Progress Report 07.19.12

Completed the last 5% of the benchwork (the Peoria Branch).  It was tougher than I thought.  I had to take back more of the existing benchwork than I had originally planned.  It was so bad at first figuring it out, that I had to leave the room and take a breather.

Went out to the garage to rummage through the lumber inventory.  Found two pieces of plywood and went back to the room.  Removed one section of existing benchwork on the former CNW branch.  Cut both large sections of the Peoria branch and installed.  Laid out some track and envisioned the new station scene in Peoria.  Yes!  This will work.  I like it a lot!!

Cut one last piece of benchwork that I nearly forgot.  There was a small 8" section or so between Bureau Junction and the original benchwork at West Bureau.  Cut and installed the last piece of the puzzle.

Hooray!  All benchwork is complete!

Started cleaning up removing all scrap plywood (old layout benchwork, remnants from the ovalix), sorted through the used flex track and turnouts.  Started vacuuming up the mounds of sawdust and debris on the floor.

Project update:
1) complete benchwork for the Peoria branch
2) drill holes for the bus wire
3) run the bus wire
4) cut and re-install the workbench desk
5) clean up the room.
6) start laying cork roadbed and track.
7) drop solder feeders
8) install slide switches
9) install car card boxes
10) revise timetable schedules
11) introduce new and remove obsolete waybills
12) re-stage layout (majority is re-staged, but need to integrate the new industries and place cars in the new Ottawa yard, LaSalle and Bureau storage tracks).
13) schedule next op session!






.

Progress Report 07.18.12

The board of directors met last night and have set the date of August 4th for Operation Nolix' major construction to be complete and room cleaned.  Crews will be required to work some overtime to get the task complete.

There wasn't much left to build, but it seemed like a lot tonight.  Engineers decided to take one additional piece of benchwork out in Ottawa.  The plywood top had a farm field on it plus plaster on top of that.  The existing plywood wasn't long enough to reach a good joint in the 1x2 frame benchwork.  It was also slightly damaged.  So, I took out the two foot section or so.  I cut and laid new plywood along the back wall over Bureau.  This section of benchwork is 14" wide.  It partially covers Bureau, but works well.  I will add LED lights underneath to illuminate the lower deck.  I have found some sold on Amazon for cheap and have great reviews.

So, as of this evening, major construction of the subroadbed and basic benchwork is 95% complete.  Whew!!  I do have to add in the benchwork for the Peoria branchline, but most of that is in place now.  So, it shouldn't be too big of project to connect the missing section.  What a project this has been!  Trust me!  I had many doubts that this would work.  The heart palpitations were quite high after taking down the ovalix.  A little over a third of the railroad was severed.

Next on the agenda...

1) complete benchwork for the Peoria branch
2) drill holes for the bus wire
3) run the bus wire
4) cut and re-install the workbench desk
5) clean up the room.
6) start laying cork roadbed and track.
7) drop solder feeders
8) install slide switches
9) install car card boxes
10) revise timetable schedules
11) introduce new and remove obsolete waybills
12) re-stage layout (majority is re-staged, but need to integrate the new industries and place cars in the new Ottawa yard, LaSalle and Bureau storage tracks).

Benchwork was the biggest obstacle to get past.  Laying cork roadbed and track is easy (at least I find it easy ~ plus much more relaxing).

I will upload pictures once I complete the Peoria Branch and clean up the room some.  It's a major OSHA hazard currently.


.

Progress Report 07.17.12

Continued work on the layout this evening.  I managed to complete installation of the subroadbed to the window just shy of West Ottawa, IL.

I then began work on a major portion of the project, lowering the town of Ottawa.  The town continued to rise after it bridged over the mainline coming off the peninsula and then dropped down to the ovalix.  I needed for the mainline to start dropping as soon as it bridged over the mainline.  The project wasn't too bad.

What is left?  About 3 or 4 feet of subroadbed benchwork.  I built the frame for 1x2 frame for West Ottawa.  I just need to cut the plywood top now.

Progress Report 07.16.12

This summer, I feel like I'm moving in slow motion regarding the layout.  I have been spending more time with family and other various projects.  Tonight, I managed to get a fair amount done.  Subroadbed has been installed through Peru/LaSalle and Utica and on up just shy of the last curve before heading up to Ottawa.

Once I get the subroadbed installed, I should be able to make some serious progress laying cork roadbed and track.  I'm looking forward to working on that aspect as it goes easily and provides nearly instant satisfaction allowing me to run test trains.