The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 09.26.14

On the eve before the op session, I installed the signal bridge at West Ottawa.  It's a long tedious process hooking up the various wires and such.  After encountering some frustration with the install, once done, I cleaned up my tools and such and finished for the night.  I accomplished everything on my list except installing one additional inbound signal at West Ottawa.  Not bad.  I looked back and I really didn't start back to working on the layout after a long hiatus until 8/12.  So, I accomplished a lot in 45 days.

I guarantee progress will slow down for a little while now.

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 09.25.14

There is much to do as it is less than 48 hours before the op session Saturday morning.  Here's a recap of tonight's flurry of activity.

Cleaned the house, went grocery shopping for lunch for the guys Saturday.

Today, I cut apart 32 road signs to add to the layout.  This evening, I painted the posts brown and the back of each sign silver (as they were all white).  Drilled the holes and installed all of them on the layout with my daughter's help..  I really like my signs.  It's a small detail, but looks great.  This layout is 100 times better than v1.0.  I'm really pleased with the level of detail and functionality.  I have no regrets in my decision to downsize and make everything better.

Completed the fencing project around PQ.  It looks great!  I'm very pleased with how this plant is coming along.  Next, I want to add some bushes between the fence and the mainline.

Carrie Avenue Shops got the Soo Line GP35 #731 into service.  Tested and consisted with the sister #722 locomotive.

Cleaned all the locomotive wheels using a technique highlighted by my friend Ben Earp. Thanks for the tip Ben!

For Allen, check out the GP38-2s on assignment on the Ottawa Local on Saturday.    They look great!

Setup the construction scene on Mill Street.  I had a natural pot hole there form in the plaster.  I added the cracks to it and weathered previously.  Setup my construction crew and warning signs to complete the scene.

It was a wild night of activity, but I actually got everything on my To Do list for tonight completed.  I thought it was a pipe dream, but I set the bar high hoping for the best.  Tomorrow night will be more of the same.  Come Saturday evening, I'll be passed out on the sofa exhausted, but feeling accomplished.


Coming Soon!
New, updated video of the entire layout.
New, photo series of the entire layout staged and ready to go.

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 09.24.14

This evening, I worked on various things.  Cleaned off the workbench and put everything away out of site.  Painted the Train Cat tank loading platform black.  I worked on the fence around PQ's lot.  I managed to get over halfway completed.  Messed around with some motive power.  Put up the drop leaf staging yard, cleaned the tracks, tested everything.  All good.

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 09.23.14

Late, late last night, I repaired the skirting panels.  The fabric glue used to hold the velcro on had come loose at the ends of four of the panels.  I stapled those and re-installed.

I started working on the fencing project around PQ.

I also assigned the locomotives to each train and staged them.  The LaSalle staging yard trains are sitting out on the mainline behind Ottawa Yard.  The day of the op session, I will put up the drop leaf yard and back the trains to their operating starting positions.

So far, I'm making pretty good progress on my To Do list.  I might be able to get the second signal bridge installed at West Ottawa Yard before the op session.

This evening, I painted the area around PQ's lot and added the grass base coat.

Here are photos of some of the staged trains hanging out on the mainline until the drop leaf yard is in place.