Week 145

Week 145

Sunday, May 7, 2017 thru Saturday, May 13, 2017

Sunday, May 7, 2017
Today was the DuPage County Train Show in Wheaton.

We decided not to attend today, but will plan on going to the June 11th show.

Instead, Jordan came over and we worked a bit on the layout.

Check it out...

Here I'm using the picnic table to hold up the top horizontal pipe.

Now I'm using the picnic table to hold up the middle pipe to secure in place.

Jordan and I are getting ready to install Geneva Station.
The white blob is the glue that holds the electrical tubing in place.

Another of Jordan's antics as we spot Geneva Station with ceiling lights.

There are the LED lights being prepared for mounting.

I should've taken one more picture of Geneva Station lit up.

You'll have to wait until tomorrow.
I'll capture the picture when Jordan and Rob come over for trains tomorrow evening.

Monday, May 8, 2017
Jordan Osborn (2), Rob Fair (1.75), Josh Jones (1), and I (2) worked on the layout tonight.
(hours shown in parenthesis).

Rob Fair and I tested the resistors to see how they were affected with 9volt power supply.
This test was without any resistors. Just a bit too bright.

This test was with 470 ohms resistor.
This is the resistor I will use to replace the 1k resistors currently used for Global 1. 

This is the 1k resistor that came with the unit from China.

After Rob and I finished the resistor testing,
Rob Fair went to Kedzie Avenue to finish the railings.

The boys were at work at the Central Control Tower doing the Research and Development.

After placing Geneva Station in place I realized there was a center platform.
Geneva Station doesn't have a center platform so it had to go.
Here are the sections already removed.

And here's the center platform base which will also be removed to make way for the ballast.
I will then add the safety fence down the middle of the mainlines.

Rob Fair continues his work on the railings at Kedzie Avenue.

Rob Fair putting in the finishing touches.

Isn't it amazing how many tools one must use throughout the evening?

One last view of Josh Jones and Jordan Osborn as we prepare to "call it a day".
Man we're hungry! Haven't eaten all day! YIIKES!

Oops!
I did promise you a picture of Geneva Station at night.

Here you go...

Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Emily Zielke (my daughter) Mabel, Henry, and Ida (my grandkids) joined Jan and me for supper tonight.

After they left I went into the basement and...

finished tearing out the middle platform at Geneva Station.

Then I put in the guides on the far side for the north platform.

Here the glue is setting and the weights are on for the long overnight wait.

And here in the foreground is the rest of the debris leftover from the demolition of the center platform which Geneva never had. In the background you can see Geneva Station now has a north platform.

Wednesday, May 10, 2017
TRAIN DAY!
The whole crew was here today!

We had a hard time getting the selfie going, but finally ended up with a pretty decent group shot...

How does this work?

Now we're getting the idea...

And finally, a bit blurry, but make sure you capture Dean's smile!
Left to right: Curt Berg, Carlos Baez, Ed Nelson, Jordan Osborn, Dean Hatzis

Coming to Train Day today was a bit of a sacrifice for Dean Hatzis.
His daughter, Zoey, is most likely going to deliver her new baby today or tomorrow.
And where is Grandpa?
He's with they guys at Train Day!

After we discussed layout progress we were off to our assignments.

Carlos Baez was assigned the hand railings up the stairs at Kedzie Station.
Jordan Osborn is doing his best to distract the workers.

Carlos shows us his height "jig" which will determine how high he would place the railing supports.

Meanwhile, this week at home, Dean Hatzis finished the shed at the Kedzie Avenue Center Track Platform.
You can see Ed Nelson is working on the installation of that shed.

Dean Hatzis and Ed Nelson both waiting for Engineer Jordan Osborn to move the train for clearance testing.

Carlos Baez continues his work on the stairway hand railings at Kedzie Avenue Station.

Look closely to see the railing supports.

Results of Clearance Testing: Pass!

Dean Hatzis and Ed Nelson then moved to check track cleaning car clearance at the signal bridges.

A finished look at part of our work accomplished tonight.

Same location opposite vantage point.

Moving down the mainline, Dean Hatzis spots the track cleaning car and checks for clearance.
Dean decided to take the signal bridge home to make some adjustments.
Anxious to see what he does this week.

And finally, Ed and Dean discuss the plans to make sure clearance is correct at all signal bridges around the layout.
There are 4 (four) signal bridges throughout the layout. One in each of the four power districts.

Saturday, May 13, 2017
I took some time today to work on the Geneva Station Platform.

Check this out...

I'm going to use Dark Black Grout for this fill.

Here's the powder.

Add a bit of water to make it "soupy".
I was a bit disappointed it was so bumpy.

Even though it was a bit bumpy it actually went on pretty smooth.
I was surprised.

I etched out the edges.

Then took off the guards.
Not bad, not bad at all.

Week 144

Week 144

Sunday, April 30, 2017 thru Saturday, May 6, 2017

Sunday, April 30, 2017
I want to put up the street lights on Western Avenue next.

In order to get that accomplished I need to finish the sidewalks.

Here's the progress made tonight...

The picture on the left is the pre-paint picture.
The picture on the right is the post-paint picture.
Do you like it?

The picture on the left is the pre-paint picture.
The picture on the right is the post-paint picture.
Do you like it?

I also did some work on the sidewalk that goes down under the tracks running by the skinny building first. I didn't take pictures tonight, but I will take some tomorrow night when Rob and Jordan stop by for Train Night!

Monday, May 1, 2017
Train Night with Rob & Jordan and Special Guest, Josh Jones.

Josh entered playing the theme to Star Wars.

What an entry!

Here's what we did tonight...
Not sure why, but I sure was video happy tonight...
As you will see in tonight's blog.

Josh Jones executing the role of conductor in our operating session tonight.
I was the dispatcher and Jordan the engineer.

Action video of Josh Jones doing his job.

Length: 00:00:14s

Jordan Osborn at the controls.

Jordan Osborn giving his hand signals.

Another view of Josh Jones doing his job.

Meanwhile, Rob Fair, works on the railings at Kedzie Avenue Center Platform stairwell.

Looks pretty good, wouldn't you say?

Rob had to do some very keen detail work to adhere the other side of the railings. 

Meanwhile, back on the mainline, Jordan and Josh are running the track cleaning car and testing the side clearances on all signal bridges.

Here's the video of the same scene from above.

Length: 00:00:35s

I tried to capture some of the detailed work Rob was doing...

Look closely.
Rob is attaching a small plate below to secure the railing post.

Here's a video of some of that detailed work.

Length: 00:00:40s

And the finished product.
Look closely and you will see the plate with the small hole placed on the right side of the top of the stairwell.
Do you see it?

Another video of Rob in action.

Length: 00:00:25s

Close up of Rob Fair gluing down the railings.

Of course, another video of the same...

Length: 00:00:29s

And just before Rob left he finished gluing down the stone wall.
Thanks Rob!!!

Rob Fair gluing down the top of the stone wall.

And now, adding the light to secure the hold.

And yes, one last video of the same...

Length: 00:00:40
Not sure why this video is showing sideways.
When I view using the Windows Media is shows right side up.
Oh well, I guess you'll just need to look at this sideways.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Train Day!

Ed Nelson stopped by today.
Jordan Osborn was under the weather.

Ed and I ran two trains.
A Metra outbound Chicago to Geneva.

I took some interesting pictures of our second train.
A 30 car unit coal train with two SD38-2 leading the way.

Check these out...

Conductor Ed Nelson checking his train.
See the two locomotives on the far side?
He's checking the rear to be sure all is aok.
This is the 30 car unit coal train.

Here's another shot via the monitor of Ed watching his train.

Unit Coal Train entering the West Power District.

The South Power District is in "night scene" as the unit train pulls by the Geneva Commuter consist.

And here's the Dispather's Daily Log.
The last two entries are the two train Ed and I ran tonight.
It's official.
Ed is "in the books".

Saturday, May 6, 2017
I had the day off today so I did some work on the railroad.

My MAIN GOAL was to install the Metra Geneva Station.

Here's what I accomplished...

This is the view from the bottom with the main angle secured and the overhang clamped and ready to secure.

The rest of the pictures will be from this vantage point.
Here I'm getting ready to screw down the overhang.

Now that the base is complete it's time to lay the "asphalt".

I've cut the three areas.
Parking lot flanks the station platform.

Once I cut the "asphalt" pieces, it's time to glue it down.

I'll clamp it down while drying and come back later tonight for some more progress.

"Asphalt" all set and in place.
Now let's put the station where it belongs.

While we're at it, let's take a night shot.

I have one more thing to do at Geneva Station.
I will need to install inside lights for the station.
Maybe tomorrow.

After Geneva Station was placed, I went back to Kedzie Avenue and glued in the two vertical posts on the far side.
After that sets overnight, I'll put on the horizontal bars.
But that's for another day...

In fact, you'll need to go to Week 145 to see the rest of the story...