Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Progress Report 08.08.12

The Electrical department worked through their lunch today cutting and stripping 50 pairs of feeder wires.  A crew will be dispatched out on the line to drill holes for the feeders in preparation for the welding crew to follow.

The Clerical department began the process to re-stage the layout.  Even though the layout was partially re-staged after the last session, there has been so many changes management felt it would be best to start over again.  The paperwork is drawn up.  Now time for the clerks to call sites to verify pickups and route shipments to the customers.

I added an important To Do item to the list....construct Hennepin Canal Bridge.  We would have some issues without it.



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 off items stored on layout during construction

6) clean up the room
7) test NCE system to ensure no shorts before commencing trackwork
8) lay cork roadbed and track.
9) drop solder feeders
10) install slide switches
11) install car card boxes

12) run wire and install throttle jacks
13) install fascia board (majority complete - put off for another day)
14) paint fascia board
15) introduce new and remove obsolete waybills
16) 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).

17) schedule next op session!
18) review all rolling stock making adjustments to couplers and/or wheels. 
19) construct bridge over Hennepin Canal


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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Progress Report 08.07.12

Work on the layout will be limited over the next 10 days or so as we have family in town.  The ROCK's clerical department did release the newest timetable.



The schedule does not include the following trains: 
- #20 Houston to Silvis Freight that arrives in the early morning.
- #110 Chicago to Silvis (Illinois Shorts)
- #113 Joliet Local
- #112 Silvis to Bureau Turn
- #217 Ottawa Local
- #221 Blue Island Local
- #90 Peoria to Chicago Freight
- #95 Chicago to Peoria Freight
- any other extras out on the line.




Sunday, August 5, 2012

Photo Update

Evening boys and girls.  I had accomplished my basic goals before hosting a BBQ event at our house with potential visitors to the layout.  Good thing, as I was knocked to my knees with food poisoning Friday night.  I was slow to recover Saturday, but feeling better today.  I'm still weak and trying to get my appetite back.  I did manage to take some photos of the layout to post for the fans.

This is what you see as you enter the room on the right side now.  The turnback between LaSalle and Utica.


Utica, IL ~ Philadelphia Quartz on the left and it's main commodity source Belrose Silica on the right.  The ROCK often moved freight simply from one side of the track to the other.  I guess that is why they didn't stay in business long.

Peru / LaSalle, IL ~ The oblong shaped spur on the right is for the Westclox plant.  The building was shaped at angle creating the different industrial track.  In the prototype, there was a small yard at LaSalle, but I didn't have room.  I did add a storage track, but unsure what I will use it for now.  I'm sure the crews will find some use for it though.

The former Peoria station has been moved to LaSalle.  

Bureau Junction, IL ~ former site of the ovalix ~ The main and siding from Silvis Yard to Chicago on the right.  The tracks going to the left is the Peoria branch and storage track.  The Peoria branch is on a significant grade to drop down under the RI main to a hidden track.

Bureau Junction, IL ~ I will move these houses back, but will have a row of them with a street in front adjacent to the mainline as with the prototype.  The siding at Bureau has been extended by quite a bit.  The long sidings now are Joliet, Ottawa and Bureau with short sidings at LaSalle and Rock Island.

The Station at Bureau.  This will eventually will be replaced with a scratchbuilt structure to replicate the prototype. 

Looking down the Peoria branch.  The upper level is the RI main west (to the left) to Rock Island.

Station and Passing Siding in Peoria.

Bureau Junction ~ Looking up the Peoria Branch east toward Peru.

Looking east at Bureau Junction

The new portion of the layout and my messy desk ~ former site of the shelves and floor-to-ceiling cabinet.

The new portion of the layout ~ former site of the ovalix ~ Now Bureau Junction (lower level) and Ottawa (upper level)


New signs have been added to the fascia.

As well as directional signs.

Again, showing off my new signs.

Ok, that's enough already!

Ottawa, IL ~ Burlington Northern Crossing.  I'm missing the 90 degree crossing.  I'm waiting for that to arrive from the L&HR.  I simply have a filler piece of track sitting in it's place for now.  The Burlington Northern will operate a local into Ottawa, switch out the Ottawa Silica plant and pickup/drop off at Ottawa Yard.

Ottwa Station has been moved from East Ottawa near town to West Ottawa as with the prototype.  

Ottawa, IL Yard ~ (left to right) Four class tracks with caboose/loco track in the lower left, siding, mainline, two track loading facility for Ottawa Silica.

Another view of Ottawa Yard.

Ottawa Silica.  I need to lower the backdrop as you can see the previous height of the Ottawa Branch above.

Get used to seeing these cars.  There will be a lot more of them!  We have a lot of sand to move!

East Ottawa Yard ~ (left to right) ~ Four class tracks, siding, mainline, L-O-F chemical receiving on the lower right, finished product shipping at the top of the photo.

East Ottawa Yard ~ Finished product shipping on right ~ sand unloaded against the back wall with the silos.

Libbey-Owens-Ford Sand unloading tracks to the left, main, siding, Bader Ag on the right.