Wednesday, August 20, 2014

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 08.20.14

Cut and shaped the remaining track up to the drop leaf LaSalle Yard.  I'm waiting to receive two Caboose Industries ground throws before I glue in place.

LaSalle Yard - Looking East

LaSalle Yard - Looking West

I installed a decoder in the Soo Line GP35 chassis.  I will use the same chassis to occasionally run a Burlington Northern GP30 by simply swapping the shells.  The locomotive runs great!


Added weight to a few box cars.  I added five into service.  I typically add a 1/2 oz to almost all cars if possible.  It seems to help with performance.










Tuesday, August 19, 2014

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 08.19.14

I worked on various things tonight.  Installed the remainder of the cork roadbed for LaSalle Yard.  Added weight to ten cars or so.  Repaired a turnout on Ottawa's east yard ladder.  Inspected the turnouts glued down last night.  All is well.

I have two more turnouts to install for LaSalle Yard (a crossover), but waiting for two more Caboose Industries throws to arrive later this week.

Monday, August 18, 2014

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 08.18.14

Tonight, I resolved numerous track issues on the layout.  Installed two turnouts and track for for the new LaSalle Yard (up to the point where the drop leaf starts).  Installed part of the roadbed for the new staging yard.  The remainder of the cork roadbed was rolled up.  I had to leave that under my railroad signal sign to flatten it out tonight.  I have two more turnouts to install before heading west across the new drop leaf staging yard.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 08.13.14

Worked on a few things tonight.  I repaired two turnouts.  One had a broken point.  The other point was repaired previously, but sitting up a little high.  Cars rolled across it ok without derailing, but it bothered me.  I repaired it lowing the point rail.  It's all good now.

I found my Xuron Rail Cutters that I misplaced months ago.  It was in a building kit box I was going to work on months ago, but stopped.  Go figure.  Now, I have two pairs.

I'm considering adding a bridge to the west of the Peru Power Plant.  It makes me think of the Highway 251 Bridge that I snapped some photos under back in July.

Here's a stand-in bridge for Hwy 251.  I would try to recreate the actual highway bridge.

Looking East toward Westclox

Westclox and the West Utica Signal Bridge.

An overview of the area.

This evening, my daughter and I worked on constructing the Tomix Substation kit for Peru Power.  It's a Japanese model which was pretty easy to assemble.  I was surprised when my daughter took an interest in helping assemble it.  She learned how to cut the parts off the sprues and trim them up with the Xuron cutters.  She also helped glue the parts in position.  The directions were in Japanese, but we worked off the photos to assemble.  My daughter said this is just like building her Lego kits.  The model is small and unassuming, but I will always remember the night that my daughter helped me construct the kit.  Maybe she will take an interest in model railroading when she is older.  Good times!  





Tuesday, August 12, 2014

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 08.12.14 - Track Realignment

Track crews reported to LaSalle today to start working on the track realignment just west of Westclox.  The two mainline/yard tracks subroadbed was installed.  The rails that went straight into the wall were pried up and realigned parallel to the wall.

The old track alignment.
(Looking East)

The new track alignment.

Main 2, Main 1, Peru Power industrial track.
Pay no attention to the scrap track to the right.

Looking west from Westclox.

Another view of the temporary staging yard (LaSalle Yard).

A view of the hinge that holds the permanent leg.

An overall view of the scene.


Sunday, August 10, 2014

The ROCK 3.0: Soo Line Visitor

I have become more fascinated with the Soo Line after visiting Dubuque, IA and watching an old Pentrex video on the railroads of the Upper Mississippi.  No, I'm not switching eras or locale.  Calm down!  I purchased a Soo Line GP35 that will work on my layout from time to time.  The Soo Line probably didn't show up very often down on the Illinois Division, but it's my world and I'll do as I please.




Friday, August 8, 2014

The ROCK 3.0: Southern Bulk Commodity Box Cars

Southern Bulk Commodity Box Cars
I drove over to the Ottawa Silica plant on my way home today to see some Southern Box Cars sitting in the covered hopper sand loading tracks.  What the?  These weren't regular box cars though. I talked to the plant manager to find out that the cars had roof hatches added to make it easier for bulk loads such as phosphate, lime or sand.  The cars would often be bulk loaded when going in one direction and dry pallet freight going in the reverse direction.  The insides of the cars were very dirty after the bulk loads were unloaded so only certain return cargo could be loaded inside for the return trip.

I found these on N Scale Enthusiast and thought they would be a great addition to the layout.  I don't have much Southern Railway stuff even though I live in the south.  This way, I can add some to the layout moving sand.