ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 09.24.13

This morning, I worked on laying out the cork roadbed (as a guide for the track) for Ottawa Silica and L-O-F.  I was very pleased to say the least!  Even in a confined space, I will still be able to move a buttload of sand!  Ottawa Silica will have a forty car capacity.

The ROCK 3.0 will consist of some BIG industry!

I'm hoping next week to have my first batch of custom turnouts.

ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 09.23.13

This morning, I laid out some cork roadbed on the layout to see if my track plan will work.  It appears, I will be able to do everything I want (nearly matching the vision of 2.0).  The biggest difference is the lack of full size buildings (I will use building flats or partial buildings) and less wide-open scenery (which is easier on me to work on).  Oh, and no continuous running in a loop.

LaSalle, IL

Utica, IL

Ottawa Yard (looking east)

Ottawa Yard (looking west)

This evening, my wife Carrie and I worked on installing some railroad tools I had collected plus some rule books on the wall.  Again, thanks to Carrie for helping get the room together.  It's looking great!

ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 09.22.13

Today, I didn't work hard on the layout at all.  I was worn out from yesterday.  This evening, I did hang 4 of the 5 framed artwork/photo, the system map and three railroad memorabilia collages.

For the system map and collage photos, I used plastic sheets as "glass" for the map and collages.  We got this idea a couple of years back when trying to find a solution for family photos on the stairwell.  Often they would get hit and then roll down to the bottom of the stairs creating a mess of glass to clean up.  We decided to mount the photos using sticky tack and then screw a plastic sheet over the top.  Problem solved!  I really like it!

Here are some photos of the room.  The desk in the middle is temporary until a permanent craft table is constructed.

A special thanks to my wife Carrie for helping arrange and install the memorabilia collages.