Pre-Op Session Countdown 03.20.13

Late last night and this morning, I finally got around to adjusting the wheel width on some offending Atlas locomotives.  This was mainly due to my getting upset after the consist derailed in earlier testing.  I repaired four locomotives that were out of gauge.

Other than some housekeeping issues in the room, I believe I'm ready to operate!  I will continue to test run power to give them a good workout before Saturday.

It has been three months since I operated last.  It seems like a lifetime ago.  Let's check back to see what has changed since the last session.

- After the Christmas holiday, finally got over my funk and returned to work on the layout.
- Annulled Train #57, added more unit grain traffic
- Revised waybills to include Return to Agent (Silvis) for grain hoppers.  Yardmaster will act as agent.
- Ripped out the former Cement and Grain Elevator at Moline.
- Replaced the scene with a larger grain elevator and LP gas dealer, scenicked.
- Created about fifty super trees, planted.
- Planted about fifty more JTT trees.
- Scratchbuilt a conveyor building for the sand pit at Belrose Silica
- Scenicked the rural area between Joliet and Ottawa
- Installed lighting and canopy over Utica/LaSalle
- Installed the upper peninsula lighting.
- The Rock was filmed for YouTube.
- Scenicked the area along the Peoria Branch line
- Added new farmland at Bureau, scenicked
- Added fencing and scenery to Joliet
- Decalling in progress for the 6x Blue Route Rock Coal Hoppers
- Added a RIP Track at Ottawa, scenicked.
- Replaced over 130 Atlas/Athearn trucks/couplers with Micro Trains
- Replaced all Accumate couplers on locomotives with Micro Trains
- Updated the appearance of the car card system
- Finally repaired the Atlas locomotives that were out of gauge
- Ballasted many new areas including:
1) West Kelly Yard to East Kelly Yard Switch - Complete
2) East Kelly Yard Switch to Jarrett's Tunnel (2 1/2ft) -
3) Jarrett's Tunnel to East Rock Island - Complete
4) Farmer's Grain to West Bureau - Complete
5) West Bureau to Main Street (Bureau) (8ft) -
6) Peoria Branch (Washington Rd Crossing) to East Bureau Junction - Complete
7) East Bureau Junction to Utica - Complete
8) Utica to East Ottawa Bridge (18ft) - Complete
9) Utica to BN Crossing in Ottawa (12ft) -
10) BN Crossing in Ottawa to JD Tower (Joliet) - Complete
11) JD Tower to Burr Oak Yard (Chicago) (21ft) 
12) All of Ottawa Yard - Complete
13) All of Joliet - Complete

I feel good about what was accomplished in three months.  Some operators that haven't been over in a while will be surprised.