Rail crews continue to work at a feverish pace

Utilizing all remaining rail left from the original order, I managed to cross the Mississippi River and make the turn into Davenport.  A few late nights and a lot of glue later, I was able to continue laying track down to the West Davenport crossover.  I'm missing half the crossover, but was very pleased with the progress.  I'm very happy with the decision to make the yard curved vs. the straight alternative originally planned.  The addition of the car and back shops by Marcus looks great!  They fit nicely in the open area between the yard and wall.

Here are photos of recent progress plus a grain train's journey from Bureau to West Davenport, IA.  Sorry about the quality of some photos.  Lighting in the room is horrible.  We will need to figure out an alternative solution.

Late in the evening, the first train crosses the Mississippi river.

Love the river crossing!!

A view from over near McGee Creek

Extra Grain West @ Bureau with two U25Bs pulling a 13 car train

Extra Grain West @ West Bureau Siding Switch








Extra Grain West passing the grain elevator

Extra Grain West passing the grain elevator

Extra Grain West passing the grain elevator

Extra Grain West at the approach to East Rock Island

Extra Grain West @ East Rock Island Main/Siding switch

Extra Grain West @ Rock Island passing the Sunrise Feed Mill and Valley Fuel & Produce facility

Extra Grain West @ Rock Island. 

White paper on the left is the station.

Extra Grain West @ Franklin Farms headed downgrade to the Mississippi River

Extra Grain West @ McGee Creek

Extra Grain West @ the approach to the Mississippi River Bridge

Extra Grain West crossing the Mississippi River

Davenport, IA

Freight House + East Davenport Industrial Park

Davenport, IA

Freight House + East Davenport Industrial Park

Carrie Ave Shops @ Davenport Yard

Carrie Ave Shops @ Davenport Yard

Davenport Yard

White paper on right is Davenport Passenger Stati

West Davenport
#7 Crossover
West Davenport Industrial Park
Kohrs Cold Storage (left), Continental Grain Company (left back) with river barge dock

Extra Grain West @ Davenport Station

Extra Grain West @ West Davenport

Extra Grain West @ West Davenport

Carrie Shops in the Background

Rock Island GP38-2 @ Carrie Ave Shops

Rock Island GP38-2 and GP40 @ Carrie Ave Shops

Extra Grain West @ West Davenport

Extra Grain West @ West Davenport

More Rail Trains En Route!

Well, after a rather slow week, more rail trains have been ordered.  Estimated delivery is Friday or Monday at the latest.  Engineering is ramping up for the upcoming two week maintenance blitz. 

Along with rail, some building walls have been ordered at steals 'n deals pricing.  Numerous industries in Blue Island will be going online in the very near future. 

Progress Continues as 90 days has passed

Today is day 90 since entering N scale...

More progress to report.  All track is installed (and glued) including main & siding from the Mississippi River up to East Bureau (before ascent up the ovalix).  Larry ran the bus wire for the entire railroad minus the upper peninsula.  Feeders were dropped and installed and soldered to the track for all the track currently installed minus the siding at Rock Island (it was just freshly glued down).

Next projects on the agenda:
- Solder feeders to the bus wire
- Install turnout at the wye at East Bureau (split for ovalix and Peoria Branch)
- Install cork roadbed for entire ovalix
- Design and potentially lay cork for Davenport
- Design and cut subroadbed for remainder of the upper level 
- Order more Micro Engineering Code 55 Track, one Tortoise switch machine, an additional (#7) LH curved turnout for the wye at the Peoria Branch/East Bureau
- Sell 86' Auto Parts Box Cars & Open Auto Racks
- Purchase N&W Coal Hoppers

Many thanks to Larry for coming up to help today.  We got a lot accomplished.  Track work has been going well (and fast)!  Larry has been a tremendous help in numerous ways with the N Scale conversion.  His expertise and advice have been invaluable!

Lily intently watching the long test passenger train

Rock Island, IL

West Rock Island, IL (Curved turnout / entrance to siding)

East Rock Island, IL

East Rock Island, IL

Just east of the Mississippi River

Main up from the Mississippi River passing Franklin Farms on the left

West Bureau, IL

West Bureau, IL

Bureau, IL Station

Bureau, IL Main / Siding

East Bureau, IL

Lily, mild mannered family pet

Lily, evil destroyer of model trains

Davenport, IA - a blank slate

Aunt Maude Visits the Mississippi River!!

The rail train arrived today from Maryland.  This evening, crews hit it hard laying the mainline from the Mississippi River to the station at Bureau, IL.

Along with the track gang, the signal maintainers feverishly worked to get temporary code line installed and test wireless capabilities.  After running into severe difficulties with the command system and wireless, the system was operational before night's end.

The first locomotive, Rock Island #367, pulled three cars from the Mississippi River to the bridge at East Rock Island.  Later a call was received by the CEO stating that Aunt Maude has never seen the Mississippi River.  After code issues were corrected, a second train was run utilizing the same power with one coach from Rock Island to the station at Bureau, IL.  One sole passenger was picked up and transported to the Mississippi River. 

Trackwork will continue tomorrow and this weekend.

The CEO applauds the efforts of the dedicated employees of the new Rock Island Railroad.  In a mere 88 days, the CEO sold the former MC Junction Railway assets, acquired all the assets for the Rock Island and began construction.  On day 88, the first train ran!  Awesome job!

Track Gang is en route!

CRI&P Engineering had construction crews out late Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare the ground (cork roadbed installation) between the Mississippi River and East Bureau.  The crew completed their work shortly after 8pm this evening.  Engineering has received notification that the rail train is en route from Maryland.  The tie gang is expected to start work late Friday night and into Saturday.  Signal maintainers have been scheduled to pull code line (main bus wires) tomorrow evening.

With the 100 day report looming over management, progress has been of utmost importance.

Photos of the completed groundwork:

Grade up from the Mississippi River passing Franklin Farms

West (curved) switch of Rock Island siding

Rock Island, IL

East Rock Island, IL crossing the line off the Mississippi River

Grain Elevator @ West Bureau, IL

Grain Elevator @ West Bureau, IL

Curve into Bureau.  Is that Aunt Maude standing on the platform? 

Bureau, IL

East Bureau, IL entering into the ovalix