.

The took about 30 minutes
to complete.

Now it's time to set the sequence
numbers for the Train Order Board.

I'm getting better at this...
it only took 15 minutes
to finish this assignment.

Now I need to update the Train
Order Board using the mock up
I did on the worksheet.

The mock up was a nice addition this time around
because I found errors while I did it and was able to
erase some numbers and correct them without
complicating the process further.
Note to self: Make sure I use a pencil!!!