Week 628

 Sun, Aug 9, 2026 thru Sat, Aug 15, 2026

Sun, Aug 9, 2026

New project announcement this week...

End of the line dwarf signal display: GREEN

End of the line dwarf signal display: RED

Chicago Terminal Track signal display: RED

Chicago Terminal Track signal display: GREEN

Labeling the toggle switches.
Dwarf signal lighting on the left.

Track power on the right.

That took about 30 minutes.
I worked about 10 minutes before turning on the system.

Mon, Aug 10, 2026

Train Day!

w/Chris & Jordan Osborn 6:30-8:30pm 2 hrs.

I did some work before Chris & Jordan arrived...

After splitting the rails to isolate the tracks, I drilled
the holes for the feeder wires.

After I cut these rails they went out of alignment. So I had to
reinforce the rails to keep them in line again.

I've inserted the feeder wires (orange & white) to prepare for
soldering onto the outer rails.

Before I solder I had to move the rolling stock out of the way.

And then Chris & Jordan came to visit and run a train...

Father & Son visiting the layout

Chris is working on the RR and running the 1960s train.

Chris checking out his train in motion.

We're going to call it a night!
Great work tonight men!

Tue, Aug 11, 2026

No train activity today.

Wed, Aug 12, 2026

Another Special Guest this week:

My very good high school friend, PJ Morlock.

PJ ran the Mixed Freight 1960s Train 3A tonight.

I added his time to the engineer roster.

Check out the weekly layout YouTube video for more on his visit.

Thu, Aug 13, 2026

Working under the layout...

I've separated all the middle wires from the left side
of the toggle switches.

Lots of tools in use...

Yikes! I worked over an hour.
Man, that went by really fast.

I still have a lot to do on this project.

I'll keep working on it until it's finished.

Fri, Aug 14, 2026

I was up early working on the new project with dwarf light signals & toggles for track isolation

I finished moving the dwarf lighting from the left
side of the panel to the right side of the panel

The tool mess.

This picture is from the opposite side of the panel
as shown from the previous picture.

LOOK WHAT CAME IN THE MAIL TODAY!

My order from Mon, Aug 10, 2026 arrived today...

The handrails and stanchions for my SD40-2 locomotive.

A visit to the Elmhurst Model Railroad Club

EMRRC

w/Chris & Jordan Osborn

We were able to park right outside the entrance.

Here it is! The entrance to the basement where the EMRRC
meets for open houses on Fridays 7-10pm and Sundays 1-4pm.

I see the back of Chris Osborn in the background.
This is one of the opening scenes to the main HO scale model

As I keep going I see this fuel facility...

....and the full 360 degree roundhouse.

Just around the corner we come upon a Metra Commuter Train 
ready to depart the main station terminal.

Cool picture of the bus and detailed gas station with the Metra
Commuter Train passing in the background.

Another view of the Metra train in the background and some
more details along the side of the road in the foreground.

This is the gas station on the left side of the road with the
Metra Commuter Train just leaving the scene.

Every time I visit the layout I see more details added like this
line of maintenance of way track maintenance vehicles.

Let's visit the N Scale room

I really like how they replicated the Elmhurst Station stop.

I'm also anxious to watch the progress to be made on the Elmhurst
Stone Quarry Project.

As I was taking a look at the new Elmhurst Stone Quarry Project
this Turbine train zoomed by.

To see more action from the N scale room check out the YouTube Video in tomorrow's entry...

Let's go back to the HO scale main layout...

Really impressed with the amount of details added since my last visit.

I'm at the far end of the layout looking down the longest straight
section of the layout.

I'm always impressed with this scene of the rr cut between the rocks.

This picture is taken at the same location but the other direction.

The club updated the screen for the drive-in theatre.
Lots of detail in this scene too.

A very busy grain elevator and the Shelbina station stop.

Love this town and all the activities they offer as you check
out the many details around town.

An overhead control panel looking at the intermodal yard and
the longest straight section of the layout.

A Canadian Pacific led train readies for dispatcher's signal to proceed.

Another station stop complete with passengers, vehicles, other
finely tuned details.

This scene caught my attention as I tried to capture the blinking
warning signal at the top of the chimney. I did by the way.

Our last stop, Grovers Mill station.

To view more action from our visit to the EMRRC click on the link in tomorrow's entry...

Sat, Aug 15, 2026

I stopped by Glynn Amburgey's home today to pick up some

Intermodal Containers he produced by using his 3D printer.

He charged me $20 for all 12 containers. Usually these would sell for $10 per container
so I think I got the best deal here. I think I got them a little over cost. Cost $1.25/container,
my cost $1.67 per container. That's a great deal!

Two decal sets for these containers
also came today. See orders from
August 8 & 9, 2026.

Click here

to view Weekly Layout YouTube video

Duration: 13:37 min:sec

Description

What's ON Track this Week?

*New Project this week: Chicago Terminal Feeder wires

*Special Guest: Chris Osborn running 1960s Train 3A

*Night view of layout

*Visit to Elmhurst Model Railroad Club

Open House Fri, Aug 14, 2026 7pm

w/Chris & Jordan Osborn

*Thanks for watching and leaving your comments!